Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 1 recap: Is River Cartwright actually dead?

Slow Horses Season 4 came out last year, but fans still love to dive back into the British spy thriller. One of the most memorable aspects of the season was how the opening episode wasted no time throwing viewers into chaos.

Titled Identity Theft, the premiere sets up a shocking mystery: Is fan-favorite agent River Cartwright dead? At first glance, it certainly looks that way. We see what appears to be River’s body, brutally killed in his grandfather’s bathroom. Then, Jackson Lamb treats the news with his usual gruff detachment.

But by the end of Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 1, the truth is revealed that River is alive and hiding out in France. His death was faked, though the reasons remain unclear.

The season brought back the fan-adored Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, crude and sharp-tongued as ever, and other cast members, including Jack Lowden as River Cartwright, Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner, Saskia Reeves as Catherine Standish, and more.

Keep reading to explore what happened in the premiere of the fourth chapter.

Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 1 recap: River’s staged death and Jackson Lamb’s cold reaction

Slow Horses Season 4 kicks off with the shocking discovery of what appears to be River’s dead body. His grandfather, David, is seen holding a shotgun, confused and shaken, claiming he didn’t recognize his grandson.

Lamb turns up, passes sarcastic remarks and shows no visible emotion. Still, when he is alone in the car, there is a hint that the scene did shake him. Even so, most of River’s coworkers don’t seem heartbroken.

Only Louisa is genuinely upset, having just spoken with River about David’s worsening memory. In hindsight, this talk may have been part of River’s plan to make the fake death believable.

River’s survival is revealed in the final moments of the Slow Horses episode, when he is seen hiding out in France. The reason behind his disappearance is still unknown but, clearly, faking his own death was a calculated move. Whether he is trying to protect himself, uncover a bigger threat, or draw out enemies remains to be seen.

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The bombing at Westacres Mall and growing threats in the Slow Horses Season 4 premiere

While everyone is distracted by River’s supposed death, a much bigger crisis hits London. A bomb explodes at Westacres shopping center, and the blame falls on Robert Winters, a quiet IT worker.

He leaves behind a video that sounds like typical lone wolf talk, but things don’t add up. The address he gave doesn’t exist, and no one knows who he really is. The situation turns deadly when investigators check his apartment and another bomb goes off, killing several agents.

Diana Taverner steps in, still the power behind MI5 despite a new Director General. She watches it all unfold with a chilling sense of control. Meanwhile, we meet new faces like Emma Flyte and J.K. Coe, and get a dose of office absurdity with Marcus and Shirley.

The first episode hints at a larger conspiracy linking River’s fake death and the mall bombing. It is a gripping start, filled with questions, dark comedy, and the classic Slow Horses tension fans love.

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