Vigil is a six-part police procedural created by Tom Edge (You Don’t Know Me, Strike), produced by World Productions (Line of Duty, Bodyguard), and directed by James Strong and Isabelle Sieb. It premiered on BBC One on 29 August 2021, quickly becoming the network’s most-watched new drama in three years.
The story unfolds aboard HMS Vigil, a Royal Navy Trident nuclear submarine on patrol in the remote North Atlantic. The drama kicks off with a tragic incident: a Scottish trawler goes down, and crewman Craig Burke (Martin Compston) dies on the sub. It’s initially dismissed as a heroin overdose, but DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones), a detective with PTSD and a deep-seated fear of confined spaces due to a past drowning, is dispatched to investigate amid rising suspicion.
Silva is embedded aboard for three days—and she soon uncovers that Burke was murdered, likely poisoned, not overdosed. As she probes deeper, she clashes with the submarine’s chain of command (Paterson Joseph as Captain Newsome, Shaun Evans as Warrant Officer Glover, and Adam James as Lieutenant Commander Prentice). Meanwhile, onshore, DSI Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie), Silva’s colleague—and personal partner—investigates links between Burke and anti-nuclear activists at a peace camp. The dual investigations reveal webs of conspiracy, cover-up, and high-level political suspense.
🎯 2. Key Characters & Performances
Suranne Jones – DCI Amy Silva
Jones delivers a commanding, nuanced performance as Silva—balancing steely precision with emotional vulnerability. Her character’s phobia and history create a textured hero whose strength is both psychological and procedural npr.org.
Rose Leslie – DS Kirsten Longacre
Leslie shines as Silva’s partner—supportive, empathetic, and tenacious. Their chemistry adds emotional depth and represents a positive lesbian relationship rarely central in mainstream dramas .
Paterson Joseph & Martin Compston
Joseph’s Captain Newsome projects stiff-upper-lip authority, while Compston brings warmth and intrigue in the tragic role of Burke. Compston’s early demise is a bold narrative choice that shocks viewers but also galvanizes the mystery.
Supporting Cast
Shaun Evans, Adam James, Stephen Dillane, Laura Lyle, and others round out a cast that embodies the murky hierarchy aboard the submarine and the tension of a confined, all-male environment.
🛠 3. Production, Atmosphere & Technical Craft
Submarine Set & Visuals
Production designer Tom Sayer worked with naval consultants to replicate claustrophobic, narrow corridors, bunks, and control rooms. The Steadicam movement and LED lighting enhance authenticity and tension in tight spaces.
Sound & Cinematography
The submarine’s constant hum of machinery, muffled alarms, and ambient depth noises create atmosphere. Visually, dim lighting, tight framing, and muted tones evoke a sense of confinement .
Scale & Storytelling
Balancing tension aboard the submarine with a parallel onshore narrative enriches the procedural format, though some viewers felt land-based subplots diluted the underwater tension .
🧠 4. Themes & Narrative Layers
Isolation & Confinement
The submarine is a pressure cooker—both literally and figuratively. Silva’s claustrophobia and PTSD give the setting a psychological weight beyond mere set design .
Authority & Cover-Up
The story explores military hierarchy, institutional secrecy, and moral compromise, exposing how rigid structures can hide abuse and sabotage national policies.
Geopolitics & Nuclear Deterrence
Underlying the murder mystery is a larger plot involving international espionage—a possible Russian submarine close call, indicating nuclear vulnerability.
Identity & Recovery
Silva’s personal journey—from trauma to reassertion—mirrors the wider narrative of submerged truths coming to light.
👍 5. Critical Response
Success
- Ratings: Pilot drew 13.4 million UK viewers across platforms—most-watched BBC drama since Bodyguard.
- Critics: Empire lauded it as “British TV doesn’t get more thrilling,” while The Guardian praised its dense, smart plotting and old-school entertainment value. Metacritic offered a strong score of 83/100, and Rotten Tomatoes hovered in the mid‑80s .
Praise Highlights
Reviewers applauded Jones/Leslie’s chemistry, the submarine’s claustrophobic tension, and the combination of mystery and human drama.
👎 6. Criticisms
Plot Implausibility
Some critics felt the storyline became muddled—accusations against the Russian plot and political narrative felt overblown .
Credibility Issues
Reddit users who are real submariners dismissed the technical accuracy: eg, fictional patches, layout errors, unrealistic duty procedures . Others derided supporting subplots aboard the land—particularly the stepdaughter/romance issues—as unnecessary padding .
Pacing & Length
Some viewers said the arc dragged past the halfway point, with episodes feeling two too long . Reactions to the finale were polarizing—some praised a shocking cliffhanger; others found it weak or overly dramatic .
🌍 7. Cultural Impact & Legacy
- National Conversation: The success sparked discussions on the ethics of nuclear deterrents, gender representation in military dramas, and how trauma intersects with duty.
- LGBTQ+ Representation: Silva’s relationship with Longacre received praise for portraying a central lesbian couple in mainstream primetime.
- Submarine Dramas Resurgence: Vigil inspired renewed interest in the sub-genre, alongside comparisons to The Hunt for Red October, Das Boot, and modern equivalents.
- Continuation: Renewed for Season 2 (aired Dec 2023) and Season 3 in Feb 2025 .
📋 8. Detailed Episode & Arc Summary
- Episode 1: Burke dies onboard; Silva boards Vigil under pressure. Initial investigation begins.
- Episode 2: Deeper probes into RNA and fiber; land-side connection to activists emerges .
- Episode 3: Conspiracy builds; Silva confronts sabotage amid reactor issues .
- Episode 4: Kristen uncovers naval cover-up; submarine drama escalates.
- Episode 5: Vigil is locked down; reactor fault and rising water pressure.
- Episode 6: Final reveal of sleeper agent Doward; Silva nearly doomed in torpedo tube; cliffhanger ending.
✅ 9. Final Assessment
What works:
- Brilliant lead by Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie
- Fully realized claustrophobic submarine world
- Strong tension and thematic resonance with nuclear anxiety
What falters:
- Some plot contrivances and technical inaccuracies
- Padding in character subplots; divisive finale
📝 Conclusion
Vigil Season 1 is a bold, atmospheric dive into submarine-set intrigue and psychological thriller territory. Its success rests on Suranne Jones’ compelling performance, tight direction, and captivating setting. While skeptics note flaws in plot and realism, it remains a landmark in UK drama: one of the most-watched and discussed BBC series of recent years.
If you’re drawn to high-stakes mysteries wrapped in claustrophobic tension with a human emotional core, Vigil delivers—just be ready to suspend disbelief for narrative depth in favor of atmosphere and showmanship.
Let me know if you’d like an episode guide, contrast with Season 2, or a military-accuracy breakdown!
