The Rig is an engaging environmental thriller that pits a malevolent energy corporation against an ancient force committed to preserving the earth. With the release of Season 2 on Prime Video, viewers can dive deep into the unfolding drama and shocking twists.
First premiering in January 2023, Season 1 of The Rig quickly gained a substantial audience, which led to the rapid renewal of the series for a second season. The show stars renowned actors including Martin Compston, Emily Hampshire, Iain Glen, and Mark Addy, depicting the sinister operations of an energy company named Pictor, along with a powerful underwater entity in the North Sea linked to numerous Major Extinction Events.
Before revealing the events of Season 2, please note that SPOILERS are ahead. For an overview of Season 1 and its conclusion, visit our dedicated recap.
Episode 1
Following the events of Season 1, the remaining Pictor employees are airlifted from Kinloch Bravo. Season 2 kicks off as these workers are relocated to another rig known as The Stac, where key characters Fulmer (Martin Compston) and Cat (Rochenda Sandall) undergo isolation for observation.
Survivors are offered £200,000 as well as a passage home, contingent on their signing a non-disclosure agreement. Concurrently, Europe faces a widespread state of emergency following a devastating tsunami, linked to the so-called “Ancestor,”resulting in over 100,000 casualties.
The CEO of Pictor, Morgan Lennox (Alice Krige), makes an appearance on The Stac, asserting the company’s commitment to mining rare earth metals for sustainable energy in a bid to facilitate the “green transition.”
As the plot thickens, a Survey Team goes missing in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with only a two-hour oxygen supply remaining. Pictor enlists Rose (Emily Hampshire) to lead the rescue. When the team descends, they discover significant damage to their Rover and the apparent loss of the crew, who “didn’t stand a chance.”
Despite orders to leave the deceased behind, the rescuers begin a recovery mission, motivated not just by duty, but driven by the need to uncover details about the incident. The data log obtained can potentially yield critical information. However, their findings provoke the Ancestors held captive, initiating a series of chaotic events that culminate in cracks appearing on the vessel’s glass.
Episode 2
The rescue team releases a ‘Sonic Shockwave’ as a countermeasure, affecting both the Ancestor and Fulmer. The escalating situation prompts The Stac to initiate an explosive descent to rescue the stranded crew.
Meanwhile, Fulmer grapples with his unresolved bond to the Ancestor. Cat faces the pressure of a press conference led by Lennox, where she is coerced into lying about Kinloch Bravo’s events, leading to an emotional breakdown as she confronts the devastation caused by the tsunami.
It becomes evident that the Survey Team’s true mission was not merely to search for rare nodules, but to locate the Ancestor’s heart for possible destruction. Scientist Askel expresses the ancient network’s significance, claiming, “it’s an extensive living web through the sea bed… we now understand that what you encountered was part of a larger system.”
Pictor’s ulterior motive is unveiled: to find a node within this organism, injecting it with poison to eradicate its influence. The episode concludes ominously with Pictor’s increasing dominance over the situation.
Episode 3
In Episode 3, Fulmer experiences a collapse, attributed to his lingering connection to the Ancestor, claiming he perceives its communications as cacophonous noise. Coake (Mark Addy) warns Fulmer of the impending fatal consequences of such an infection, presenting a “removal shot” in exchange for the data log.
Back on The Stac, Pictor’s efforts to seize underwater rights for a multitude of resources are revealed, dispelling claims of their environmental commitment. The ruthless ambitions of businessman Darian York (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd) highlight the board’s scrutiny over Lennox and the urgency of their Arctic plans.
As Cat resolves to assist the wounded rather than pursue Kacey, Fulmer turns in the data log, only to find out he handed over the incorrect drive due to a switch by Cameron. Tension escalates between Cam and Coake, culminating in a grave confrontation.
Episode 4
Episode 4 deals with the fallout from Coake’s murder, as Cameron stands behind his actions, justifying it as a means to save lives. York attempts to suppress the investigation by stating it was an unfortunate accident, but his manipulations come at a cost.
Fulmer confides in Rose about his ulterior motives regarding Coake. Askel’s efforts to decode the Ancestor’s signals lead him to shocking discoveries about chemical pollutants contaminating the Arctic Ocean, directly linked to Pictor’s operations.
The Ancestor reacts aggressively, leading to a harrowing encounter where the crew finds themselves trapped. Meanwhile, Cat and Hutton (Owen Teale) engage a journalist in a plan to expose Pictor’s underhanded practices. Emotional revelations unfold as Cat reunites with a gravely injured Kacey.
The episode finishes with Cameron relaying the log’s secrets on defeating the Ancestor, just as Bremner (Phil McKee) confronts the pair with a gun.
Episode 5
Bremner initiates chaos by demanding the data drive and reveals his motivations are purely financial. In a standoff, Rose attempts to de-escalate the situation, leading to a tense sequence of attacks and counterattacks.
During the struggle, Cameron and Rose manage to corner Bremner and seal off sections of The Stac, heightening the atmosphere of distrust and urgency among the crew. Amidst the mayhem, power failures plunge the surroundings into an eerie red glow.
As the team races against time, they uncover the data log’s location, leading to frantic efforts to secure their escape and save their research from falling into the wrong hands.
Episode 6
In a dramatic finale, Fulmer witnesses Rose’s apparent demise but learns she has devised a strategy using the Ancestor to heal her injuries. This revelation shifts the narrative, as calls to action shape the future of their mission.
Amidst rising stakes, the USB’s content, revealing Lennox’s hidden agenda, is jeopardized as the conspiracy spreads. The episode culminates with Rose and Fulmer embarking on a crucial mission to unveil the Ancestor’s heart to the world.
Engaged in both emotional and physical battles, Rose manages to connect with the ancient force, culminating in a breathtaking display of its power, signaling to the world its significance. Just as hope seems lost, a timely rescue from The Stac secures their survival, albeit amidst tension as Lennox ominously notes, “the people we’re fighting don’t give up.”
Season 2 of The Rig is currently available for streaming on Prime Video. For more on upcoming TV hits, check out our list of 15 highly anticipated shows for 2025 and a major Netflix series returning this January.
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