Slow Horses writer addresses River’s fate as season 7 trailer arrives
Gaby Chiappe links the season 6 finale’s apparent death to an earlier assassination attempt, without confirming whether River Cartwright is dead.
Apple has unveiled a trailer for Slow Horses season 7, while head writer and season 6 showrunner Gaby Chiappe has explained the suspected poisoning behind River Cartwright’s apparent death in the season 6 finale. Chiappe stopped short of confirming that the character dies.
Speaking to Gold Derby, Chiappe traced the ending to Episode 2, when assassins Jim and Jane arrive while River and Sid are hiding. Jim notices a bottle and a crowbar River brought inside. According to Chiappe, viewers are meant to infer that Jim coats the crowbar with Novichok, given the other nerve agent attacks.
Chiappe said the writers debated whether audiences would understand the sequence. The incident comes from the book, where a doorknob rather than a crowbar is contaminated. The assassin responsible is already dead by the time the consequences emerge. The finale also features Emma Flyte’s death at the hands of Frank Harkness, River’s father.
Filming for season 7 is complete, with its debut expected around September 2027. Apple has also announced a renewal extending the series through season 8.
