Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Slow Horses season 5, episode 5.
Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb has just been handed the power to change literally everything in Slow Horses season 5. One of the most intriguing aspects of Slow Horses is the way it explores power dynamics in an immensely powerful organization.
MI5 is one of the top security agencies in the UK, and in some ways the world, but as far as the show portrays it, it’s riddled with in-fighting and corruption. From the leadership, to the way certain departments are treated and even targeted, MI5 needs a serious shake-up, and Jackson Lamb now has the means to do just that.
MI5 Appears To Be Incredibly Disorganized In Slow Horses
When the series began back in 2022, Diana Taverner occupied the role of Second Desk, or the Deputy Chief of MI5. However, Taverner did have to answer to her superior, Ingrid Tearney, as the Chief of the organization. But the issue is that Tearney was more occupied with optics than securing the nation.
Similarly, Taverner also appears to place an inordinate amount of value on how things appear, and occasionally makes choices based on how she can come out on top. And when Tearney was forced to resign thanks to Taverner and Lamb, Taverner suspected a promotion would be around the corner.
Unfortunately for Taverner, Tearney was replaced with the incompetent Claude Whelan, who appeared to have little to no experience of running a security agency. And while he initially had goals to be honest and transparent, this quickly evaporated when Whelan’s own murky past was threatened to be exposed.
Jackson Lamb Now Has The Key To Expose MI5’s Leadership
Claude Whelan may appear like an honest and decent family man, but he has had a number of sexual indiscretions in his past which he has tried desperately to sweep under the rug. And when tabloid journalist Dodie Gimball, the wife of a mayoral candidate, threatens to expose him, he fights back.
Claude used his role in MI5 to retrieve private information about Dodie and Dennis Gimball, and then went to their home to threaten them in a way that not only caused issues in their relationship, but could also destroy their lives personally and professionally.
As luck would have it, Dennis recorded this encounter, and when River Cartwright and J.K. Coe were accidentally involved in his death, they obtained the tape realizing it had evidence of their encounter with Gimball at the time of his death. Now, Jackson Lamb is in possession of this tape after River handed it over.
With Claude Whelan Out Of MI5, It Makes Sense For Diana Taverner To Step Up
If Lamb decides to share this recording, he could get a lot of people in trouble. However, if he chose to use the recording more subtly, with his typical tactical approach, he could leverage some major changes in MI5.
If Lamb were to threaten to expose Whelan’s secrets, he could potentially coerce the MI5 First Desk to resign, or get special privileges for his team at Slough House. If Whelan resigns, Taverner could take over, assuming she isn’t passed over for a promotion twice.
Diana Taverner may not be the perfect leader for MI5, but considering her history with Lamb, and their mutual respect and willingness not to step on each others’ toes, this could be a strong play for Lamb and Slough House. However, whether this will actually play out remains to be seen in Slow Horses season 5 and beyond.
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