Vigil

As an amateur navy buff, there are too many mistakes to mention in regards to the on board submarine sets, & navy protocols & procedures.

However,this is a crime fiction drama, and holds your interest, if you can ignore some of (the very obvious) flaws. The acting is good, despite some poor scripting. The sub plots and back story seems to now hold more interest to me than the main plot. Maybe the ending will surprise?

That said, when was the last time you saw a show, or movie on a submarine?

There could have been much better research done, and more thought put into the sets, and navy procedures and protocols, but at its heart it is a crime drama, not a documentary. I will keep watching, as what else is there to?

This review is based on Season 1 as I haven't gotten around to Season 2 yet.

Interesting premise and the tension is well crafted, both onshore and on the submarine. However, as the episodes progress, the plot becomes increasingly tenuous and frankly quite ludicrous. One thing that I found quite unbelievable was the bonhomie among all the various agencies.

The performances are decent. I thought Leslie Jones was very good, remain unconvinced about Suranne Jones as DCI Silva. The others do a reasonable job.

Overall a decent watch as a filler but I wouldn't classify it as great Televison, rather an opportunity missed to have a great show.

So many reviews here, posted after the first episode aired, are heavily criticising the programme because someone wore the wrong sort of hat. What next? Star Trek is awful because space monsters don't live on Mars?

I don't care about the navy, what hats they wear, how they steer submarines around and other finicky details. I do care about entertainment and watching enjoyable shows. I am quite able to suspend disbelief and enjoy all kinds of fiction, including Vigil.

So, three episodes in, this is shaping up to be a very engaging drama. What is particularly impressive is the pacing. It's a show that takes you along with a solid story and great acting.

If you can't get beyond the fact someone has buttoned up their shirt incorrectly then this is not for you. If you are happy to enjoy a fictional drama for what it is, give it a go.

I come from Royal Navy heritage and find the way the RN are portrayed quite offensive. The story is utterly implausible and full of real life inaccuracies, but put all that aside and remember that this is a TV drama and not real life and it is actually a gripping show. I could write loads on the flaws (you never, ever call a Coxwain or Petty Officer 'Sir' for example), and I agree with the comments about BBC wokeness, but the actors are good, so I have no issues with their selection. So suspend your disbelief, sit back and enjoy a decent British drama.....

This is a thrilling six part series from The BBC, I've seen some hilarious comments about realism, it's very obvious that this is meant to thrill and entertain, not inform.

It's claustrophobic, energetic, gripping and fast paced, one of the best shows The BBC have out out in quite a while.

The acting is first rate, the best of Suranne Jones, Shaun Evans is also fantastic, the whole cast are terrific. Production values are off the scale, it looks incredible.

Part one gives you a massive shock, it doesn't hold back at any point, it's unforgiving and relentless. Part 5 is the peak for me, Part 6.....you'll either love it or hate it.

....Think Line of Duty meets Spyship, a 1980's BBC series, it's a cracking mix of both.

Loved it, 9/10.

Just a late update, I much preferred Series one to Series two, the ship setting added a level of claustrophobia, that the second series badly needed.