Slow Horses season 4 will have a completely different river story because of 1 missing character

As perhaps the most important core character in Slow HorsesJack Lowden’s River Cartwright was a key narrative focus for three seasons. Although the specifics of his adventures have changed, the core aspects of his character have remained consistent throughout. However, one more dramatic death in Slow Horses Season 3, at least one element of River’s story is set to change forever, altering the balance of Slow Horses‘ structure and have dramatic implications for its future.

Whether he’s fighting far-right extremists, Russian sleeper agents, or internal Tiger teams, some things about River Cartwright haven’t changed. He is, for example, clearly committed to the grandfather – a relationship that subtly drives the show’s story forward and will become pivotal in Slow Horses Season 4. He also has a tempestuous but strong relationship with Jackson Lamb, as well as an important platonic friendship with Louisa Guy. However, these consistencies did not only apply to positive influences on River’s life. Historically, his enemies have also been a fixture – until now.

James ‘Spider’ Webb’s Death Changes River’s Story

Their rivalry has defined both men’s stories

Until his dramatic and shocking death in season 3, Jacob”Spider“Web is perhaps the biggest enemy river. As a direct peer, there has always been a sense of intense competition between the two – exacerbated by the incident at Stansted airport, in which Webb helped Ram River for incompetence. Since then, the two have constantly butted heads, with Webb providing an ever-present internal enemy for both River and the entire Slow House team, to the extent that the pair’s animosity leads directly to stories like the Tiger Team targeting Slow House.

however, Slow Horses Season 3 has fundamentally changed the picture. After he was murdered by Sean Donovan, Webb is no longer part of these Slow Horses History. As a result, a constant thorn in the river and the team’s side was removed. On the one hand, this would be a positive thing, because the web was a constant source of provocation. However, his absence simultaneously means that the show has lost one of its biggest sources of conflict and created the need for a new kind of enemy to emerge.

River will have a new enemy in Slow Horses season 4

James Webb needs to be replaced

The fact that Webb is no longer on the scene creates a major hole in it Slow HorsesHistory. On one level, he needs to be replaced, because the drama he provided was critical to the show’s success and engaging character dynamics. however, Finding a web surrogate is no easy taskSince much of his appeal came from his history with River and the depth of their feud – something that cannot be conjured inorganically.

Like these Slow Horses Season 4 trailer and promotional material have been confirmed, Slough House will face A new threat in the form of Hugo Weaving’s Frank Harkness – a rogue CIA operative with a mysterious agenda. However, while the enemy will undoubtedly be a major concern for River, he won’t be able to replace the unique petty internal strife that made Webb such a deliciously hateable antagonist. The emphasis on a new and external threat can also help push Slow Horses‘ story ahead, but it will be a marked shift from what went before – and proved so successful.

Slow horse needs to establish a new internal threat

It’s a key part of what made the show successful

Although finding a Web surrogate is nearly impossible due to the uniqueness of the character’s relationship with River, Slow Horses Still needs to find a way to replicate the low-level internal threat he represents. This is especially important now that Other MI5-based antagonists, such as Duffy and Hobbs, were also removed. Failure to do so will mean that the internal power-battles that have defined relationships in Slow Horses – from River’s infiltration of the park, to Jackson’s duels with Taverner – will end up a bit pedestrian.

Of course, the fact that characters like Webb, Duffy and Hobbs were all killed off in season 3 also provides a prime opportunity for the show to reshape its version of ​​MI5. Although all three were excellent in their own way, it could be that whoever replaces them is even worse. The result could be a renewed rivalry between Slough House and the park which, while not based on years of resentment, is quickly becoming just as toxic. However, whatever approach the show takes, it’s essential that Slow Horses Figure out a way to replicate one of its core dynamics.