Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Cast: Suranne Jones, Rose Leslie, Gary Lewis, Orla Russell, Dougray Scott, Romola Garai, Chris Jenks, Oscar Salem, Dominic Mafham, Nebras Jamali, Amir El-Masry, Steven Elder, Kim Allan, Rebecca Banatvala, Naomi Stirrat, Kamal Mustaffai, Anders Hayward, Armin Karima, Khalid Laith, Alastair Mackenzie, Martin Bell, Tania Rodrigues.
From death under water, to death from the skies, the second series of the initial smash hit Vigil once more hits the ground running as it pushes Detectives Amy Silva and Kirsten Longacre to the limit of their emotions and deductive powers as a routine demonstration of military hardwire suddenly turns into an horrendous murder scene and slaughter.
Taken at face value, as most dramas of this calibre must be when dealing with the armed forces and their reach into the dark corners of society, the interest of the script outweighs the possible truth that is alluded to as several members of a team that has been put together to utilise the drone weaponry available in a showcase of British military might for one of their biggest customers, are gunned down in a potential act of sabotage.
Yet as it soon often revealed what transpires is more political, definitively conspiratorial, and perhaps sheer in its determination to portray government action in the realm of defence as one that cannot be trusted.
Taking advantage of being able to side comment on the relationship between what Britain proudly announces as exports but is just another term for dealing in arms that can destroy a group of people somehow targeted as terrorists, Vigil almost willingly sets itself up for a fall in the eyes of those who see any tarnishing of Britain’s name as traitorous, but which is, despite it being deep at its heart a detective fiction tale, aptly on the nose when it comes to displaying the understanding that when left to its own devices, the military will believe itself to be in charge, to be unquestioned, to be obeyed at all times.
The confidence of the narrative is highlighted in the performances of Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie as they return to their respective roles of Silva and Longacre, and in the generous application of acting chops displayed by Dougray Scott as Air Vice Mashall Marcus Grainger, and Romola Garai as Eliza Russell. Throughout the six episodes the strength and bond of the two detectives is a dichotomy to the military obedience dictated by the pair in charge of the mission; and the drama as they interact, as the law and the might of authority clash, is unavoidably serious and deadly.
Just as intense as its predecessor, the second series of Vigil dedicates itself to keeping the drama on high alert, and one that does not waver in that commitment.
Ian D. Hall