Can you just think before you speak, then perhaps not speak?

Continuing my trip up Empire's top 20 TV of 2023

#8 :  Slow Horses

That this third season of Apple's Slow Horses begins with a Bond-worthy prologue in which Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù undertakes a frantic pursuit through the backstreets (and waterways) of Istanbul, in no way indicates that this deliberately understated spy series has sold out. Quite the contrary. Despite its luxurious budget and some artfully staged action set pieces, this brilliantly subversive take on the espionage milieu revels in its disheveled, ramshackle charm. A gravy-stained Gary Oldman (legendary) once again leads his team of misfits and rejects into battle as MI5 outcast Jackson Lamb, with a more personal story that sees one of their own (Saskia Reeves) snatched off the street in broad daylight. Where else can you see a game of chicken with an oil tanker and witness a grizzled spymaster attempt to foil a foot pursuit with the help of a (double) doner kebab?

Skipping over Starstuck (#9 here, #33 in The Guardian), we come to something that The Guardian has inexplicably ignored for the last two years - and I've absolutely no idea why.

We first met this in 2022 and, to be honest, I don't really have a lot new to say about this season. They've definitely got more money now because there are some big set pieces in this, but apart from that it's pretty much more of the glorious same. It's gripping, funny, sad and populated with great characters with Gary Oldman having an absolute blast as Jackson Lamb. Sope Dirisu and Katherine Waterson deserve namechecks here as worthy additions for this season, but all the old favourites are back (and most of them make it to the end of the season as well!).

If you've not seen this, then I wholeheartedly recommend it but start at the very beginning because there's a whole load of back-story that's referred to on an ongoing basis. It's on Apple TV+ and well worth a month's subscription to watch (and there's not many things I'd say that about!)

#10 - I enjoyed this

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