Subtle Tribute to Heath Ledger in Slow Horses Season 5
The writers of Slow Horses have seemingly included a subtle homage to Heath Ledger in the fifth season of the Apple TV spy comedy series.
Connection Through Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman, who stars as Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses, also played Lt. Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed 2008 film The Dark Knight. In episode five of the new season, these two worlds intersect in a clever nod.
Memorable Scene Reference
In a tense moment, Oldman’s character exclaims, “When you talk, I wanna stick a pencil in my eye and headbutt the table!” Fans believe this line is an allusion to a famous scene from The Dark Knight, where Ledger’s Joker confronts criminals with a pencil trick.
“How about a magic trick?” the Joker asks, before slamming a pencil into the table.
“I’m going to make the pencil disappear,” he continues, then smashes his head eye-first through the pencil. “It’s gone.”
Heath Ledger’s Legacy
Ledger tragically died at 28, before The Dark Knight was released. His performance earned him a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, cementing his iconic role in film history.
Author’s Summary
This subtle nod in Slow Horses creatively honors Heath Ledger’s unforgettable Joker through a memorable scene reference linked by Gary Oldman’s roles.