You’d never expect Apple TV’s ‘Slow Horses’ successor to be so deliciously twisted

Mick Herron is quietly becoming one of Apple TV’s not-so-secret weapons. The adaptation of his successful novel, Slow horsesgave the streamer one of its sharpest shows while still letting Gary OldmanJackson Lamb has become a monument of the small screen. But long before that, Herron was writing about a different type of investigator: Zoë Boehm, a pragmatic detective with a complicated past. As the streamer now expands this multiverse with Emma Thompson at the top of his new series, his last Down the cemetery road takes the author’s characteristic sensibility out of the MI5 basement and into a much smaller, stranger domestic chapter of middle-class Oxford.

But what’s striking here is how easily Herron’s tone translates. Anchored by Thompson and Ruth Wilson, Down the cemetery road is funny without being flippant, and dark without being dark. The eight-episode series trades secret missions for dead ends and intrigue, but he is still very preoccupied with guilt, secrecy, and the quiet absurdity of English life. Herron’s world may appear neater with mowed lawns and symmetrical houses, but that very surface seems intentionally deceptive—a choice that makes every crack in its facade more difficult. Even if it never really reaches the rhythm of Slow horsesit’s always a very trusting and twisted mystery, which slowly burns away it is just as well played and well observed to reject.

What is “Down Cemetery Road” about?

With vibrations of a Agatha Christie the mystery meets Easttown mare, Down the cemetery road starts off as one of those cozy dramas stylized by the BBC, but evolves into something much darker. Art conservator Sarah (Wilson) is “happily” married to Mark (Tom Riley), a financial bro who charms everyone except his wife as if it’s some kind of performance review. The couple leads a very polite and sterile life until everything explodes, literally. Not even 20 minutes into the premiere, massive explosion tears through quiet Oxford neighborhood during a dinner organized by the couple.

Worried about how this all happened so suddenly, Sarah discovers that a child appears to be missing – the same one she saw earlier that day, chasing a butterfly through a tunnel. It’s at this point that Sarah can no longer compartmentalize the tragedy, even though Mark urges her to let it go. What follows is the slow unveiling of someone who can’t get over their instinct that something is seriously wrong.. With the police talking about a gas leak and her friends telling her to let it go, Sarah’s persistence leads her to private investigator Zoë Boehm (Thompson) and her ex-husband Joe (Adam Godley), who realize that the affair presents much clearer contours than expected. From there, the story takes a rather twisty turn as what appears to be a simple accident slowly widens into a web of conspiracies hidden in plain sight.

Without revealing too much, Down the cemetery road brilliantly moves from a neighborhood tragedy to something darker and much murkier than expected, especially with a 5 year old at the center of it all. What begins as a mundane search for answers becomes a world that is not ordinary, as these neat streets of Oxford suddenly seem staged with every passing smile. By the end of the second episode, it’s clear that the series isn’t just about a single disaster, but rather a chain reaction that leads to a massive government cover-up that goes all the way to the top.

“Down Cemetery Road” trusts the viewer to sit in unease

Although the writing in Down the cemetery road may not have the same edge as Oldman’s series, it still carries a sly awareness of what it means to be human and at its lowest. Written by Slow horses‘ Morwenna Banksit’s a series that unfolds at a slow, deliberate pace that matches the story’s growing paranoia and mystery. After watching the entire series for review, it’s clear that each episode feels like a progression toward a deeper conspiracy – even when there’s nothing explosive for long stretches, but this little detail changes the entire tone. Not to mention there is a good level of intrigue and suspense with its unpredictable government cover-up plot that builds in each episode, also keeping you engaged through its twists and turns, whether between the characters’ past or the present they are facing.

Visually, it’s also a series that relies on its very contradictions. Oxford is supposed to look tidy, but the camera picks up the imperfections perfectly. All thanks to the award-winning director Natalie Bailey (Run, Unusual suspects) setting the tone in the first two episodes, giving the series a painterly precision that reflects Sarah’s own obsession with dining. It’s an elegant work, although at times you can feel the pace stretching into moments, whether it’s conversations with supporting characters or lingering shots that seem more interested in creating mood rather than movement.

But that’s part of what makes it so compelling. He is very grounded and aware of his story in each image. Even when the mystery moves toward something bigger and draws on Department of Defense games, the writing never loses sight of that emotional throughline and the slow erosion of certainty in each stone Sarah and Zoe turn over. It’s not a flashy series at all. He’s still calm and precise, but he’s confident enough to let his leads take us to dark places as we move into evil territory. Plus, it’s funny in all the right places and will really make you laugh. It’s that balance that plays well with its story without ever seeming cheesy or obtrusive.

The ‘Down Cemetery Road’ Cast Keeps the Show on Track

For all the reasons Down the cemetery road works, it’s thanks to its tight cast who refuse to let any interest drift. Wilson is phenomenal and one of those actors who can turn a breakdown into a masterclass in restraint. You can practically see the thoughts flashing behind her eyes before she says anything, especially in the scenes she shares with Thompson and Nathan Stewart-Jarretta man who will stop at nothing to find the young girl.

Meanwhile, Thompson walks the line between detached and deeply hurt. Her Zoë Boehm is funny in the driest way possible and amazing to watch, really. She’s a legitimate force in our industry, and watching her kick ass in some of the most delicious ways is extremely fun to watch, especially when she’s giving us some very sharp glimpses of Zoe being raw and vulnerable. Not to mention, The chemistry she shares with Wilson in particular is prickly, which is exactly how it should beand makes the series incredibly fun to watch.

The support model adds its own eccentric edgesas Adeel Akhtaris a surprisingly high-strung bureaucrat, who we know is just trying to do his job to stay alive, but who is just as irritating to everyone around him. Darren BoydThe sinisterly charming government man is a joy to watch, especially after Apple TV. By tryingwhere he’s usually so nonchalant and a bit himbo. Stewart, who shares the most scenes with Wilson, elevates the girl’s mystery and humanizes much of the conspiracy. But one of the most captivating roles is that of Retired captain as a disturbingly calm government assassin who adds texture to Herron’s offbeat world. He’s cold, calculated and someone whose mind you can’t read, which adds to the fears we have for our leads.

At the end, Down the cemetery road Don’t aim for fireworks or to be next Slow horses. He’s more interested in the slow burn left behind and the impact of Herron’s morally gray worlds that usually nestle in these suburban streets. With Thompson and Wilson making sure every silence is loaded, it’s a deliciously twisted thriller that never forgets to be human, even when embroiled in secrets. While it’s not perfect and sometimes raises more questions, the result is smart, stylish, and just dark enough to keep you glued.

Down the cemetery road will premiere with two episodes on October 29 on Apple TV, with a new episode every Wednesday.

Release date

October 29, 2025

Network

Apple TV+

Showrunner

Carlton Cuse, Ryan J. Condal

Directors

Natalie Bailey

Writers

Morwenna Banks

Advantages and disadvantages

• Ruth Wilson and Emma Thompson deliver magnetic performances that elevate every quiet and difficult moment.
• The writing captures Mick Herron’s talent for dry wit and moral ambiguity without relying too heavily on exposition.
• The show’s slow pace builds real tension, rewarding patient viewers with an emotional payoff.

• The pacing sometimes lingers too long on atmosphere, causing a few episodes to lose momentum.
• Some subplots, particularly around supporting characters, feel underdeveloped or abruptly resolved.