All through 2024, Amazon Prime Video continued its original content expansion with shows like Cross and the thrilling international spy franchise, Citadel. To kick the new year off on a high note, the streamer shared the second season of The Rig, starring Emily Hampshire, Iain Glen, Martin Compston and Calvin Demba as crew members of the Kinloch Bravo crew. They work for profit-hungry Pictor Energy, extracting oil from the ocean to meet growing demand. As season one opens, viewers meet Rose, Magnus, Fulmer and Baz eager to return home after a long shift. Unfortunately, their plans are derailed, taking them on an unforgettable, Avatar-esque journey reminding audiences of our connection to Mother Earth, or the Ancestor, as Rose affectionately names the supernatural force that makes its presence felt in The Rig.
Meet the Kinloch Bravo Crew
Amazon MGM Studios
In the first episode, one of the crew’s youngest members, Baz, expresses frustration over his spot on the helicopter home being reassigned to communications officer Fulmer; the former suggests the latter’s relationship with Rose, their chief geologist has something to do with the swap. As it turns out, no one on the Kinloch Bravo can leave, as rig manager Magnus reveals that their choppers have been diverted to another rig to handle an emergency. Beyond this news, the crew is discouraged to learn that Pictor Energy plans to decommission their operation. As the surprising news breaks, communications on board begin to fail, foreshadowing trouble ahead.
Tremors quake from beneath the water as a thick fog envelopes the Bravo. Things only grow more unusual as black ash begins to fall from the sky; upon further analysis, Rose determines the ash contains ancient microorganisms from Earth’s earliest life forms. Her analysis is confirmed after Baz nearly dies in an accident but is mysteriously healed thanks to the Ancestor’s powers. The otherworldly force can remedy injuries but notably rejects artificial things like tattoos and foreign objects.
How Does the Ancestor Communicate?
As he heals in season one of The Rig, Baz becomes an ally of the Ancestor, which is fighting back against the impacts of oil extraction. The creature communicates through Quorum sensing, channeling humans to help spread the message about the dangers of abusing Eart so relentlessly. As the Ancestor develops a relationship with the Kinloch Bravo team, it heals the rig using overgrown plants, symbolizing the return to the natural balance it’s craving. This is perceived as a threat at first, although the crew later realizes the true purpose as Baz is overtaken, drawing six concentric circles and leaving the outermost open at the top.
This symbol becomes a recurring theme as Fulmer also bonds with the Ancestor and sees it in visions. During an operation to shut down the oil valve, Rose spots circles on the seabed, linking them to the planet’s five past mass extinctions. She predicts this message points to an impending sixth extinction approaching if the hoarding of resources continues.
Season 1 Ending Explained: What Is Project Siren?
Amazon MGM Studios
Later in The Rig season one, survivors from the Kinloch Charlie emergency arrive to Bravo, revealing that Pictor has long known about the Ancestor and launched Project Siren to eliminate it from ruining their profits. One employee, David Coake, is under order to maximize oil extraction and kill the Ancestor using toxic gases. This is what caused the episode one explosion at Charlie, killing most of the crew. Coake brings his same plan to Bravo, using toxins stored onboard to weaken the natural wonder, but only losing more team members in the process. It seems that no matter the moral cost, Pictor’s aim is to delay a mass extinction event to keep growing their wealth. Thankfully, the Bravo staff stop another explosion from happening in the nick of time.
With the Project Siren timeline nearing its end, the energy giant sends a helicopter to rescue Coake. Rose, Magnus and Fulmer try to reason with the Ancestor and promise humans will cease all extraction to preserve Earth. On-screen, viewers see the aforementioned seabed circle complete, signaling that a sixth extinction event is inevitable. Baz ultimately sacrifices himself to prove their sincerity, and as helicopters depart, a massive tidal wave destroys the Kinloch Bravo rig. On the helicopters, the crew realizes they’re flying further out to sea rather than back home, revealing Coake’s hidden plans.
Rose and the Ancestor Save Each Other in Season 2
In the newly released second installment of The Rig, the crew is divided. Bremner and Coake represent the company’s tireless desire to acquire more profit; these themes echo real-world headlines of conservation vs. exploitation. On the other hand, Rose and Fulmer are driven by their new understanding of the Ancestor’s life-giving power after it saves her life. Once bonded with the Earth, the geologist can see things from a higher perspective to bridge the gap between destruction and rebirth. With every interaction, she and the Ancestor grow more closely connected, helping her understand its purpose – renewal and preserving life.
Things start to feel like a James Cameron epic when Rose and Fulmer find the Ancestor’s heart (a radiant network of glowing roots spanning the ocean floor). Aerial shots reveal the glow is visible from as far away as space when the creature decides to reveal itself in the fight against Pictor. With global attention on Mother Earth, the energy company begins to face heat from activists, leading to the crash of oil prices.
Is ‘The Rig’ Season 3 Coming?
As Coming Soon notes, “The closing scenes leave viewers questioning whether humanity will embrace or seek to exploit the Ancestor’s power.” If The Rig is renewed for a third season, future episodes could explore how humanity can deepen its connection to the Earth instead of exploiting its resources. The second season wraps as Pictor head Darian York receives a cryptic phone call from “X,” suggesting he might not be the biggest villain after all. While their identity is anonymous for now, X could be a rival oil executive or someone with hidden power over York and his crumbling empire.
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