SummaryScottish DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) investigates a death onboard the top-secret British Royal Navy submarine HMS Vigil in this thriller created by Tom Edge. [Premiered originally on BBC One on 29 Aug 2021 and in the US on Peacock on 23 Dec 2021]
Created By:Tom Edge
Vigil
Season 1 Premiere:
Aug 29, 2021
Metascore
Generally Favorable
73
User score
Mixed or Average
6.0
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Where to Watch
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
All Seasons
Top Cast












Metascore
Generally Favorable
73
47% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
53% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Dec 6, 2021
100
It’s a dense, sharply written (by Tom Edge), absolute treat of a show about a murky, unseen world that doesn’t want to break the surface and show itself, and one that viewers will surely want to dive into.
Aug 31, 2026
80
Vigil broadly succeeds, because its central characters are credible and well played. You stick with the show, as daft as it sometimes gets, because you want to stick with its leading ladies.
User score
Mixed or Average
6.0
60% Positive
29 Ratings
29 Ratings
17% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
23% Negative
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
Jan 4, 2022
9
Another worthy British whodunit that's well worth a watch. Much like "Line of Duty", Vigil grabs your attention from the get go and never lets go. Can not understand one user's too "woke" criticism, it makes absolutely no sense. They, apparently weren't very "woke" while watching. Some friendly advice - pay attention next time. Only half way thru, so there's still a chance of a let down, but it certainly feels like it will worthy of the "9" rating right until the end.
Feb 16, 2022
8
"Vigil" (S01, 6 eps, 1-hr, BBC) is a taut murder mystery thriller that largely takes place upon a nuclear-weaponed UK submarine. It's got good pacing, tense moments, and is well-acted, it's a good production. In fact, the closing scene of episode 5 is bonkers. Just about everything you could fear to go wrong on a submarine, does. There's murder, spying, illicit relationships, betrayals, lying, conniving, subterfuge, subversion, and a single-mom, same-sex relationship because even the BBC must show it's socially progressive, because what, there's money in it?! Anyway, besides that and a few "really?!" moments, it's a good show that only goes on for six eps, so it's over before you know it. If there's a second season, it will have to be a different adventure because this story has its conclusion.
Dec 22, 2021
80
There’s a boatload of plotlines in “Vigil,” one of the better thriller series of the year and one in which a tangled web of intrigues is made as believable as the fathomless ability of humans to complicate a situation—at least long enough to last a satisfying six episodes.
Dec 12, 2023
60
The truth is not that Vigil season 2 necessarily does all that much wrong - it probably works as well as it could have done given the first season's contained plot, and the natural disparity between Scotland and Morocco, which doubles as Wudyan, helps to keep things visually arresting (when not in indiscriminate rooms). .... With other innovative thrillers doing boundary-pushing, genre-bending work - such as The Tourist and Wolf - this new run of Vigil feels bland by comparison.
Dec 11, 2023
60
It’s not stupidly implausible like series one, although anyone who works in the police/Armed Forces will probably watch with gritted teeth.
Aug 31, 2026
40
My problem is the same as it was for the previous two series. Though Jones is a very good actress (she was fabulous in Gentleman Jack), Silva isn’t charismatic, strong or likeable enough to be the main character and carry the lead role.
Dec 6, 2021
40
I was bored. I know it was a deliberate ploy to create a suffocating, airless atmosphere in which the walls are closing in and you fear for the ambience of the submarine lavatories, but the stultifying effect was almost too successful. During episode two my family yawned and abandoned ship.
Jan 17, 2022
2
I created an account just to write a review for this show. The acting is laughably bad at times, especially from the lead actress, and it would make the series hard to watch even if the plot was great, which it's not. There are many other decent British cop shows to watch, like The Missing, Happy Valley, Unforgotten, etc.. Don't waste your time on this one.
Dec 27, 2021
1
As someone who has spent time on a submarine, this was ridiculously stupid. They did little to no research on what it's like onboard a modern submarine and it shows. The sub getting hooked onto a fishing boat is about the dumbest thing I've seen on a TV show. Couldn't watch past the first few minutes.
Production Company:
- World Productions
- British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
- ARTE
- The National Lottery through Creative Scotland
- BBC One
- BBC Studios
- Blazing Griffin
- Screen Scotland
Initial Release Date:Aug 29, 2021
Number of seasons:3 Seasons
Rating:TV-MA
Awards
BAFTA Awards, Scotland
• 1 Win & 5 Nominations
Royal Television Society Scotland Awards
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
TV Times Awards
• 2 Nominations





























