S04.E04: Returns

[Snazzy Daisy]

Synopsis:

Quote

Taverner is desperate to hide dangerous secrets.

River seeks answers at his grandfather’s house.

Air Date: Sep 25, 2024

 

[paigow]

Not much of an interrogation for Chapman - ask once where Old Cartwright is, then beaten to death for not answering...

[aghst]

How do Harkness and Patrice know where Chapman’s flight fund is?

Seems everyone knew he had one?

The Arabs lining that place with plastic and cutting instruments was like a team of Dexters but probably inspired by what reportedly happened to that Saudi journalist.

So Harkness is a mercenary and Winters went crazy with the mission.

Did Duffy ever outwit River as Flyte just trapped him at the end of the episode?

 

[paigow]

River just found out that he is Aegon Targaryen? 

[MissLucas]

Yeah, there's definitely therapy in River's future. So Les Arbres was/is a mercenary/cult amalgam - intriguing concept. It definitely looks as if Cartwritght's senior daughter got entangled with the cult leader (hardly by accident) and he traded her for guns, ammo and identities. Not a good look.

Speaking of looks: funny that they apparently had problems finding someone who believably could pass as River's brother yet young Sam Chapman was almost perfect.

I loved the scene of Taverner observing Whelan's performance of social skills - silently seething. And as suspected he's not quite as incompetent as he wants people to think. Sending Giti to dig deeper revealed the link between the bombing and the assassination attempt on Granddad.

Dark horse has one of the best jobs - no lines, just finger drumming - can't wait for another explosion.

Those train station scenes felt very Bourne-like, not complaining.

I wonder who the real target of the Westacre bombing was.

[aghst]

Harkness is the one who fathered all those children, including Patrice, the guy Cartwright killed and probably River himself?

So maybe River's mother was already pregnant when she was brought back to England.

 

 

[paigow]

6 hours ago, MissLucas said:

Dark horse has one of the best jobs - no lines, just finger drumming - can't wait for another explosion.

He will end up saving River / Lamb somehow...

[Snazzy Daisy]

The stakes are getting higher and we have 2 episodes left.

That stolen taxicab is proven to be very useful. 😆

Hugo Weaving has been given more than 2 lines in this episode. Finally! 

The on-site butchering squad is clearly inspired by the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Via Sam Chapman, David delivered cold bodies, weapons, ammunition and money to Les Arbres in exchange for his daughter. At this point, did she give birth to River already? Remember Frank’s MO — mothers leave, babies stay.

River going back to David’s house is a misstep but he is on a mission. He retrieves some drawings from his memento box and compares them to the mural in Les Arbres. He knows that his mom was one of the women held there. He recognizes the fish!

Emma Flyte has River for now. Once she has all the info out of River, will she report everything back to Diana (who threatens to fire her) or will she go straight to the new First Desk aka the “sanctimonious fool”? We know she is desperate to prove herself, she can use the info to her own advantage. Am hoping for a twist that Louisa will come and save River from Emma. 

In between all the chaos, Lamb still manages to take a dig at Catherine.

Quote

“You wouldn’t have lost him if he was a bottle of gin.”

Come on, it isn’t her fault.

And Roddy’s lack of self awareness is bluntly hilarious. 😂

Quote

“My one weakness is beautiful women, which is why you’re not a threat to me.”

 

[aghst]

That cut by Lamb of Standish is also suppose to reflect that he feels as betrayed by Partner as Standish was.

So while he takes potshots at everyone in Slough House, it's suppose to be some kind of commiseration?

The Ringer Prestige TV podcast theorized that Ho is being honey trapped by Harkness pretending to be a woman interested in Ho and getting all this intel, like Cartwright's address.  Harkness was going to get intel on what MI5 may have already.

Supposedly in the books, they show a lot of Ho's interior monologue and he's full of himself.

[pasdetrois]

Finally, some tradecraft, and the slow horses are stumbling toward working together again. Loved the zingers.

[paigow]

Did Marcus set his alarm clock for 1985?

[Snazzy Daisy]

The doppelgänger — according to Slow Horses.  🙄

 

Edited September 28 by Snazzy Daisy

[MissLucas]

1 hour ago, Snazzy Daisy said:

The doppelgänger!

 

Okay, beardless Jack Lowden/River kinda looks like him or vice versa - enough for being half brother. Doppelgänger? Still iffy.

[abbyzenn]

It was rather stupid for RIver not to wait a bit longer before coming out of hiding in the attic.

I've read the book this season is based on and know the overarching story of the of Les Arbes but it's funny how much I can't remember.  I didn't remember at all about the Les Arbes guy meeting with the Arabs and I don't rember what happens with David Cartwright.

I've read 3 of the books but find I like the show better than the books.

[marybennet]

Does Jack Lowden not play River and the doppelganger, who is just made up to look more mousy as doppelganger/JL than as River/JL? 

[Rickster]

3 hours ago, abbyzenn said:

It was rather stupid for RIver not to wait a bit longer before coming out of hiding in the attic.

I've read the book this season is based on and know the overarching story of the of Les Arbes but it's funny how much I can't remember.  I didn't remember at all about the Les Arbes guy meeting with the Arabs and I don't rember what happens with David Cartwright.

I've read 3 of the books but find I like the show better than the books.

I’ve been rereading the book and there are no Arabs in it, so your memory is accurate. I think that change makes sense, plotwise. Some other changes leave me scratching my head.

[MissLucas]

On 9/30/2024 at 8:49 PM, marybennet said:

Does Jack Lowden not play River and the doppelganger, who is just made up to look more mousy as doppelganger/JL than as River/JL? 

Well that would explain why I couldn't find a name for Bertrand's actor in the credits LOL!

ETA: Theory is apparently confirmed by Will Smith (creator) in a podcast.

Edited October 2 by MissLucas