Fans feel that Jackson Lamb's dark story about Stasi in Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 3 was "captivating"

Slow Horses, season 5 episode 3, is titled Tall Tales, and Gary Oldman is again becoming the highlight of the episode with his dark story about the Stasi.

Fans are claiming that the monologue is super "captivating" and seems like Jackson Lamb's own lived experience.

Lamb, during the MI5-imposed lockdown, tells his teammates a harrowing story about a spy named Joe who was captured and tortured by the Stasi. The narrative is chilling and makes Catherine wonder whether it is autobiographical. The story hints at Lamb's personal history and the brutal realities of espionage during the Cold War.

Here's what fans are saying about Lamb's Stasi story in Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 3

This is what fans have to say about Lamb's speech in Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 3.

"Lamb's Stasi story was so captivating, there had to be some truth in there. I trust Standish's intuition," One Reddit comment reads.

"The storytelling scene was fantastic," another fan joins.

Some fans are decoding how the story could be his own. Lamb is shown putting his shoes back before heading to the bathroom, which visually signals that he is stepping into his past both literally and emotionally. He is the agent who lived through that trauma.

"Right before that monologue, he puts his shoes on to go to the bathroom, and I assumed that when he told that Stasi story, it was about him. So the previous scene focusing on his feet and shoes made a lot of sense," writes a fan on Reddit.

But beneath that tragic narrative, the Slough House agents realise Lamb is actually communicating in code. The story comes with clues with which the team can coordinate a surprise attack. With this message, they synchronize their moves, taking down the MI5 "Dogs" and escaping the lockdown.

It was Catherine who was shaken by the story and Lamb's intelligence because she thinks his tone and knowledge are too personal not to pay attention to. This implied that it couldn't be just an old spy tale, but the story of Jackson Lamb, who is a survivor of this trauma. It could be the reason why his exterior is so cynical.

This is the reason why fans and critics are praising the story and his performance, as this revealed something more humane and grounded beneath his absurd persona in Slow Horses. He describes the story of an agent who was caught by the East German secret police after being betrayed during the Cold War. He was tortured and brutally interrogated for months.

The Stasi tried to break him by isolating and starving him while playing some ugly psychological games. He was then compelled to watch the execution of his pregnant lover before uttering a word. The agent manages to escape, but only by losing his camaraderie and faith.

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Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 3 dropped on October 8, 2025, and can be streamed on Apple TV+.

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