Vigil season three

Part murder mystery, part espionage thriller (with a sprinkling of sapphic romance, of course), moreish drama Vigil returns for a third season. After the Buried-style submarine horror and military corruption of its first two outings, the latest series sees DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) and DI Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) investigating a murder in Svalbard.

It begins with Amy and Kirsten’s domestic idyll, the pair exchanging playful banter while caring for their toddler. But shippers hoping for anything other than a snippet of the happy couple’s home life will be sorely disappointed. News arrives of the death of a British civilian on a demilitarised Russian enclave in Svalbard. This time around, Kirsten is thrust into the drama, sent to Svalbard to uncover the truth. She’s joined by affable police chief Becken (Jeppe Beck Laursen), with the series veering into Nordic noir as the pair traverse the icy archipelago. Meanwhile, poking fun at her chaotic past, Amy stays home and begins to dig into the link between the case and the disappearance of a young Chinese scientist, Shen Jia (Naomi Yang), who was seemingly wanted by the Russians.

As always, Jones dazzles as the multifaceted Amy, whose senior role within a male-dominated realm demands that she be extra cautious over displaying her vulnerabilities. Leslie is a joy to watch, seamlessly depicting Kirsten’s self-assuredness in contrast to her partner’s trepidation.

There are so many different themes crammed in that it feels overwhelming at times (in addition to geopolitical conspiracies, there is Amy investigating apparent eco-terrorism). And, on occasion, it descends into stereotypical depictions that allude to a kind of Western chauvinism. However, the initial clichéd red scare-style espionage turns out to be something much more layered. We had the Russian perp trope in season one, but more than ever Vigil embraces the multitudes of grey between the black and white framing of the British state versus foreign actors, of West versus East. A key strength of the show is its probing approach to the complexities of international relations, from the outset showing how hostile actors’ motivations are unclear, which amplifies the intrigue.

The BBC drama’s third instalment is replete with twists and turns sure to satisfy murder mystery enthusiasts and John Le Carré fans alike. Vigil cements its place as one of the most compelling police procedural thrillers of recent years.

Antonia Georgiou

Vigil season three is released on BBC iPlayer on 30^th August 2026.

Watch the trailer for Vigil season three here: