Summary
Warning: Contains potential SPOILERS for Slow Horses season 4 and Mick Herron’s book series
The main team in Apple TV+‘sSlow Horsesis set to receive a shakeup in season 4, with behind-the-scenes- photos seemingly confirming the arrival of a new team member.The Slough House teamhas undergone some radical changes in the three previousSlow Horsesseasons. The difference between season 1 and season 3, for example, is stark, with several characters either leaving the team, dying, or mysteriously vanishing. However, while a lineup change shouldn’t seem that surprising, more recentSlow Horsesstorylines make new arrivals more unusual.
Even thoughSlow Horsesis a show that thrives on jeopardy and very real danger, there haven’t been many lineup changes in the show’s two most recent outings. Aside fromMin Harper’s tragic death in season 2and Standish’s dramatic resignation in theSlow Horsesseason 3 ending,the team has remained pretty consistent since season 1. Given that Min wasn’t replaced in season 3, there was no guarantee that Slough House would receive a new addition to the team in season 4. However, one detail about the upcoming series indicates that a major change is on the way.
Tom Brooke Appears In The Slough House Control Room
He’s Alongside The Rest Of The Team
As seen in behind-the-scenes photos, 46-year-old English actor Tom Brooke will feature inSlow Horsesseason 4. While his involvement was known before the photo drop, the images reveal that he’s not just joiningSlow Horsesin a minor capacity. Instead,Brooke looks set to become a new core member of the Slough House team.
Slow Horsesseasons 1-3 are available to stream on Apple TV+.
The biggest indication of Brooke’s new role is thathe is physically in the Slough House control roomwith the rest of the team. Alongside Louisa Guy, Marcus Longridge, and Shirley Dander, Brooke is gathered around technology expert Roddy’s work station staring at something on screen. In previous seasons, only core members of the Slough House team have been granted such proximity to the department’s work – an unsurprising situation, given the rest of MI5’s treatment of the much-maligned division. This is a clear indication that Brooke’s character represents a new addition to the team, and isn’t a random hanger-on.
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Based on the Slough House novels by Mick Herron, Slow Horses isn’t a totally accurate depiction of MI5, though the spy thriller nails some details.
Who Tom Brooke Could Be Playing In Slow Horses Season 4
He’s Never Appeared Before
From the set photos, it’s not immediately clear who Tom Brooke is playing inSlow Horsesseason 4. Given that the show revolves around spycraft, it’s unsurprising that no form of identification is immediately obvious. However, other information confirms thatBrooke’s character is indeed a new member of the Slough House crew.
The fact that he’s in the inner sanctum of Roddy’s work station, combined with the cast of characters from the book on whichSlow Horsesseason 4 is based, suggests thatBrooke is playing J.K. Coe. In the novels, Coe is a competent yet somewhat unhinged member of the crew. According to a synopsis of the novel on the spy fiction websiteSpy Write, Coe is “One of the sharper minds running with the slow horses” and “(a)lso probably a psychopath”.
This background suggests that Coe will be a natural addition to the rest of the Slough House misfits. It also suggests thathe may be a source of conflict with the team– especially if his psychopathy manifests in ways that the rest of the team find slightly unsavory. However, he is a core member of the group and features in several ofMick Herron’s source novels, suggesting that (if Brooke is indeed playing J.K. Coe, his arrival could signal the start of a new era for the team and the show.
Tom Brooke’s Character Is The Shakeup Slow Horses Needs
Slow Horses Needs New Blood
Given how popular each oftheSlow Horsescharactershas become over the previous three seasons, any potential change is fraught with risk. However, while the dynamics between individuals is the show’s greatest strength,Slow Horsesis also in dire need of a fresh face. Ever since the dramatic changes from seasons 1 to 2, the team has remained essentially the same. No matter how effective their chemistry, seeing the same personnel over and over again would inevitably become stale. Brooke’s introduction as part of the Slough House crew avoids this problem.
With the rest of Slough House now understandably familiar after so many adventures together, a potentially abrasive personality is the perfect way to shake characters out of their comfort zones.
If Brooke is playing J.K. Coe, his arrival can also benefitSlow Horsesby bringing some much-needed edge to the story. With the rest of Slough House now understandably familiar after so many adventures together, a potentially abrasive personality is the perfect way to shake characters out of their comfort zones. If Coe does indeed turn out to be “probably a psychopath”,this could be an ideal, and blackly funny, way of revitalizing theSlow Horsesteam.
