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The season six finale of Slow Horses has been available on Apple TV since October 21st – and it's likely to leave many fans speechless. Showrunner Gaby Chiappe explained in an interview how the final minutes were prepared. Immediately after the credits, viewers can also get a first look at season seven.
With the sixth episode, "Judgment Day," the sixth season of Slow Horses has concluded. The season premiered on September 16 and combines two novels by Mick Herron, as Apple had already announced with the trailer for season 6. For the finale, showrunner and head writer Gaby Chiappe talked about the decisions behind the ending in an interview with Gold Derby. Anyone who hasn't seen the finale yet can safely read the first sections of this article – the part with the details is clearly marked.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The finale of the sixth season has been airing on Apple TV since October 21st.
- Showrunner Gaby Chiappe explains in an interview how the ending was already set up in episode 2.
- At the end of the finale, Apple shows a first teaser for season 7, which is scheduled to be released next year.
- Apple has already renewed the series up to and including season 8.
Season 7 is coming next year
Immediately following the finale, a first teaser for the seventh season will be released. It is scheduled to premiere on Apple TV next year, but a specific date has not yet been announced.
It's also certain that the show will continue: in mid-September, Apple renewed it for an eighth season. The sixth season aired simultaneously worldwide, including in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland without delay.
⚠️ Spoiler alert: From here on, we're talking about the end of season 6
Warning: Spoilers for the season six finale of Slow Horses follow. If you haven't seen "Judgment Day" yet, stop reading here.
What happens in the final
In the finale, Emma Flyte dies – killed by Frank Harkness, River Cartwright's father. In the final moments of the episode, River himself also appears to die. What exactly happens to him is initially left open to interpretation.
The trail leads back to episode 2
According to Chiappe, River's fate is already foreshadowed in the second episode. When the hitmen Jim and Jane arrive at the door while River and Sid are hiding, Jim notices a small vial on the table and the crowbar that River has brought. Chiappe suggests that the crowbar was likely laced with the contents of the vial – an attack using the nerve agent Novichok. This motif is taken from the book.
Chiappe did not explicitly confirm Rivers' death in the interview.
A bold ending for an ongoing series
I consider the finale one of the most consistent decisions the series has made so far. River Cartwright has been the character through whom the audience enters the world of Slough House since the first season; to put him so much at risk in the sixth season deprives the series of its most comfortable anchor. Chiappe's decision to leave the resolution open keeps the suspense alive until the next season.
For viewers in this country, the main challenge is waiting: it will likely be at least another year before the seventh season premieres. Those rewatching the sixth season will now see the clues from episode 2 in a new light. October also marks the end of several other series on Apple TV, while new ones begin.
Do you think River Cartwright will return in season 7, or was the finale a final goodbye? Share your theory in the comments – spoilers are welcome, the warning is above.
