Slow Horses director breaks down that thrilling episode 5 cliffhanger

*Warning - contains spoilers for Slow Horses season 6 episode 5.*

The fifth and penultimate episode of Slow Horses season 6 came to a dramatic ending, as River made a bold move in order to save Sid from being sent to Bulgaria, to be handed to the Russians.

As River escaped a guard and stole a car, Sid also freed herself and ran to him, with the duo driving away through an airfield.

River then stopped the car and allowed Sid to escape on foot, while he distracted the Park agents surrounding the vehicle. Before driving away from her, however, River got out of the car and the pair shared a kiss.

Speaking with Radio Times about season 6, director Adam Randall said that the sequence at the airfield was his "absolute favourite" from across the six episodes - despite it almost not coming together.

Randall revealed that, with just eight days ahead of that scene being shot, the team lost their original location, and had to re-write the scene to fit the new surroundings.

Randall said of the scene: "I think it does everything that I love about the show really, which is that it's full of action and tension and suspense, but it's hopefully very funny at times. And it's all driven by character.

"But then the thing that it does, that doesn't happen often in the show, is that, to me, it feels genuinely emotional. I feel really emotional by the end of it because I care so deeply about these two characters and what they're going through, and that they're sort of torn apart. It's got this anarchic quality that hopefully leaves you slightly shaken by the end, and emotional."

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Randall also praised River star Jack Lowden and Sid star Olivia Cooke, saying they are "absolute incredible" in the scene, particularly given that "a lot of it was improvised," due to the last minute location change.

"Their dialogue, and even the action stuff, we had to figure that out a week before," he said. "So it had a kind of indie film quality to it, even though it's a massive show."

There is now just one episode left to go in this season, but never fear - Slow Horses has already been renewed for seasons 7 and 8, with Randall returning for the eighth instalment.

Slow Horses is available to stream on Apple TV. Season 6 is being released weekly, with new episodes arriving on Wednesdays. Start your seven-day Apple TV free trial.

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Authors

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.