The BBC’s Vigil is exactly the kind of intense drama you should be watching. Not only is it smart, well written, and intriguing, it is sapphic. (The last part being what drew us in and kept us watching. Starring Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie, it tells the story of two detectives who uncover a plot involving a submarine that could throw the United Kingdom and the world into chaos that feels all too real.
Here are 5 reasons you should be watching Vigil:
1. It’s sapphic/LGBTQ+ at its heart.
In the beginning, it’s a little difficult to gauge whether Amy and Kirsten are together. But through a series of flashbacks, we see that they were friends, lovers, and partners. And when Amy needs someone to have her back, even after breaking up, she chooses Kirsten. As the investigation into what is happening with this submarine progresses, we experience the true depth of their bond. And the best part is that it’s normalized throughout Vigil. They just like each other and are capable women who have a job to do.
2. It’s an intense drama that keeps you glued to your seat.
It takes a lot to make a show so damn interesting that you have to sit down and watch it in one go. But that’s what Vigil did to us when we watched it. It’s an intense drama that blossoms throughout six episodes. And as each layer is peeled back you’re exposed to this rich storytelling written by George Aza-Selinger, Tom Edge, Chandni Lakhani, and Ed MacDonald. And if they could make a submarine plot interesting, imagine what else they can do when they get their hands on other material?
3. Suranne Jones is a powerhouse.
We still remember the first time that we experienced the greatness that is Suranne Jones. Perchance, we stumbled upon Doctor Foster. And though season two was ughhh, season one was a masterclass in acting. So much so that we watched it on sitting. She blew us away in Scott & Bailey and she did the same thing in Vigil. Jones has this way of commanding every scene she’s in with magic that we’ve never seen in another actress. She balances that out with tenacity and charm that makes you go, “Damn.” while wondering what other things she’s been in.
4. Rose Leslie killed it just as well.
We loved Rose Leslie as much as we loved Suranne Jones. And we only know her from Game of Thrones! But after Vigil we absolutely adore her and want to see everything that she’s ever done. She was the balancing act of the show and showed us her character’s experience in the sapphic love story that drove everything forward (in our opinion). The moments with Jones were full of so much chemistry and we will be playing back those flashbacks til the end of time and then some.
5. Let’s not forget about the rest of the cast.
Jones and Leslie weren’t the only stand out cast from Vigil. There was Paterson Joseph, known for his work on Timeless, The Sandman podcast series, and Noughts + Crosses. Then there’s Connor Swindells from Sex Education and Emma. Amd Anjli Mohindra from Wild Bill and Dark Heart. Point being, everyone did an amazing job creating their own characters with rich backgrounds that helped the overall plot of Vigil. And by the end of it, we want to know all of them and their work beyond this show.
Vigil is available on Peacock.