The sixth season of Slow Horses has come to a close, and the fallout from Frank Harkness's assault on Diana Taverner's safe house has left MI5's most dysfunctional team in tatters. The attack claimed the lives of the quiet but compelling J.K. Coe and the group's newest recruit, Emma Flyte, while River Cartwright's fate hangs in the balance after a nail-biting cliffhanger. With the team reeling, the question on everyone's mind is: how will these devastating losses change Slough House moving forward?
In a recent interview, Christopher Chung, who plays the endlessly confident Roddy Ho, opened up about his character's Season 6 arc and what the future holds. Chung discussed Roddy's evolving dynamic with the perpetually grumpy Jackson Lamb, his unexpected bond with the young tech whiz Reece, and how Flyte's death has hit Roddy harder than anyone expected.
Roddy Ho's Season 6 Journey
One of the standout moments of the season was the growing friction between Roddy and River Cartwright. As River desperately tries to uncover who's been calling his phone, Roddy remains characteristically unhelpful, offering advice that is both sincere and utterly tone-deaf. Chung revealed that he and Jack Lowden (River) had a blast filming those scenes, noting that they haven't had much one-on-one time since Season 1. "I think it's about Ho pushing River's buttons in a way that he doesn't really know," Chung explained. "Roddy thinks he's being really helpful and sincere, but he says this line at the end, 'I just thought you wanted to talk since your grandpops is dead.' It's just so blunt, but he is actually genuinely trying to be helpful."
A New Dynamic with Reece
Chung also had nothing but praise for his new scene partner, Lenny Rush, who plays the young and surprisingly sharp Reece. The two share a natural chemistry, with Reece often treating Roddy like a fellow child. "He's actually a master of comedy in a way that any 17-year-old should not be," Chung said, recalling a moment where Rush's spontaneous spaghetti-sucking during a scene left him struggling to keep a straight face. "I felt very protective of him on set, like he was my little brother."
The Weight of Loss
The season's tragic ending has left Roddy more determined than ever to step up. Chung noted that after Lamb's emotional visit to Blake's grave, there's a palpable shift in Slough House's atmosphere. "Roddy puts his 'agenting' hat on," he said. "He becomes a little bit more serious and focused on what needs to occur." But the loss of Flyte, who had become a close friend and potential love interest, has shattered Roddy's world. "It's a huge blow," Chung admitted. "It's made him more intent than ever on becoming the hero who will always save the day."
As for the fate of Slough House itself, Chung hinted that the team will never be the same. The safe house, which was a real location that was heavily modified for the show, is now a pile of rubble. "There were a lot of adjustments made to it," he said. "All the reeds we ran through were put in for us." The destruction serves as a metaphor for the team's fractured state.
With Season 7 already in the works, fans are eager to see how Roddy and the rest of the Slow Horses cope with their new reality. The show has always thrived on its blend of dark humor and high-stakes espionage, and the upcoming season promises to explore the emotional aftermath of this tragedy. For more on the finale's shocking moments, check out our breakdown of the brutal fight and the death that shook fans. And if you're wondering about the biggest casualties in the series so far, we've ranked the most shocking deaths in Slow Horses history.
