The BBC's "Vigil" returns with a second season set against the stark, luminous beauty of the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, offering an icy thriller that blends crime investigation with escalating geopolitical intrigue. The series, reviewed by Christopher Stevens for the Daily Mail, features a plot that echoes real-world concerns about the region's strategic importance.
In the remote settlement of Svalbard, where residents are mandated to carry rifles for protection against polar bears, the drama unfolds. The show introduces Police Chief Henrik Becken, played by Jeppe Beck Laursen, who equips visiting officer Kirsten Longacre, portrayed by Rose Leslie, with a hunting rifle and a stark warning about the local predators. Longacre's senior officer and partner, Amy Silva, played by Suranne Jones, is still in Scotland, adding a personal dimension to their professional duties. The series navigates the work-life balance challenges faced by the couple, a dynamic established in previous seasons.
The opening episode sets a fast pace with an attempted defection by a Chinese climate scientist, followed by a firefight, a murder investigation, a bombing, another killing, and the kidnapping of a government minister. Despite the rapid events, Stevens notes that the episode occasionally drags. However, the central premise is described as strong, potentially drawing inspiration from warnings by former Nato deputy commander Sir Richard Shirreff about Svalbard becoming a flashpoint for global conflict.
Russia maintains a mining base on the islands, a territory whose value has increased due to its mineral wealth and the potential for an Arctic naval base as sea ice melts. The series explores the question of how the West would react to a Russian military provocation in the area. Amy and Kirsten are tasked with determining Russia's involvement in the killings, while weighing the denials of a Moscow colonel, played by Tornike Gogrichiani.
Stevens highlights the dramatic appeal of Svalbard's unspoilt landscape, characterized by luminous skies and frozen mountains, which lends the series an almost lunar beauty. He draws parallels to crime shows like "True Detective" and "The Killing" for their use of atmospheric, unfamiliar settings. The review also touches on Svalbard's growing popularity as a tourist destination, reminding viewers that polar bears still outnumber humans in the region.