Slow Horses: 7 times Jackson Lamb proved he is the best and the worst boss

Jackson Lamb might behave like one of the least likable spies in Slow Horses, but the character was far more layered than he chose to reveal. In Season 4, Lamb proved to be an effective spy, but in almost every season of the show, he deliberately maintained a persona of a flatulent, crude, and verbally abusive boss.

In an interview with Collider, Gary opened up about his character's personality and work ethic and explained how his character turned out to be a surprisingly effective spy despite his crude manners and abrasive demeanor. The actor explained that one of Lamb's hidden strengths was the persona he presented to the world.

The character's strength allowed him to carry out much of his best work unnoticed, especially by the higher-ups at MI5, whom Gary emphasized were the show's main villains. According to Screen Rant, Gary said,

"I think he probably does his best work when he's got his feet up on his desk and his eyes are closed."

Lamb proved he was the worst boss from the very first season when he strengthened his position by making his staff perform exhausting tasks such as digging through trash. He repeatedly downgraded their intelligence and gave crude remarks, including flatulent jokes.

Continue reading more about Lamb's worst and best boss moments in Slow Horses.

7 times Jackson Lamb proved he is the best and the worst boss in Slow Horses

Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses Season 6 (Image via YouTube/@Apple TV)

1. Jackson Lamb mocked Louisa Guy

In the Season 5 premiere, Lamb reinforced his reputation as a terrible boss during a tense confrontation with Louisa Guy. Louisa pushed Lamb for active field assignments to distract herself from her ongoing trauma about Harper's death. However, Lamb mocked her ambition and aggressively shut her down. He insisted that taking unassigned action could only bring trouble and get agents killed.

According to Bleedingcool, Louisa had been one of the more capable agents at Slough House, unlike her partner Min Harper, who had been killed in the second season of Slow Horses. She was still mourning Harper's death and tried to cope by throwing herself into work.

The problem was that Slough House agents were not given missions. That had been the purpose of being sent there. Failed agents were placed in Slough House as a way to end their careers without formally dismissing them. Many of them, including River Cartwright, continued to hope for a chance to return to active duty.

2. Lamb's interrogation of David Cartwright

In Slow Horses Season 4, Lamb carried out a sharp and tense psychological interrogation of a retired MI5 spymaster named David Cartwright. He relied on his strong instincts to break through David's growing dementia and collected crucial information. This manipulative exchange revealed Lamb's layered role as a fiercely protective leader who worked to piece together a dangerous conspiracy.

3. Jackson Lamb's tactical distraction with a tragic story

In the episode Tall Tales, Lamb recounted a grim story about an agent in 1980s Berlin to completely transfix and distract the MI5 'Dogs' guarding Slough House. According to The Wrap, the operative was seized by the Stasi and was forced to watch his pregnant partner beaten to death with a fire extinguisher.

Later, Lamb told Catherine Standish that he had made up the story, but the season 5 finale strongly suggested that it was real by revealing the deep burn scars on his feet. Instead of being an attempt to manipulate emotions or a sign of careless leadership, Lamb's powerful storytelling turned out to be a clever tactical move that gave his team the chance to surprise the guards and escape from lockdown.

4. Lamb stood up for his team after Taverner's dangerous decision

Lamb proved himself to be the best boss when he stood up for his team following Diana Taverner's dangerous decision in Slow Horses season 6 episode 5. As per Seat42F, Lamb realized that the danger to Slough House came from Diana's attempt to cover up the Kazan mission.

He confronted Diana directly and explained that her cover-up was not clever protection but an action that left evidence. Lamb spoke as a leader who understood that his agents were suffering because of choices made far above them.

5. Lamb offered a drink to River

Lamb's finest boss scene can be seen in the episode Hello Goodbye when he quietly took River for a drink after Marcus's death and David's move into a care home. Lamb made River sign the papers after he returned from leaving his grandfather at the care facility. Lamb did this so that his operational bonus was guaranteed. When River sat down, Lamb told him to stay and share a drink if he wanted.

That simple act showed River that he was not alone. The scene marked the first time Lamb admitted respect for him, which was hidden beneath years of insults and harsh lessons.

6. Lamb's dialogue to Emma Flyte

Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 4 also revealed why Lamb was the best boss when he delivered a line to Emma Flyte. He said,

"At least my lot f**k up on an epic scale. They’re not just run-of-the-mill f***ups like yours."

Lamb meant that his team's mistakes were huge, full of dramatic failures, unlike Flyte's ordinary errors. Thus, he proved that his leadership embraced bold risks.

Screen Rant revealed that Flyte often gets irritated and disgusted by Lamb. However, she felt a reluctant sense of admiration toward him. The two eventually settled on a fragile partnership with the shared goal of capturing Tara, who was confirmed to be hiding at Ho's apartment.

7. Lamb's managerial freedom

In Slow Horses Season 4, Episode 6, Jackson Lamb showed that he has managerial freedom by delivering a line to Diana. According to IMDb, when Diana reminded him that Slough House was desk duty, Lamb answered,