Any of you watching Slow Horses?

[normzone]

I'm not shilling for the franchise - there scarcely is one.

But Mick Herron wrote a really fun series of novels about the spy types who wash out of the Brit equivalent of our CIA, which is MI5.

It's inconvenient to fire somebody who made it into the ranks and then screwed up, so reassignment to Slough House makes you a "Slow Horse", in the hopes that the tedium will induce you to quit.

The books are wonderful, the Apple TV series has just begun and as usual the transition from book to video has it's challenges, but I've bought all the books and will see what happens with the series. For $5 a month I can afford to gamble.

And, if you're an addict of the printed word as I am, I recommend the books.

[averb]

I would be interested to hear your opinion of the TV series.
I too think that that books are brilliant and quite unique. I can't think of another book that is similar in feel.

Having said that I can recommend any of Peter Temples books

Cheers

Steve

[tommy2cyl]

I'd watch Gary Oldman read the phone book.  Excellent actor.  First episode was enjoyable.  Was not familiar with the author prior to the broadcast.

[Mr Pootle]

I've got Real Tigers beside me now as the next book to read.

[normzone]

"I would be interested to hear your opinion of the TV series. I too think that that books are brilliant and quite unique. I can't think of another book that is similar in feel. Having said that I can recommend any of Peter Temples books. Cheers - Steve"

Thanks for the recommendation Steve. Whenever a book goes to film there are the usual challenges - all the angst and thinking that the character did in the book carries poorly to the screen.

And the casting is or is not great - I agree with the comment about Gary Oldman - I knew nothing of him but my much more video wiser wife said "Don't worry about him, he's an experienced actor and whatever he does he does well." The Jackson Lamb character is a hoot in the books, and even the author says "I still don't know what he did to get sent to Slough House, and I may never know". We get hints about something in Berlin, a church on fire, soldiers and gunshots in the book. He plays smarter, more devious AND more caring in the books.

[normzone]

"I'd watch Gary Oldman read the phone book.  Excellent actor.  First episode was enjoyable.  Was not familiar with the author prior to the broadcast."

That compliment is up there with my praise of authors "I'd buy their grocery lists". Having built Jackson Lamb in my printed fiction lobe of my brain, I hope I get to see enough episodes filmed to see Gary Oldman fully develop the character. I'll have to go see what else he's done.

[normzone]

"I've got Real Tigers beside me now as the next book to read."

Carry on, be advised that Real Tigers is my least favorite of the books series, but only because all of the others are so hot that one book needs to be at the end of the line, and that's the one for me. Don't get me wrong, it's still a killer book (unfortunately for somebody in the book ;-) )

Finish that one and forge forward with confidence ;-)

[Moparnut72]

I just finished My Life in Bikes last night. I check it out as I need something new to read.
kk

[normzone]

I would be interested to hear your opinion of the TV series.
I too think that that books are brilliant and quite unique. I can't think of another book that is similar in feel.
Cheers - Steve

It's just after one AM here in San Diego and I've seen episode two, season one.

Interesting to see how cuts between chapters in the book are handled in video - I approve.

And little teasers of the characters seen in the trailer are being fleshed out in full scenes, and they're more true to the original character than the trailer implies.

It's a good ride, if Apple TV tries to upcharge me I'll go along to see if it encourages them to continue the series. Unfortunately show producers generally drop a good thing too soon, for a multitude of reason$.

[chuck peterson]

Yes, thanks! Great show

What are these “books” you speak about?

 

[john fish]

I bought the first book— Slow Horses— based on a WG recommendation. Very enjoyable read. I’ll be buying the rest of the series.

[Lumpy Idle]

hi norm,
not to put too fine a point on it but its my understanding is that MI5 is akin to our FBI and the MI6 is like our CIA. plz. correct me if i am wrong here.

[Mr Pootle]

MI6 is our spies, while MI5 catches their spies.

[normzone]

MI6 is our spies, while MI5 catches their spies.

Mr. Pootle should know, seeing how he is The Who is Live At Leeds.

And Wikipedia confirms his statement.

The next book comes out (checks calendar) May 10th, I'm on tenterhooks.

[normzone]

Last night I watched the final episode of Season 1 - my opinions follow. Oh, and [Chuck Peterson]? Books are kind of a ... Hmm, how to explain this ... well, think of them as smart phones but you provide your own battery and data plan 

I approve of the characterizations as cast and developed - although, of course, they didn't match my visualizations from reading the books prior to seeing the show.

It was odd getting used to listening to a British accent - but since it's set in London, DUH ... in my mind's ear I did not develop that when I was reading.

Slough House is cleaner and newer than I imagined it, and also newer than the Mick Herron described it. For that matter London is newer than it was when I was there in 2000.

I preferred the ending of the first book to the ending in the first show - I'll not share any spoilers so you can form your own opinions.

Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb is true to the book. I enjoy seeing him interact with Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner - I have always been attracted to assertive, competent women, but Lamb takes her down a notch periodically and she well deserves it.

Catherine Standish (Saskia Reeves) is wonderful in the role - She deals patiently with Lamb's abuse and gently mothers all the other slow horses, and further more periodically social engineers near immediate answers to hacking challenges that Rodney Ho (Christopher Chung) says will take him hours.

Go read the books! (Disclaimer - addict of the printed word with a missionary complex, your experience and patience for text and complex storytelling may vary, ask your doctor if books are right for you)

[tommy2cyl]

Just finished first season last nite.  I haven't read any of the books, so no preconceived notions on characters and plot.  Really enjoyed the banter and smartness of the script.  I find the cast to be excellent.  Looking forward to season 2.

