In the fifth season of Slow Horses, Gary Oldman's character Jackson Lamb delivers a quip reminiscent of a moment from The Dark Knight, referencing his late co-star Heath Ledger. The scene subtly echoes one of Ledger’s most unforgettable lines from the 2008 film directed by Christopher Nolan.
"How about a magic trick?"
This infamous line from Heath Ledger’s Joker precedes a shocking act that became one of cinema’s most chilling moments. The homage in Slow Horses appears to salute both the actor’s performance and the film’s enduring legacy.
More than fifteen years later, The Dark Knight remains a benchmark for comic book films. Nolan’s gritty take on Gotham’s battle between good and evil has stood the test of time, still regarded as the pinnacle of superhero storytelling. Released the same year as Iron Man, which launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the contrast between the two cinematic worlds continues to define modern film culture.
The creative team behind Slow Horses seems to have drawn inspiration from Nolan’s classic, deliberately invoking its tone and cultural resonance in the episode titled Incommunicado. The tribute serves as both an Easter egg for fans and a reminder of Ledger’s remarkable legacy.
In Slow Horses season 5, Gary Oldman's character makes a clever nod to Heath Ledger's Joker, blending homage and nostalgia for one of cinema’s defining performances.