Comment by dclowd9901
1 day ago
Slow Horses is so equal-opportunity with how it hands out ineptitude. About the only character on the show who isn't inept is Lamb (Gary Oldman), but is such a wretched character, you could actually hardly find a moment to root for him. It's fantastic.
I'm Italian and I was rooting for him all along. He's a good chap.
Nooo, the character is such a wretched human that you can't help but root for him.
He's being an ass in order to push people to do better, and at the end of the day (over and over again) he cares about Justice or at least the National Interest, but he cares about the Slow Horses more (in his way).
The flatulanece (et al) works as a filter: can you see past the boorishness?
I'd argue that Coe is more than competent, just, you know, detached most of the time. Lamb always knows what needs be done, just never shares, and often lets things happen until what needs be done happens on its own or is inevitable.
Coe has extraordinarily high SA and makes decisions immediately. They might seem impulsive, but when he acts, it is always with forethought.
(Yeah, Coe is our favourite character.)
Coe is insightful and good at violence, but also (!spoiler for latest season) responsible for the most hilariously unfortunate cock-up of the show so far…
Louisa too. Before Coe came along she was for sure the best agent of the bunch; between the two of them it's a tough call imo.
Although I think Standish might have a leg up on all of them, including (sometimes) Lamb... but I'm biased since she's my favorite :)
> Coe has extraordinarily high SA
What does 'SA' mean? I'm not familiar with it.
situational awareness
Roddy's portrayed as very technically competent too, just, a knob.
I like to think of Lamb as an inverse Columbo - he's rude and horrible to people rather than Columbo's charm. They share the grubby look and intelligence.
I would argue Taverner is meant to be very competent, although she of course has her own flaws, and his hardly a character for one whom is meant to feel sorry
> such a wretched character, you could actually hardly find a moment to root for him.
Hmm really?
In the first couple episodes, he definitely is, but I think they level him out a bit later on so that the viewer actually ends up liking him.
In the books, he is much more consistently unlikable.
(Don't bother with the books, IMO--show is better while still hewing quite close to them).