Is there an underlying rivalry between Jackson Lamb and Diana Taverner in Slow Horses? Speculations explored

Apple TV’s Slow Horses is not like your regular spy thriller. Based on Mick Herron’s novels, the series narrates the story of a group of discarded MI5 agents who are now stationed at Slough House. The team is headed by Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman).

The agents, demeaningly called Slow Horses, find themselves in several difficult situations and often clash with the cops and others from Regent’s Park, the headquarters of MI5. Despite this, they still manage to help in solving several cases. When we discuss clashes, scenes between Lamb and Deputy Director-General Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas) instantly come to mind. In these moments, the two mostly exchange ruthless and sarcastic comments.

While at first they might look like enemies who can’t stand each other, there’s more to their relationship. Diana and Lamb might not like each other, but they have known each other for a long time and are aware of each other’s strengths and perhaps weaknesses as well. They both have different goals but often end up working together, giving us more of their brutal comments toward each other.

However, while they might appear as friends altogether, they are not entirely rivals either.

More on this in our story.

Slow Horses: Are Jackson Lamb and Diana Taverner rivals? Speculations explored

In Slow Horses, Lamb appears as someone who is burned out and just wants to be in a place where no one bothers him. Hence, he chose to supervise Slough House. On the other hand, Diana is full of cutthroat ambition and wants to become the Director-General but does not have much time; therefore, she often tries to speed up the process. Due to their different goals, they might not appear as rivals. However, as proficient MI5 agents who have been working for a long time, they might eventually compete against each other.

Diana is one of those people in Regent’s Park who knows how smart Lamb is. Further, in Season 1 of Slow Horses, she even experiences it when she tries to pin the offhand operation’s failure on Slough House. Fortunately, Lamb and his Slow Horses successfully finish the mission.

Diana’s only goal is to become the head—to be number one, not two, which she currently is. She is fed up with being the smartest person among a group of smart people, as she knows she can be a better Director than her predecessors. To do that, she might use Slough House to her benefit in any way. However, she is also aware of how it can backfire, as it did in Season 1.

Whether it’s out of respect for dedicating their lives to protecting the UK or due to knowing each other’s secrets, the duo often appear to tolerate each other. This is something they do not extend to anyone else in similar positions. While they might not be rivals in the regular sense and might be more like frenemies, the conversations between the two are often regarded as highlights of the Apple TV series.

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Other than Thomas and Gary Oldman, Slow Horses also stars Jack Lowden, Jonathan Pryce, Sophie Okonedo, and Saskia Reeves, among others.

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