Espionage, Bureau of Legends, Sauron… Behind the scenes of season 4 of Slow Horses with Jack Lowden

Quietly, the squeaky spy comedy from Apple TV +, Slow Horses, has established itself as one of the best series of the moment. As evidenced by the shower of nominations received at the last Emmy Awards, the Oscars of American television. The adventures of the nickel-plated feet of MI5, chaperoned by a very bear-like Gary Oldman, were in the running for nine trophies. The configuration could repeat itself on December 9 when the Golden Globes reveal their selection. The fourth season of the adaptation of Mick Herron's novels was not unworthy in putting Jackson Lamb's foal, the young River Cartwright, on the grill. While investigating a hitman network, the agent with a good student profile suddenly discovered the truth about his origins and his father. A shock accompanied by his interpreter, the Scottish actor Jack Lowden. At Figarothe muse of British independent cinema deciphers this outcome which reshuffles the cards. Spoiler alert.

LE FIGARO. – This fourth season lifts the veil on the origins of River. A fairly intimate turn for Slow Horses .
Jack LOWDEN. – It was wildly exciting. Our director Adam Randall was full of ideas to make the most of this choice. He put River at the center of a western atmosphere. Transforming him into a lonely cowboy who wanders a gloomy French village. We filmed north of Paris in Seraincourt, around Saint-Germain-en-Laye. We were even accommodated very close to the castle where Louis XIV was born. The gardens at our hotel were incredible. Reverse the experience of River, who only encounters hostile inhabitants who confuse him with his terrible mercenary brother! In one scene, River asks a bar owner for directions. He was played by an actor my mother adores! Another fun moment, River's escape on a moped. She belonged to a local guy and was extremely temperamental.

This season is a roller coaster ride for your character!
River is a young man who has been lied to a lot. It's probably an occupational hazard when you're the grandson of a master spy and you become a spy yourself! But this time, it's violent. He was convinced that his father had died in a car accident, and then he met him alive. Anyone gets a shock when family secrets are revealed. It was fun to push the envelope even further for him. What is painful is that this lie comes from his revered grandfather, who is sinking into dementia and must be placed in a retirement home. One of the great fears of life is seeing our loved ones diminished and slowly disappearing.

The first episode of the season starts strong and even makes us believe that River was killed by a hitman.
It was very daring and quite risky. Was it really possible to fool the public? How credible did we want to be? I really wondered how this could work. I was also shocked by the scene that closed this season. River, who discovered that his father is a psychopath, and his mentor Jackson Lamb lean at the counter of a pub ordering whiskey which they savor in silence. This is Jackson Lamb's way of showing comfort. It's connected with the universe Slow Horses : no big hugs, no pipes saying we'll get through this. The world of espionage is one of solitude, it is the price of secrets.

Were you surprised by the revelations about River's parents?
I really like the exchange, worthy of an old film noir, in St Pancras station between River and his father Frank, played by Hugo Weaving, a charming partner who excels in the roles of stoic villains. River finally understands that, as his father says, the best thing is to stop running, to run away. Frank watched him. He thinks River isn't doing too badly. At this moment, you see a brief glint in River's eyes. He has difficulty accepting the compliment that is addressed to him in a nonchalant manner. As if his father had just attended his school's football game. He seeks approval from this sire and at the same time, he hates him. Now I would like to see his mother come back. What does she look like? In the series, she is seen as someone distant who doesn't care about him.

« The legends office is a masterpiece. Mathieu Kassovitz is brilliant.”

Jack Lowden

Slow Horses is one of those rare series, whose popularity and quality increase each season. Its season 3 garnered nine Emmy nominationsthe Oscars of American television.
I sincerely believe that we improved each time we returned to your screens. I'm glad everyone is waking up to the moment we reach the top of our game (laughter). Especially as we begin filming the sixth season! We are fortunate to work with a wonderful showrunner and former actor Will Smith who instinctively understands our way of doing things. Sometimes certain scenes are decided on the same day. Slow Horses exposes the personal and individual problems of spies and shows that spying is not sexy: paperwork, watching poor quality videos, eavesdropping. Our agents are ordinary beings. To prepare for the role, we were supervised by a former MI6 officer, who taught us the art of shadowing. I also immersed myself in The legends office. For me, this French series is a masterpiece. Mathieu Kassovitz is brilliant.

Besides Slow Horses , you made a surprise appearance in the second season of Rings of Power in the guise of a young Sauron, betrayed by his flock. Is it impressive to portray one of the most evil forces in literature?
It was crazy. I have always been a huge Tolkien fan. Lord of the Rings is the greatest trilogy ever made, ranking in my eyes even ahead of The Godfather ! My role was tiny – just two days of filming – but I was on cloud nine. I was dressed in a magnificent velvet tunic, surrounded by orcs, who returned to their iPhones once the stage was over. Like you, I couldn't believe Sauron was stabbed by his troops. Between takes, I was able to talk with an expert, a doctoral student in Tolkien. I asked him all the questions that came to mind!