Slow Horses Season 5 Pays Tribute to Heath Ledger's Joker
In Slow Horses season 5, Gary Oldman's character Jackson Lamb delivers a joke reminiscent of a scene from The Dark Knight featuring his late co-star Heath Ledger. Lamb humorously asks, "How about a magic trick?"—a line famously spoken by Ledger’s Joker in the 2008 film.
This particular moment from The Dark Knight is known for its sharp impact, where the villain causes a man’s head to "disappear" by slamming it into a pencil. Oldman’s nod to this iconic scene appears in the Apple TV series, paying homage to Ledger’s unforgettable performance.
The Dark Knight's Lasting Influence
The Dark Knight remains a modern comic book classic, directed by Christopher Nolan. It debuted the same year as Marvel’s first big hit, Iron Man, which launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Despite the MCU's 37 movies over nearly two decades, none have matched Nolan’s film in impact or acclaim.
The film’s enduring popularity highlights its status as a gold standard for superhero movies and might explain recent struggles in MCU storytelling.
Slow Horses Reflects on The Dark Knight
The writers of Slow Horses seem influenced by The Dark Knight, as suggested by the references in the season 5 episode titled "Incommunicado."
"How about a magic trick?"
This line symbolizes more than a joke—it connects two iconic performances across time.
Author's Summary
The fifth season of Slow Horses cleverly honors Heath Ledger's Joker through Gary Oldman, underscoring The Dark Knight's lasting legacy in the superhero genre and popular culture.