Apple’s tight spy thriller Slow Horses usually ties up each season-long mystery in six episodes, but the season 6 finale ended with a shocking cliffhanger. If you haven’t read Mick Herron’s Slough House books and are desperate to know what happens next, including which characters will be returning, we’ve got some answers. Here’s everything we know about Slow Horses season 7, including the potential release date and plot details.
Is Slow Horses season 7 confirmed?
Yes! Apple has already renewed Slow Horses for two more seasons. It revealed a teaser for the new season after the season 6 finale aired on Oct. 21. Slow Horses has received critical acclaim, racking up three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing and Directing, and Apple has made sure new seasons release at a regular clip. The writers’ room for season 7 opened while season 6 was still in production, and season 8 has already been confirmed.
What is the plot of Slow Horses season 7?
Season 6 of Slow Horses combined the plots of Herron’s books Joe Country and Slough House, following the failed MI5 agents of Slough House as they’re hunted by elite Russian operatives. The Russians seek revenge for an assassination authorized by MI5’s new director Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas). That mission was funded using money Diana didn’t realize came from right-wing media mogul Damien Cantor (Harry Lloyd). The Slow Horses weren’t actually involved, but Diana framed one of their former members, Sid Baker (Olivia Cooke), for the hit because she considered Sid expendable and wanted to protect the real assassin.
Cantor was trying to impress the Russians in hopes of getting a telecommunications deal. In order to hide his involvement in the assassination, he hired former CIA agent turned mercenary Frank Harkness (Hugo Weaving) to kill the Slow Horses. But Slough House leader Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) framed Cantor as a double agent and turned him over in Sid’s stead.
River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) found Sid hiding out at his grandfather’s home early in season 6 and thought she might have gone back there after he helped save her from being turned over to the Russians. They had exchanged a kiss before she ran off, and River returned to his grandfather’s home in high spirits in the season finale. But then he touched a tire iron sitting on the counter, which he had previously used to threaten Sid when he thought it was actually Frank hiding in his home. Soon after, he collapsed, having seemingly been poisoned.
Season 6 combined elements of Herron’s books Joe Country and Slough House, while season 7 will be based on Bad Actors. That book sees Diana return to the field as her Russian counterpart Vassily Rasnokov (Merab Ninidza) covertly comes to London and puts her in the crosshairs. Slough House agent Shirley Dander (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) also takes the spotlight as Lamb sends her to rehab to deal with her drug addiction and the loss of multiple coworkers.
Is River really dead?
Are you sure you want to know? The season 6 cliffhanger came straight from Slough House, and Herron made readers suffer waiting to learn River’s fate.
“I literally couldn’t believe what I just read,” Slow Horses season 6 showrunner Gaby Chiappe told Polygon. “It’s a very well-established series of books by that point, and he does something so shocking. It’s a provocation to the reader because you’ve got used to thinking, ‘Loads of people die. You never know who’s safe. But I don’t think he’d kill River, and I don’t think he’d kill Jackson Lamb.’ This sort of makes you think, maybe it’s even more unsafe.”
Assuming season 7 is as faithful to Herron’s books as the preview seasons have been, River will barely be in it. But he’s not actually dead. He and Sid were poisoned, and they spent a long time recovering. Expect to see River back in action for season 8, which is based on Herron’s 2025 book Clown Town.
When will Slow Horses season 7 be released?
A release date for season 7 has not been announced yet, but Apple has been extremely consistent with its schedule. You can expect the next season to premiere in September 2027.