Subtle Tribute to Heath Ledger in Slow Horses Season Five
The writers of Slow Horses have seemingly embedded a tribute to Heath Ledger in the show's fifth season. This reference occurs in episode five of the Apple TV spy comedy series.
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 the recent episode, these two projects indirectly intersect.
Scene Reference and Fan Speculation
During a tense moment, Oldman’s character angrily says, “When you talk, I wanna stick a pencil in my eye and headbutt the table!”
Fans believe this line nods to a famous scene from The Dark Knight featuring Ledger’s Joker. In that scene, the Joker confronts criminals by asking, “How about a magic trick?”
before forcefully slamming a pencil into the table.
I’m going to make the pencil disappear.After one of the criminals challenges him, the Joker drives his own head eye-first into the pencil, then declares,
It’s gone.
Legacy of Heath Ledger
Ledger tragically passed away at 28, prior to The Dark Knight's release in 2008. His memorable performance earned him a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Author's Summary
This clever tribute in Slow Horses connects Gary Oldman’s roles and honors Heath Ledger’s unforgettable Joker performance in a nuanced, respectful way.