Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 3 Recap: Who Does Spider Work For Now?

Manda Garcia
Dec 07, 2023
Dec 14, 2023

Disgraced MI5 agent River Cartwright has had a tough time in Slow Horses last season, often living under his grandfather's shadow and facing some seriously bad luck in the field. The streak of misfortune continues in Episode 3, "Negotiating with Tigers." In this highly entertaining episode, River faces Duffy's anger after embarrassing him and all of Regent's Park. The motives behind the kidnapping also become clearer as Season 3's mystery unfolds.

Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 3 Recap

Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 3 begins by shifting gears after the intense thriller of the previous week. Lamb takes the spotlight, investigating the unresolved situation of Catherine Standish while River remains in the custody of the furious Dogs. The Regent’s Park Heist turns out to be a setup orchestrated by Home Secretary Peter Judd, aiming to test MI5's security and privatize it with Chieftain.

Why Was Catherine Standish Kidnapped?

Catherine Standish's kidnapping turns out to be a training exercise to test MI5's defenses. Ingrid acknowledges MI5's failure, and a Chieftain tiger team, led by Sean Donovan, exposes the organization's weaknesses.

Despite Ingrid's resignation, Peter rejects it and reveals plans to bring in Chieftain as advisors. Sly Monteith, an old friend of Peter's, heads Chieftain, indicating a potentially self-serving financial deal for the politician.

Meanwhile, River faces a brutal beating from Duffy for embarrassing him and exposing flaws in the organization. Tasked with retrieving a file from Regent’s Park, River almost succeeded, but Jackson's last-minute order to stand down led to a violent misunderstanding. Duffy reveals to River that Catherine is unharmed; it was all part of a Tiger Team operation.

Sean Donovan is praised for completing his mission. During a meeting with Chieftain's Sturges, Sean unexpectedly takes him and Catherine hostage again. There's a hidden agenda at play in Sean's actions.

Slough House employees Shirley and Marcus, observing Sean’s flat, stumble upon his plans. While Shirley indulges in Class A drugs in the apartment, Marcus discovers Sean’s intricate plans plastered throughout the house.

Sean's Ambitious Plan Spurs Action From MI5 And Slough House

Sean's plan unfolds further as Phase Two is set into motion. His objective now is to infiltrate Regent’s Park’s Grey Books, a repository where global conspiracy theories are scrutinized, debunked, and archived. Jackson and Slough House receive photographic evidence of Sean's plans.

However, Marcus and Shirley, caught breaking into Sean's flat, face arrest by the police. Marcus manages to prove his agent credentials, but Shirley's drugs are discovered. Learning about the incident, Jackson decides to terminate both of them immediately.

Jackson briefs Deputy Director-General Diana Taverner on Sean's plans to infiltrate the Grey Books. Diana, now overseeing these files after her demotion, awaits Sean's demands. Having this information, Jackson negotiates for River's return. Despite Duffy and Hobbs completing their assault on River, Jackson collects him personally, finding amusement in River's injuries and instructing him to meet with Louisa next.

In a packed schedule, Jackson meets Chieftain's CEO, Sly Monteith, disclosing that Sean and his team have gone rogue. Concurrently, Louisa and River head to Chieftain for answers, encountering Spider, who unknowingly played a part in the Tiger Team operation.

Spider's Deception Shakes MI5 And Slough House

The trio ascends to meet with Chieftain’s Command and Control Executive Officer, who turns out to be Spider—revealing he deceived them all. Spider orchestrated the fake sniper threat and Sean's menacing demands, playing a grand trick on River. To intensify the blow, Spider discloses his inclusion in Peter Judd's advisory committee and expresses his intention to initiate the shutdown of Slough House.

Sean's Confrontation With Spider Ends In Shocking Violence

Sly interrupts Spider's triumph, seeking an explanation for Sean Donovan's plans. Spider assures Sly that everything is under control—Sean won't access the Grey Books, and the hostages will be released unharmed.

Ordered by Sly, Spider meets Sean and offers him money instead of the Grey Books. Sean refuses, leading to Spider taunting him about Alison's death. In response, Sean knocks Spider out, slamming his head into a car window.

The episode concludes with Jackson disrupting Peter and Sly's lunch. While discussing the Tiger Team incident, Sean delivers Spider's lifeless body to the restaurant entrance.

Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 3 Review

Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 3 unravels the mystery behind Catherine Standish's abduction, providing answers amid the relentless pace. The Tiger Team's true motive, the MI5's Grey Books, adds complexity to the plot. Despite deviations from Mick Herron's source material, Spider's enhanced role brings familiarity and intrigue.

The stellar casting, particularly Shirley and Marcus's dynamic, elevates the show, creating emotional investment in each team member. Political intricacies, orchestrated by Peter Judd, amplify tension, showcasing Westminster's influence over MI5.

As we reach the midpoint, Slow Horses maintains its brilliance, seamlessly blending humor, wit, and suspense. Episode 3 leaves viewers guessing and anticipates a whirlwind confrontation for the Slow Horses and Park in the upcoming episodes to thwart the Tigers from accessing the Grey Books.

Don't miss Episode 4 for the next thrilling chapter in this espionage saga.

Slow Horses is an Apple TV+ and Apple exclusive. The Slow Horses season 3 release date has been set for December 1, 2023, with the finale taking place on December 29