As 2022 coasts into the summer months, it’s time for studios to decide which of their new TV series get axed and which ones live on for another season or more. And it looks like two of this spring’s most critically acclaimed shows just had their lives extended. AppleTV+ ordered two more seasons of its spy ensemble series “Slow Horses,” while HBO Max renewed pirate comedy “Our Flag Means Death” for one more trip on the high seas.
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Two more seasons is quite the boost for “Slow Horses,” but AppleTV+ was already high on the show. The Gary Oldman-led spy drama shot its first two seasons back-to-back (season two hits the streamer later this year), although AppleTV+ initially announced only the first. A teaser for season two after the sixth and final episode of season one confirmed the surprise.
Season 2 of “Slow Horses” picks up where the series left off in Mick Herron‘s “Slough House” series. The season follows the plot of “Dead Lions,” the second book in the series, while upcoming seasons three and four, logically, will tackle the third and fourth books (‘Real Tigers‘ and ‘Spook Street‘). Season 2 sees Jackson Lamb (Oldman) and his team of misfit agents attempt to prove the murder of one of Lamb’s Cold War-era confidants.
“Slow Horses” boasts a great ensemble cast beyond the always-great Oldman that includes Kristen Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, and more. Jeremy Lovering takes over directing from James Hawes for season two, with Saul Metzstein on board to lead season three. Read our review of season one here.
Meanwhile, HBO Max wants to swashbuckle a little more with Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi. The streamer renewed “Our Flag Means Death” for another season after the pirate series became one of HBO Max’s most popular shows after its premiere in March. Very loosely based on the adventures of 18th-century wannabe pirate Stede Bonnet (Darby) and his time with the fearsome Blackbeard (Waititi), the show evolved in unexpected directions that audiences loved.
In a press release announcing season 2, “Death” creator David Jenkins said, “We felt the show was special while we were making it, but fans’ open-armed embrace of the inhabitants of the Revenge makes heading into a second season all the more sweet.” He continued, “Thanks to our team at HBO Max, our invested executive producers, and our wildly enthusiastic audience for making another voyage to this world possible.”
Alongside Darby and Waititi, season one of “Death” also starred Nathan Foad, Samson Kayo, Vico Ortiz, Ewen Bremner, Fred Armisen, Leslie Jones, and more. Here’s our review of season one.
So, more bumbling spies and lovestruck pirates to come on AppleTV+ and HBO Max. Expect the newly announced seasons to premiere in 2023.