Tom Brooke Discusses J.K. Coe's Fate and a Potential 'Slow Horses' Prequel

Tom Brooke, the actor portraying J.K. Coe in the Apple TV series "Slow Horses," has shared his thoughts on the character's pivotal death scene in Season 6, Episode 4, titled "Lost and Found." Brooke revealed that he had envisioned Coe's demise from as early as Season 4, discussing his vision with showrunner Will Smith.

"The first conversation I had with [showrunner] Will Smith in Season 4, I said, ‘I want to do the scene in the book when he dies,'" Brooke recalled in an interview. "And he said, ‘You’re going to have to wait, because that’s not going to happen now, but thank you for your interest.'" Brooke's persistence paid off, leading to the climactic bathroom fight scene in the latest season.

The scene depicts Coe confronting Jim, a Russian assassin, in a public restroom. The two engage in a knife fight, destroying the facilities in the process. Coe ultimately sustains a fatal stab wound to the stomach, succumbing to his injuries. Brooke described the scene as embodying Coe's character, stating, "It was so cool, and it was so Coe."

Brooke also discussed the incorporation of Coe's signature push knife, an element he suggested to the writers in Season 4. "Will Smith was saying, ‘You need to tell us if there’s anything in the book that we’ve missed, because I read them three years ago, and you’ve read them now.' It was so cool of him, and I really didn’t believe him, so I tested him and said, ‘What about a push knife?'"

Music plays a significant role in Coe's characterization, particularly his affinity for hip-hop. Brooke explained how this became part of Coe's arc, starting with a podcast suggestion that led to an immersion in hip-hop music. He shared, "Adam [Randall, director] is this mad hip-hop fan. He’s directed videos, so we sent each other loads and loads of songs... But I gave him Kofi Stone!"

Reflecting on his collaborations with co-stars Jack Lowden (River Cartwright) and Olivia Cooke (Sid Baker), Brooke praised their work, especially during scenes filmed in a car. "Jack and I spent so long in the car in Season 5 that by that point we were like, ‘What if I say this? You could say this. Oh no, I’ll say this!'" He also enjoyed Cooke's character's dynamic with River, noting, "I love the way she enjoys River having to get in the back at the end. She kind of sparkles and goes, ‘Yes, I would actually like to sit in the front! Thank you for asking!'"

Brooke expressed openness to the idea of a prequel series focusing on Coe's past, drawing parallels to "Better Call Saul." "It would be an absolute blast," he said. "It would be so cool to show pre-torture Coe."

What Brooke will miss most about playing Coe is the character's quiet nature. "The not talking. I really, really loved not talking," he admitted. "I’ve always wanted to do a part where you don’t say much."

Brooke also highlighted a favorite line from Coe: "The more people I kill, the more human I think I feel, does that make me a psychopath?" He found satisfaction in delivering this line, feeling it offered a glimpse into Coe's complex inner world.