Slow Horses Season 6 is a gripping thrill ride in more ways than one. A quiet character study amid loud, heartbreaking battles. From new characters to older ones we haven’t seen in a while, every bit of development we get gives us compelling arcs that not only stick the landing, but result in quietly moving narrative moments we still can’t stop thinking about. And with a season as intense as this, naturally, actors have hopes for their characters the same way we do. We spoke with Saskia Reeves about Catherine Standish and the quieter journey she goes on this season, wanting to understand what’s in the future for Seasons 7 and 8.
Part of what’s so captivating about Standish as a character is that even when she’s silent, she’s often thinking of all the ways to make it out of the situation they’re in. To fight another day. How to protect those around her. When asked about a moment that she appreciates throughout the season after everything the characters have gone through, Reeves mentions a moment that’s stayed with us all.
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She tells us, “She [Standish] doesn’t live in a healthy environment, so I think she does the best she can by bringing them together [at the church]. To have some sort of ritual to think about the people they’ve loved and lost, even if Lamb [Gary Oldman] ruins it.” As a result, with more grief and turmoil in their paths, Standish becomes a character we all get concerned with—someone we want to protect. Saskia Reeves feels the same way, stating, “I just don’t want her to drink. I don’t want her to fall off the wagon.”
Interestingly, Reeves also tells us that Catherine has to “suck a lot of things up,” because the shock of Lamb shooting Charles is still something that crosses her mind as a character. What also likely impacts the character is that she didn’t get to go to many meetings in Season 6 because Slough House needed to go dark. They needed to be on the outskirts of their regular lives, which makes everything they’re facing all the more challenging.
Saskia Reeves is incredibly passionate about Standish’s character. It’s clear right off the bat, and there’s a glow in her expression when we note just how easy it is to care for her. How we all want the best for her, even as fans. There’s so much Catherine goes through in the silence, and with every episode, Reeves shows us just how much she’s trying to ensure that she [Catherine] fights through everything she’s facing.
It’s what makes the character so intriguing because we get the best of her abilities in a season where she’s quieter. We have to look at the actor to see their intentional choices in bringing to life the emotions the character isn’t saying out loud. And Catherine Standish ultimately doesn’t have to. We know what she’s facing because we’ve been with her for years now, and it’s easy to understand how hard she’s fighting day by day.
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Slow Horses Season 6 is now streaming on Apple TV.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Apple TV