[normzone]

The after wrap up, about minutes 48 - 56, is more interesting than the rest of the hour, in my opinion, although I'm a DELETED MULTIPLE ADVERBS . It explains a lot, and foreshadows more. I love devious writing. I'm trying to get a tabletop roleplaying game launched locally, channeling both Firefly and Slow Horses, with rock and roll overtones - I'm calling it Starpunk Invasion. Probably won't get off the ground, but even the planning is fun, and it leads to meeting some interesting people. 

[PJPR01]

Gritty, devious and well produced…Oldman is phenomenal as always…

[Fnq1000]

Hi Normzone
Appreciate the background to the books, I have started watching the series without any preconceptions. Enjoying it very much.

What you haven’t lead on is the theme song. It gets under your skin! Nick Cave’s ‘Red right hand’ does so in a similar way.

I’ll admit that I was perplexed with ‘Strange games’ so familiar, so apt for the series but who’s voice - Mick Jagger! He’s still got it. Cheers

[normzone]

It's actually within my extremely limited guitar skills - I know a dozen or so chords, and this falls into those.

It's fun to sing also.

https://guitartwitt.com/strange-game-chords-by-mick-jagger/

[Mr Pootle]

Sadly it's on Apple TV, which I don't subscribe to, so I'll not see the TV series. My wife discovered the books during lockdown, and persuaded my to read them. They're great.

[normzone]

In my location its $5 USD a month at this time.

[twowheeladdict]

When it comes to horses, I prefer the late Dick Francis mystery crime novels. 

[averb]

Last night I watched the final episode of Season 1 - my opinions follow. Oh, and [Chuck Peterson]? Books are kind of a ... Hmm, how to explain this ... well, think of them as smart phones but you provide your own battery and data plan 

I approve of the characterizations as cast and developed - although, of course, they didn't match my visualizations from reading the books prior to seeing the show.

It was odd getting used to listening to a British accent - but since it's set in London, DUH ... in my mind's ear I did not develop that when I was reading.

Slough House is cleaner and newer than I imagined it, and also newer than the Mick Herron described it. For that matter London is newer than it was when I was there in 2000.

I preferred the ending of the first book to the ending in the first show - I'll not share any spoilers so you can form your own opinions.

Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb is true to the book. I enjoy seeing him interact with Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner - I have always been attracted to assertive, competent women, but Lamb takes her down a notch periodically and she well deserves it.

Catherine Standish (Saskia Reeves) is wonderful in the role - She deals patiently with Lamb's abuse and gently mothers all the other slow horses, and further more periodically social engineers near immediate answers to hacking challenges that Rodney Ho (Christopher Chung) says will take him hours.

Go read the books! (Disclaimer - addict of the printed word with a missionary complex, your experience and patience for text and complex storytelling may vary, ask your doctor if books are right for you)

Interesting about your impression of Slough House, here is a quote from an interview with MH about the TV adaption

He was working as a sub-editor on a legal publication and would walk past the building that became Slough House each day on his way to the office. (He is particularly impressed that See-Saw managed to get permission to use the outside of the building in Aldersgate Street: “It’s precisely the place that in my imagination I situated the department.” )

Steve

[normzone]

Interesting about your impression of Slough House, here is a quote from an interview with MH about the TV adaption

He was working as a sub-editor on a legal publication and would walk past the building that became Slough House each day on his way to the office. (He is particularly impressed that See-Saw managed to get permission to use the outside of the building in Aldersgate Street: “It’s precisely the place that in my imagination I situated the department.” ) Steve

Yeah, I wonder how much of the delta is a product of my fevered imagination. Then again, as you go through the introduction to the building (in multiple books), you get a feeling of mold, decay and poor lighting that doesn't come across in the video.

"When it comes to horses, I prefer the late Dick Francis mystery crime novels. "

Thank you, [twowheeladdict], I'm off to search. 

[averb]

I haven't seen the show so I don't know what Slough House looks like but you're right that the books definitely convey the feeling of grime, mould and decay.
This might be why I can never listen to audio books as the voices and accents always sound 'wrong' to me.

Steve

[chuck peterson]

Reviving an old thread here..

Just watched the ending to season 3 and it’s a barn burner! Check it out!

I don’t think Oldman has washed his hair in three seasons either

Great series to watch

[PJPR01]

About 1/2 way thru season 3...it's a good one again!  Oldman is absolutely spectacular as you said...I do hope there's a few more seasons as well.

For more lighthearted entertainment, also watching the Reacher series from Lee Child's books...Season1 was great, Season 2 OK, not spectacular, but still enjoyable!

Another good series was Lioness!

[normzone]

Not being familiar with Oldman's work, based on a Reddit thread I googled "oldman drexel youtube". OMG - it's about a ten minute role Oldman played as a pimp - the story of how he got the voice is interesting. I'm disappointed with the current series last episode, but it's typical video - if there's no gun in the book, there's a pistol in the video. If there's a pistol in the book, there are automatic carbines in the video, and if there's one auto carbine in the book, everybody carries them in the video.

That and the screen writers omit two key scenes from the ending of the book ... but this is the price we pay for video, I guess.

[balvenie]

I would be interested to hear your opinion of the TV series.
I too think that that books are brilliant and quite unique. I can't think of another book that is similar in feel.

Having said that I can recommend any of Peter Temples books

Cheers

Steve

ditto Peter Temple and his TV series, "Jack Irish", was absolutely excellent even to the "minor" characters who were a connoisseurs's delight.