Peacock Sets February Premiere Date for 'Vigil' Season 2

The second season of the popular BBC thriller Vigil is officially coming to Peacock this February. This may come as a surprise to people who have not realized that a.) the NBC streamer is actually a destination for Anglophile-friendly content and b.) the series, which is one of the BBC's biggest hits in recent years, has even crossed the pond in the first place. Surprise!

Probably the most popular drama you've never seen, the first season of Vigil starred Suranne Jones (MaryLand) and Rose Leslie (The Time Traveler's Wife) and followed the story of the investigation of a murder on a British nuclear submarine. Though Season 1 arrived in the U.S. with relatively little fanfare, it was a huge hit for the BBC, attracting over 13 million viewers and landing a BAFTA nomination for Best Drama Series. The second season will hopefully prove an easy entry point for new fans, as it leaves behind the cramped, claustrophobic world of an active-duty submarine for the sunnier world of the British Air Force. (And essentially reboots itself in the process.) 

Season 2 will see DCI Amy Silva (Jones) and her partner --- in every sense of the word --- DI Kirsten Longacre (Leslie) delve into another area of British military operations traditionally shrouded in secret: arms dealing, drone weapons development, and Britain's various partnerships in the Middle East. 

"The British military has worked in this region for decades, providing training and operational support. We are all familiar with past joint operations against ISIS, but these relationships go far deeper than that, and they often involve complex partnerships between the military and the private sector," creator series creator Tom Edge said. "These operations also raise fascinating questions about how we define Britain’s “national interests”. When the prospect of British-made weapons, serviced by British personnel and fired by British-trained foreign servicemen can end up causing civilian casualties, questions are inevitably raised as to whether Britain can honestly disavow any responsibility for these kinds of foreign military operations. These are the grey areas – and in Vigil 2 we explore a world of moral and political compromises, ethical disagreements, and clashing institutional priorities."

Here's the Season 2 synopsis. 

Following multiple unexplained fatalities at a Scottish military facility, DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre are tasked with uncovering the cause. Entering the hostile and closed ranks of the air force, the pair must face the deadly warfare of tomorrow as they fight for their own future.

Alongside Jones and Leslie, Gary Lewis (His Dark Materials) is also returning as DSU Robertson. Newcomers to the Season 2 cast include Romola Garai (Becoming Elizabeth), Dougray Scott (Crime), Amir El-Masry (Rogue Heroes), David Elliot (Bulletproof), Chris Jenks (Karen Pirie), Tommy Sim’aan (The Midwich Cuckoos), Oscar Salem (House of the Dragon), Jonathan Ajayi (Noughts + Crosses) and newcomer Hiba Medina. 

Vigil was written and created by Edge, with Season 2 episodes penned by Maryam Hamidi, James Smythe, Ryan O’Sullivan, and Matilda Wnek. Directors Andy De Emmony (The Nest) and Joss Agnew (Outlander) split helming duties across the six episodes, with Marcus Wilson (Luther) producing. Executive producers are Edge, with Simon Heath and Jake Lushington for World Productions, and Gaynor Holmes for the BBC.

All six episodes of Vigil Season 2 will drop on February 15 on Peacock.