'Slow Horses' pays subtle tribute to Gary Oldman’s 'The Dark Knight' co-star Heath Ledger

'Slow Horses' Pays Subtle Tribute to Heath Ledger

The writers of the Apple TV spy comedy series Slow Horses have seemingly included a hidden homage to Heath Ledger in the show's fifth season, specifically episode five.

Connection Through Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman stars as Jackson Lamb, the lead character in Slow Horses. Oldman also portrayed Lt. Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed 2008 film The Dark Knight. In episode five of the new season, there appears to be a clever crossover between these two roles.

Key Scene and Fans' Interpretation

During a tense moment, Oldman’s character exclaims in frustration, When you talk, I wanna stick a pencil in my eye and headbutt the table! Fans have pointed out that this line echoes a famous scene from The Dark Knight where Ledger’s Joker threatens organized criminals with a pencil.

“How about a magic trick?”

“I’m going to make the pencil disappear.”

As one of the mob confronts him, the Joker forcefully slams his head through the pencil resting on the table. “It’s gone.”

Remembering Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger tragically died at the age of 28 before The Dark Knight was released in 2008. He posthumously received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his iconic portrayal of the Joker.

“Heath Ledger passed away before The Dark Knight was released and went on to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.”

Author’s Summary

This subtle nod in Slow Horses links Gary Oldman’s roles across projects while honoring Heath Ledger’s unforgettable legacy in cinema.

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NME NME — 2025-11-08

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