Slow Horses star Ruth Bradley has weighed in on the fallout from Flyte and the Dogs' failure. Slow Horses has been one of the most successful spy thrillers of recent times, and the show has been a critical darling since it debuted on Apple TV+ on April 1, 2022, and has so far run four seasons.
Based on the series of 'Slough House' novels by Mick Herron, the Slow Horses cast is headed up by Gary Oldman, with Kristin Scott Thomas, Sophie Okonedo, Jonathan Pryce, and Jack Lowden. Bradley joined the cast of Slow Horses season 4 in the role of MI5 Head of Security, and leader of the Dogs (MI5's tactical operations unit).
In an interview with ScreenRant's Tatiana Hullender, Bradley discussed the fallout from Flyte's season 4 failure, which saw a French assassin kill four of the Dogs, knocking out Flyte in the process. She discussed how this failure has changed the character in season 5, sending her back to basics, and impacting her relationship with Taverner. Check out her comments below:
ScreenRant:
As we start the season, Taverner still doesn’t particularly like or trust Flyte. Why do you think that is, and how does their dynamic evolve over the course of the season?
Ruth Bradley:
Great question. Season 4 ended pretty badly for Flyte. I think she started that season so confident and cocky, thinking she was going to be doing one job, but she ended up not succeeding in that at all. So, I feel like at the beginning of season 5, Flyte’s gone back to basics. She’s kind of got her hair back, she’s in her black suit, and she’s like, “I’m just going to keep my head down and do my work.” She’s aware that Taverner probably isn’t a fan of hers, but I really think Flyte loves Taverner and just wants any kind of crumbs from her. She just wants any kind of pat on the back. It’s like there’s an unconscious maternal thing going on for Flyte, where she just wants Taverner to tell her she’s great and give her a hug or something. Flyte’s much more careful this year in how she deals with Taverner, but she is really hoping for some kind of approval.
ScreenRant:
On the flip side, we as viewers can immediately tell that Claude Whelan should not be First Desk. What is Flyte’s view of him at the start of season 5, and does it change at all as the crisis keeps evolving?
Ruth Bradley:
I thought about that last year as well, how Flyte feels about Whelan. Honestly, he helped her get in, but I don’t think she has any professional respect for him. She would probably agree that he shouldn’t be First Desk, and she probably thinks that Taverener should be.
And though he may have been how she got in the door, we don’t go into finding out the details of that. There’s a bit more of that in the book, but he’s absolutely not the main person in the room. For her, it’s all about Taverner. She’s gone in through this door, but she’s hoping to get to the other side. I think she definitely can see how much it would’ve taken for Taverner to get to her position, and she can see that for herself. So, she’s not a professional or personal fan of Whelan at all.
What This Means For Slow Horses Season 5
Emma Flyte (Ruth Bradley) informs Diana Taverner that she has captured River in Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 5
Slow Horses season 5 looks set to be filled with plenty of conflict, and Flyte's relationship with Taverner will be put to the test. As Bradley states in her comments, Flyte still craves her superior's approval, but will be more careful with her this season. She will also come into conflict with Whelan along the way.
Bradley hints at how Flyte's personal relationships are going to affect her this season, and it will be interesting to see how she recovers from the setbacks of season 4. Only time will tell if she can finally earn the approval of Taverner and get back to her best as an MI5 agent over the course of the season.
Our Take On Flyte's Slow Horses Season 5 Arc
Emma Flyte (Ruth Bradley) shocked after Patrice's attackin Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 5
Flyte's failure in Slow Horses season 4 is something she's not used to, and it will have a big impact on how she approaches her career. It is set to be an uncertain season for a character who has always been sure of herself and her abilities, and now the rug has been pulled from under her.
As one of the most interesting and layered characters in Slow Horses, Flyte will have a challenging arc this season, questioning her abilities for the first time. Her admiration for Taverner could also play a role in her development, and could well wind up leading to her downfall long-term as well.
