Slow Horses Showrunner on Tonal Change of Season 5 and taking advantage of his most boring character [Exclusive Interview]

Last summer, Word was released that it would be your last season with “slow horses”. How was this decision born?

Will Smith: Well, unfortunately, it was a practical decision only based on the imminent need for scripts for the Six series. And I was doing so much work on the five series that there was no way that I was going to be able to do it. I don’t want to leave, but it was too, I couldn’t prepare the scripts, they couldn’t respect the schedule, so it was with great sadness on both sides. But I also think that I took the show – it does not conclude anything by means, and the show will move to even bigger and better things and Mick has just released the ninth book, and I’m sure there will be a 10th, 11th, 12th. So it will continue indefinitely. But in terms of my contribution, I think it concludes certain arcs that were launched in the first series. I don’t want to give spoilers, but it looks like a nice place to leave. The show is in good position, I hope, in a creative way.

I understand that when you wrote season 5, you turned the fourth season simultaneously and edit the third season. So, did you know that season 5 would be your last when you write it? Do you have this meaning, as a writer, like “Ah, I put the final touch on the last script that I will touch”?

There was a few moments when it was like: “Oh, it is the last day that I filmed with these actors”, and things like that, and it was very emotional. But it also continues. You finish the shooting, then you have the ADR, then there were microphones, then we had the projection of the actors and the crew on Sunday. It was fantastic to see everyone again. And then, I help with the – Roddy Ho made an Ama on Reddit shortly after that, and I am one of this. So it’s like “Oh, I haven’t left yet.” It did not hit me, but I’m sure when it is, it will be like “UGH”. But with regard to the moment when I wrote this series, everything you think, it is to make it be the best possible and just like: “Where are the characters? Is what they would do and say at this stage?” Thinking about them. And it’s the objective center, it’s the show.

Do you remember your last day on the set if there have been special moments that have marked you that you will remember for a long time?

Yeah. There were two really beautiful moments where the accessories, Nick Atkinson and Harry Larkin, they gave me a box of certain entertainment accessories, which was completely out of nowhere. And then production, they gave me a book, I have it there [gestures behind him] And there is a photo of – everyone from the crew and everyone in distribution all had a page, all the departments, and they all wrote the most incredible messages. I really didn’t expect it. I did not know that people felt the way they seem to say that they did with the things they wrote. And this is something that I will cherish forever, because I am absolutely blown away by that.

It’s wonderful. Can you give me an overview of one of the accessories you mentioned there?

Yeah, where are they? I can take them out. [rustles around and holds up items in front of the camera] I … I don’t know if I should have that. My God, I will probably receive an Apple call. I have identity cards for slow horses. I obtained the false passport of Jonathan Pryce, of the false money, the grandfather of the river buried his flight fund. Do I confess to theft here? And then, I also obtained the min’s plaque from the church.

Amazing.