The episode "Negotiating with Tigers" opens with Ingrid pressured by Peter Judd over the ongoing Tiger Team operation. Judd expresses dissatisfaction with MI5's failure in their test, highlighting that River's unauthorized break-in at Slough House was a reckless move. Jackson Lamb shares this frustration, and when River returns, Duffy confronts him violently, headbutting River and leaving him bloodied on the floor after confirming Standish is unharmed.

Meanwhile, Sean Donovan, a rogue agent from the Tiger Team, escalates the situation by kidnapping the man who was supposed to receive Standish, signaling a serious double-cross against MI5. During a stakeout at Donovan's flat, Shirley and Marcus, two Slough House operatives, argue over their personal issues--Shirley's drug use and Marcus's gambling debts. Despite their tension, they break into Donovan's flat and uncover that the operation has a second phase called "Grey Books," which catalog conspiracy theories throughout history.

Jackson Lamb receives photos from Shirley and Marcus and orders his team back to base so Ho can analyze the intelligence. However, their investigation is interrupted when the police arrive, tipped off about suspicious activity at Donovan's location.

Spider, a Tiger Team leader, meets with Sly, who is upset about the deteriorating situation and demands Spider attend a meeting with Sean Donovan to retrieve Standish and their other agent. Spider initially plans to bribe Sean, assuming he only wants money, but Sean insists he wants the Grey Books. When Spider tries to intimidate Sean by revealing knowledge of his relationship with Allison, Sean reacts violently, punching Spider hard enough that he appears to die, though Sean did not intend to kill him.

Jackson Lamb confronts Judd during a lunch meeting, warning that until Standish is returned, he will disrupt their plans. As they talk, Sean drives by, honking his horn, then stops to drop Spider's body in front of the restaurant before speeding away. Lamb quotes Winston Churchill, saying, "you can't negotiate with a tiger when your head is in its mouth," emphasizing the danger they face. Judd receives a call from Webb, representing the Tiger Team, signaling that they are now targeting Lamb directly.

Lamb takes decisive action by dismissing Marcus and Shirley from service due to their sloppy work and habits, particularly Shirley's drug use. He then arranges for River to be released from MI5 custody so he can retrieve files from Chieftain, the private intelligence firm involved. Lamb also plans to confront Chieftain's CEO and the Ministry to warn them of the rogue Tiger Team's threat.

Despite Spider's efforts to control Donovan, the rogue agent remains defiant and dangerous, willing to kill to achieve his goals. This leaves Lamb laser-focused on rescuing Standish and stopping Donovan's escalating campaign, which now threatens to upend the entire intelligence operation.

The episode ends with the clear message that the Tiger Team is operating outside official control, and Lamb is prepared to fight back by any means necessary to protect his team and restore order.

The episode "Negotiating with Tigers," Season 3 Episode 3 of Slow Horses, ends with the revelation that Catherine Standish's kidnapping was a staged training exercise by a Tiger Team hired to test MI5's defenses. Director-General Ingrid Tearney resigns but is refused by Home Secretary Peter Judd, who plans to bring in the Tiger Team's company, Chieftain, as advisors. River is severely beaten by Duffy for his reckless actions during the exercise. The episode closes with Jackson Lamb crashing a lunch between Judd and Sly Monteith, CEO of Chieftain, as Sean Donovan, leader of the Tiger Team, delivers Spider's corpse to the restaurant entrance, signaling darker developments ahead.

The episode begins with Director-General Ingrid Tearney handing in her resignation to Home Secretary Peter Judd, acknowledging MI5's failure in a recent security test. This test involved the staged kidnapping of Catherine Standish, which was orchestrated by a Tiger Team from Chieftain, a private security firm hired by Judd to expose MI5's vulnerabilities. Ingrid admits defeat but Judd rejects her resignation, revealing his plan to integrate Chieftain as advisors to improve MI5's security. Ingrid points out that this move benefits Sly Monteith, Chieftain's CEO and Judd's old school friend, suggesting a conflict of interest.

Meanwhile, River, an operative from Slough House, suffers a brutal beating at the hands of Duffy. River had been tasked with retrieving a file from Regent's Park but was ordered to stand down by Jackson Lamb at the last moment. Despite this, River's attempt nearly succeeded, but Duffy is furious about the embarrassment caused and punishes River physically. River, bloodied and bruised, is informed by Duffy that Catherine Standish is unharmed, as the kidnapping was only a training exercise.

