VIGIL - starts Sunday 29th Aug. BBC 1 - TV PACE. NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

The six-part drama from World Productions (Line Of Duty, The Pembrokeshire Murders, Save Me, Bodyguard) stars Suranne Jones, Rose Leslie, Shaun Evans, Martin Compston and Paterson Joseph.

When a crew member is found dead on board the Trident nuclear submarine HMS Vigil, police in Scotland are called in to investigate. The catch? The UK’s nuclear deterrent must remain unbroken, so the submarine stays on patrol and Detective Chief Inspector Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) must go aboard to begin an investigation. Although the death was written off as an accidental overdose, Amy suspects foul play. But when the crew close ranks in the face of Amy’s questioning, a new threat overshadows her inquiry.

Vigil
Vigil’s stellar ensemble cast also features Anjli Mohindra, Connor Swindells, Adam James, Gary Lewis, Stephen Dillane, Lolita Chakrabarti, Daniel Portman, Lorne MacFadyen and Lauren Lyle.

The fictional six-part series is written and created by Bafta nominated writer Tom Edge, with episodes by Ed Macdonald and Chandni Lakhani. It is directed by Bafta winner James Strong, and Bafta nominee Isabelle Sieb. Vigil is produced by Angie Daniell, executive produced by Simon Heath and Jake Lushington for World Productions, Gaynor Holmes for the BBC, James Strong and Tom Edge.

Vigil
Vigil is set and was filmed in Scotland, and is supported by the National Lottery through Screen Scotland. International distribution is handled by ITV Studios.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

I think it's extremely unlikely you'd only take enough of your meds to last for three days in the first place, particularly if they need to be taken religiously on an ongoing basis. You'd surely take the box 'just in case'?

Course you would

I’m on the pill and wear contacts. I always take more then I need if away

I agree @viques, you've put that so well @GrandmasNightgown - I was thinking a lot of that too but couldn't articulate that quite as well as you have.

I think that's why I enjoyed it so much last night as it felt like it was finally beginning to make some sort of sense!

Was the comms cable getting sabotaged just serendipitous timing, or was the saboteur warned somehow that there were high level discussions about the boat being recalled?

There's lots of closeups of the guy who replaced Burke (think he was also the one who escorted Amy on board and said he wasn't supposed to talk to her?) - could he be the rogue Russkie? Or, in an extraordinary turn of events, will it turn out to be the captain?

Someone left a note in the cook's apron, there was a scene of her reading it and looking worried. We don't know what that was or who it was from, do we?

Strong analysis of the Russian angle Grandmas 👍

I'm finding it all very a bit confusing now. Not really following what's going on.

The flashbacks giving the narrative of the detectives’ relationship will culminate in something. I think the sub will be sinking (temporarily??) in the last episode, at the very least.

I think the romantic flashbacks are ok - they are missing each other but can’t talk to anyone about it or do a monologue to camera so they sort of work?

Yes, what was on the note the cook found that upset her so much?

Low O2 would cause headaches, irritability but you generally just go to sleep in the end, not vomit school dinner custard & cark it with your eyes open. Could be poison - cyanide gas / salts would be effective in a contained space like a sub, small doses of gas can disperse fairly quickly, salts would stain clothes, cause vomiting etc (I am SO getting arrested for my google searches).

Did anyone work out who barged suranne Jones on to the floor during the drill?

Another vote for accidental custard spillage not vomit. I’ve watched them all twice, how did we get from cook crying at service to all of a sudden knowing she had a son and all that? I had check hadn’t missed extra episode.

Sick of flash backs, handy if your secret message must include a relatives drunken favourite song or when I taught you Morse code. But 99% of flash back was watching them fall in love and snog. Just get on with the plot! You can just fast forward them and has no relation to the story.

Like many I’m still confused that Americans are following them for some reason. But don’t want to actually blow them up. The Russians may be trying blackmail cook to kill everyone on board include herself so she can know her son will get out prison. Hardly a fair transaction.

You lot are heartless! Love the romance back story, and it will be relevant in the climax ( no pun intended) I’m sure, or at least maybe poor old Suranne will get her girlfriend back out of all this trauma…

Also bored by the flashbacks. Seem superfluous and uninteresting.

I was watching a little behind time, so fast forwarded them (so hoping they’ve not got any clues in ‘em!)

Anyone else worried about those goldfish?

Will they be affected by low oxygen or possible toxic stuff being slung around disguised as custard?

Are goldfish the submarine equivalent of canaries in mines?

Whose goldfish are they anyway, are they supplied by the MOD or are people allowed to bring their own.

It’s not even like just Amy’s flashbacks while she having some drug withdrawal sweaty dream the other ones having them as well. It’s like male writers are “yea this scene of you snogging at home and in pub and in bed are essential to the plot of international espionage” ye right

I love the flashbacks! I really hope they get back together cos I'm a big gay sop

The flashbacks are irritating, I fast forwarded them but I can only imagine they are crucial to the plot as otherwise they’re just bloody pointless fillers that’s just dragging out getting to the good stuff! It feels superfluous unless there was a reason for them breaking up or whatever that is totally pivotal to the plot (like one of them is actually the Russian spy 🤷🏼‍♀️ At which point I will probably throw something at the telly 😂), otherwise we get it, she sought solace in her and then it ended. But they both seem to have regret. Either way, I didn’t sign up to watch a love drama, move it along please!

The flashbacks irritate me too - they seem pointless. I am enjoying the international espionage aspect & hope it stays true to that & the whodunnit style!

I did wonder about the goldfish

Haven’t a clue who wore the gimp mask abs knocked her over

Or who did the note in the chef apron

@mpsw

Never understood diplomatic immunity either. If you killed someone or attempted murder why do they get off

It's an unwanted side effect from preventing the persecution and harassment of diplomats going about their proper duties. Because we want to know what is happening in hotspots round the world, and do not want our diplomats carted off to jail.

Diplomatic immunity can be waived, and for some countries it inevitably will. But others don't - look at US, as well as Russia and, in the case that put it in the headlines here, the murder of Yvonne Fletcher. It's also the reason why Julian Assange could hole up in an Embassy - governments, no matter how totalitarian/repressive cannot enter diplomatic premises without consent, and thus interfere with the work of another government

The chances of harm being committed by those with government protection are held to be low, and in for most countries, if the act was not part of your duties then immunity will be waived and you will stand trial. And the potential harm, if other countries decided to suppress diplomatic activities, is held to be much greater.

But in Vigil, he was a GRU officer, so likely acting in an official capacity, and no way will the Russians give him up.

Thanks so can only Say it if helping the government

Like many I’m still confused that Americans are following them for some reason

I think this will be based on the US assessment of the Port Haven incident - what do they believe happened? Do they have concerns about Vigil and what are they? Are they concerned the sub could go rogue somehow? Or are they just practising stealthy close surveillance as a practice drill? Do they have intelligence that the Russians have a plot, and want to make sure they know where the boat is at all times? (but wouldn't that be risky for their boat and its crew?)

I'm mildly surprised that CIA (or one of their other military/civilian security/intelligence agencies) hasn't rocked up and joined the shore-based investigation

@MrsFin

I'm finding it all very a bit confusing now. Not really following what's going on.

Me too, thats why I like following this thread

I'm going to have to watch it again!

How do you all know that they have split up and 'May' get back together?

They’re not living together and Amy seemed not to have recently been to the flat; just the general air of the memories.

Ah yes I forgot that first scene, as she seems to have done - who was it that pushed past he roughly enough to cause her to lose balance and band her head quite badly? Or was that just to express the (pretend) air of panic for the drill.

Would all the crew have known it was a drill??