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I’ve been watching one of my favorite shows, “Slow Horses,” now in it’s 6th season. I’m waiting for the 5th episode. And, yes, I love the BBC 6-episode approach to a full season. Just the right length; all killer, no filler.
SPOILER ALERT.
Anyway, I’ve been frustrated with parts of this season (and judging by the reviews I’ve seen, I may be the only person to feel this way).
I keep thinking about the maxim, “Bad decisions make good stories.” Every writer learns this one early on.
We all understand it. Perfect characters are perfectly dull (and unlikeable). When characters fall short, we identify with them, their foibles make them real. Plus, the bad decisions often lead to conflict, raising the stakes, and open the door to redemption arcs.
But I have to say that I intensely dislike it when otherwise smart characters make incredibly dumb decisions. That’s not good storytelling, that’s lazy and annoying. And it’s even more annoying when that stupid decision is completely out of character.
“Slow Horses,” I’m looking at you.
Part of the appeal of this show, or just about any crime drama, is watching smart characters figure it out. We see that consistently with Jackson Lamb. He’s very, very good at spy craft. His brain is his greatest weapon. We see an old episode of “Columbo” with Peter Falk and it’s a delight to watch this guy, sloppy and easy to underestimate, pick apart an alibi. (Lamb and Columbo have a lot in common, btw, where the outward presentation belies the brilliance below the surface).
So why am I so annoyed? Because River and Sid are incredibly lame as they try to evade two lethal Russian assassins. Every time they escape, they seem to put down their guard and . . . forget they are being chased by assassins? At one point, after barely surviving, they are walking smack down the middle of a dark street talking about whatever. Bickering, or something. And then headlights crest the hill and — oh, gosh, it’s those pesky Russian assassins again. So they run! Do they run into the woods? No. They run right down the middle of the street. What the holy hell?
Fortunately, they are saved by Coe. Then they go to make a phone call in an arcade. Coe goes off to play video games, River sulks and watches Sid makes a phone call. And lo, here come the Russian assassins again! Why is this a surprise? Wouldn’t they want to be vigilant in some way? Watch the door, maybe? Because there are two heavily-armed assassins trying to kill them!!! Wouldn’t that put you on the alert?
Coe decides to take on one of the assassins by himself, in a bathroom, with only a knife as his weapon. He doesn’t know anything about this assassin, not his skills, not his abilities, not his strength. But he makes this incredibly unnecessary, misguided decision because . . . he’s an idiot? Or because it will (supposedly) make for good television? Again, they’ve opted to serve the gods of Action over the gods of Good Sense.
Yes, bad decisions. But also, bad spies. Awful at their work. Sure, it all leads to dramatic scenes. Running and jumping, explosions, terrible shooting (insanely bad shooting). The bad decisions serve the “action” gods, but do nothing for the intellect, which is, I would contend, the real appeal of spy craft.
I get that River is flawed, imperfect. Those traits make him appealing, a guy (like us!) to root for. But please, let’s stop short of making him a blithering idiot.
At least we have Lamb to make things right.
