Slow Horses Season 5 Homages Gary Oldman's Dark Knight Co-Star Heath Ledger - SlashFilm

Slow Horses Season 5 Honors Heath Ledger's Joker

In Slow Horses season 5, Gary Oldman's character Jackson Lamb makes a joke reminiscent of a famous moment from The Dark Knight involving his late co-star Heath Ledger. The line, "How about a magic trick?" echoes one of Ledger’s Joker’s iconic quotes from the 2008 film.

This particular joke recalls the Joker’s chilling scene where he slams a thug’s head into a pencil, making it “disappear.”

Gary Oldman's Tribute to Heath Ledger

Oldman appears to pay homage to Ledger’s legendary Joker performance within the Apple TV series Slow Horses. This subtle nod highlights the lasting impact of Ledger’s role.

The Dark Knight’s Lasting Legacy

More than 15 years after its release, The Dark Knight remains widely regarded as a pinnacle of comic book adaptations. Directed by Christopher Nolan, it debuted the same year as the first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie, Iron Man, which drastically changed Hollywood.

Despite the MCU's growth to 37 films over nearly two decades, it has yet to match Nolan's groundbreaking effort, underscoring the film's enduring influence and possibly explaining some recent MCU challenges.

Slow Horses and The Dark Knight Connection

The season 5 episode "Incommunicado" suggests that the writers of Slow Horses remain inspired by The Dark Knight, weaving subtle references into the story.

"How about a magic trick?"
"The Dark Knight is somehow better than you remember it."

Author's summary: Slow Horses season 5 subtly honors Heath Ledger's Joker, highlighting The Dark Knight's lasting cultural impact and Christopher Nolan’s influential vision.

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SlashFilm SlashFilm — 2025-11-04

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