Slow Horses Season 2 cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the Apple TV+ show

Slow Horses Season 2 (Image via Apple)
Slow Horses Season 2 (Image via Apple)

Slow Horses returned to Apple TV+ with a second season that pulls its plot from Mick Herron’s Dead Lions and puts the Slough House team into a Cold War mystery that turns dangerous. The season opens with the sudden death of a former field agent on a rail replacement bus and a strange message, “Cicada,” on his phone.

That small clue sends Jackson Lamb and his Slow Horses into an investigation that ties old Cold War stories to a present-day threat, and it gives several supporting players clear, named beats to play across the run. Slow Horses Season 2 also places personal arcs next to the central case.

River Cartwright’s conversations with his grandfather, David Cartwright, explain old intelligence files and the theory of sleeper agents; Louisa Guy and Min Harper face the fallout of failed operations; and a seemingly ordinary village connection leads to a sleeper agent reveal that propels the final episodes.


Main cast and characters of Slow Horses Season 2

Slow Horses Season 2 (Image via Prime Video)
Slow Horses Season 2 (Image via Prime Video)
  • Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb
  • Lamb is the cynical and sharp-tongued leader of Slough House. His unconventional methods and disregard for authority make him a distinctive figure in the intelligence community.
  • Jack Lowden as River Cartwright
  • A young MI5 agent who finds himself at Slough House after a failed operation. Cartwright navigates the challenges of being assigned to a department for agents who have made significant errors in their careers.
  • Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner
  • Serving as the Deputy Director General of MI5, Taverner plays a pivotal role in the series. Her political maneuvering and strategic decisions impact the direction of the agency and the agents within Slough House.
  • Jonathan Pryce as David Cartwright
  • River's grandfather and a former MI5 officer, David's past connections and influence add layers to the narrative. His relationship with River provides depth to the storyline.
  • Saskia Reeves as Catherine Standish
  • Standish is the office administrator at Slough House. Balancing her personal demons with professional duties, she adds complexity to the team's dynamics.
  • Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy
  • Guy's assignment to Slough House follows a failed operation. Her journey reflects themes of redemption and resilience as she works alongside her fellow agents.
  • Christopher Chung as Roddy Ho
  • Ho is a former hacktivist who has become a tech expert, so his skills are priceless to the team. His personality brings some kind of humor and tension to the group dynamics.
  • Shirley Dander is played by Aimee-Ffion Edwards
  • The personality of the team is diverse, with Dander having a fiery temper and a complicated background. Her encounters with other characters also give more context to the events that are going on.
  • Kadiff Kirwan as Marcus Longridge
  • Longridge's gambling issues and his place within the team offer insights into the challenges faced by the agents. His character adds layers to the ensemble.

Notable guest appearances in Slow Horses Season 2

Slow Horses Season 2 (Image via Prime Video)
Slow Horses Season 2 (Image via Prime Video)
  • Catherine McCormack as Alex Tropper
  • Tropper's involvement in a local village adds a subplot that intertwines with the main narrative. Her character introduces personal elements to the espionage themes.
  • Adrian Rawlins as Duncan Tropper
  • As Alex's husband, Duncan's interactions with other characters provide additional context to the unfolding events. His role complements the ensemble.
  • Tamsin Topolski as Kelly Tropper
  • The Tropper family's dynamics introduce a personal angle to the overarching espionage themes. Kelly's character adds depth to the narrative.

Slow Horses Season 2 (Image via Prime Video)
Slow Horses Season 2 (Image via Prime Video)

Slow Horses season 2 builds on its spy story by giving it great characters with uncomplicated storylines. The performances of the cast, especially in the crucial scenes, make the series even more reputable in terms of combining suspense with dark humor. It leads the viewers into a maze of Cold War secrets and personal interests as the story goes on and preconditions the subsequent series of events.

Edited by Sangeeta Mathew