# Slow Horses Season 6 Cliffhanger Explained

> Head writer Gaby Chiappe reveals how 'Slow Horses' Season 6's ending trusts viewers to piece together the poisoning twist.
- Title: Slow Horses Season 6 Cliffhanger Explained · SlashFilm
- Summary: Head writer Gaby Chiappe reveals how 'Slow Horses' Season 6's ending trusts viewers to piece together the poisoning twist. Slow Horses Season 6 ends with…
- Keywords: slow horses, season 6, river cartwright, sid baker, gaby chiappe, apple tv, slow horses season 6 finale, entertainment, culture, Slow, Horses, Season
- Source: SlashFilm — https://slashfilm.com/2290469/slow-horses-season-6-cliffhanger-ending-explained-head-writer
- Author: Ben Pearson
- Published: 2026-10-21T16:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: slow horses, season 6, river cartwright, sid baker, gaby chiappe, apple tv, slow horses season 6 finale, entertainment, culture
## Head writer explains ending choice
Head writer Gaby Chiappe says the show trusts viewers to understand the poisoning twist without flashbacks.

> We talked about it, definitely talked about it a lot, and how to make it land kind of as it does in the novel
## Season 6 finale twist
River Cartwright touches a poisoned crowbar after Sid Baker waits for him at his grandfather's house.

> River deduces that Sid Baker is waiting for him at his grandfather's house
## Poisoning connection
The crowbar was poisoned by Kyle Soller's 'Jim' character earlier in the season.

> it's the crowbar in [the show]
## Writer's approach
Gaby Chiappe says the show mirrors Mick Herron's novels with subtle clues for viewers to piece together.

> I think a lot of care went into that, and I think it's kind of ... [director] Adam [Randall] has calibrated that just right
## Audience reaction
Viewers will likely rewatch to confirm they understood the poisoning twist.

> people will be going back to just double-check that that was what they think it was
## Key takeaway

Slow Horses Season 6 ends with River Cartwright realizing he's poisoned by a crowbar after Sid Baker, trusting viewers to connect the dots without explanation.