Vigil has returned for a third season, delivering another gripping mystery set in the Arctic, but the show's growing political ambition has led one critic to suggest it is time to end the series. The new season, which premieres tonight at 9pm on BBC One, follows DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) and DI Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) as they investigate the death of a British special forces operator and the disappearance of a Chinese scientist on the remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.
A new case in the Arctic
The season opens with the discovery of British special forces operator Daniel Hodge dead and Chinese scientist Shen Jia missing. Silva and Longacre are recruited to solve the mystery, but they quickly find themselves navigating betrayals, threats to their lives, and revelations that could spark an international crisis. The setting, Svalbard, is described as a barren landscape with an eerie lack of human life, aside from researchers working on specialist projects. However, it has become a key piece of land on the global playing field, with nations such as China, Russia, and the UK all determined to use it to their best interests.
According to the review by Asyia Iftikhar, Senior TV Reporter, the season plays on tensions around climate change and the tussle over energy. The show, which broke viewing records in 2021 with its first season set on a submarine, has grown in scale and ambition, but this has come at a cost. The review notes that while it is "always a delight to watch Suranne and Rose bring this relationship and all its complexities to life on screen," the sheer political ambition of this season overshadowed their storyline at times.
The couple at the heart of the show
The central relationship between Amy and Kirsten has evolved from an early romance to raising a family together. This season delves into Kirsten returning to work after maternity leave, both of their lives as new mothers, and the difficulties that come with it. The review praises the performances of Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie, but notes that the push and pull between wanting to focus on Kirsten and Amy and the wider plot was more pronounced than ever.
The review describes every episode as "jam-packed with twists and turns, with more moving parts than a locomotive train," making it impossible to discuss without entering spoiler territory. It also notes that the season is "a poignant ode to the journey Amy and Kirsten have gone on."
Time to end the show?
Despite the gripping nature of the new season, the review concludes that the ambition of the series has outgrown the premise. The author expresses a desire to see what creator Tom Edge has up his sleeve next with a new show. The review suggests that while the third season is a worthy addition to the canon, it may be the right time to bring the series to a close.
Vigil season three premieres tonight at 9pm on BBC One. The show has been a significant success for the BBC, with its first season breaking viewing records in 2021. The new season is expected to draw a large audience, given the show's popularity and the heightened stakes of the Arctic setting.