Parallel to these events, tensions rise between Shirley and Marcus during a stakeout at Sean Donovan's flat. Their personal issues--Shirley's drug use and Marcus's gambling debts--strain their partnership. They break into Donovan's flat and uncover that the Tiger Team's operation has a second phase called "Grey Books," which catalog conspiracy theories, hinting at a deeper plot.

As the episode progresses, Jackson Lamb takes decisive action. After receiving photos from Shirley and Marcus, he orders his team back to base for analysis. However, the police arrive due to a tip-off, complicating matters.

The climax unfolds at a lunch meeting between Peter Judd and Sly Monteith. Jackson Lamb unexpectedly crashes this meeting, confronting them about the Tiger Team's operation. At the same time, Sean Donovan delivers the corpse of Spider, a key figure connected to the Tiger Team, to the restaurant entrance. This grim delivery signals that the Tiger Team's rogue actions have escalated beyond a mere exercise, setting the stage for further conflict.

In terms of character fates at the episode's end:

• Ingrid Tearney remains Director-General but under pressure, with her authority undermined by Judd's political maneuvering.
• Peter Judd asserts control, pushing Chieftain's involvement for his own benefit.
• River is physically beaten but survives, his reckless bravery noted but punished.
• Duffy enforces discipline harshly, showing his intolerance for mistakes.
• Jackson Lamb asserts his influence by confronting political powers and preparing for the unfolding crisis.
• Sean Donovan and the Tiger Team emerge as unpredictable antagonists, with Spider's death marking a dangerous escalation.

The episode closes on a tense note, emphasizing the blurred lines between internal security, political interests, and rogue operations within the intelligence community.

The episode "Negotiating with Tigers," Season 3 Episode 3 of Slow Horses (2023), does not have a post-credit scene. The episode ends with a tense and dramatic moment where Jackson Lamb crashes a lunch between Sly and Peter, delivering a sharp verbal warning, but no additional scene follows after the credits.

The episode concludes on a suspenseful note without any extra post-credit content or teaser.

River breaks into Park against orders, which angers Duffy who headbutts him and leaves him bloody on the ground. This act is seen as reckless and causes tension within the team, especially since Standish is fine despite the chaos.

During the stake-out at Sean Donovan's flat, Shirley and Marcus have a falling out due to Shirley doing drugs on the job and Marcus struggling with a gambling problem that has led him to remortgage his house. Their personal issues create tension and affect their professional collaboration.

The 'Grey Books' are a second phase of the Tiger Team's attack, containing lists of conspiracy theories over time. Sean Donovan wants these books, believing they prove something important, which drives his rogue actions and escalates the conflict with MI5 and Jackson Lamb's team.

Spider tries to negotiate with Sean Donovan to pay him off, assuming Donovan only wants money. However, Donovan demands the Grey Books and, when Spider brings up Donovan's relationship with Allison, Donovan punches him hard enough that it appears to kill him. Donovan then drops Spider's body in front of a restaurant as a warning.

Jackson Lamb takes extreme measures to counter the Tiger Team's rogue operation. He orders Marcus and Shirley to be dismissed for their sloppy work and gets River out of MI5 custody to retrieve files from Chieftain. Lamb also disrupts the Tiger Team's plans and warns Judd that he will interfere until Standish is returned, emphasizing that negotiation with the Tiger Team is dangerous.

The episode "Negotiating with Tigers" from Slow Horses Season 3 is not family friendly and may be unsuitable for children or sensitive viewers due to several mature and intense content elements.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

• Moderate to severe violence and gore, including graphic gunshot wounds, blood, and a severed head shown on screen. Some violence is very realistic and bloody.
• Severe profanity throughout the episode.
• Mild sexual content and nudity, such as brief male rear nudity, a woman seen in underwear, and passionate kissing scenes.
• Moderate use of alcohol, drugs, and smoking, including drug use by a character on the job.
• Frightening and intense scenes involving kidnapping, physical assaults (e.g., a character being headbutted and left bloody), and tense espionage situations.

Given these elements, the episode contains content that could be disturbing or inappropriate for children and sensitive individuals. Viewer discretion is advised.