BBC Vigil sparks 'defund' row and branded 'nonsense' as Suranne Jones returns in divisive season 2 premiere
Suranne Jones has returned for the second season of Vigil
BBC
The second season of Vigil has been met with a mixed bag of reactions from BBC viewers after actors Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie returned to front the drama.
After spending the majority of season one confined to the walls of a submarine - a setting which undoubtedly helped the show's intensity and claustrophobic feel - the action this time around has returned above water.
In season two, Jones's Amy and Leslie's Kirsten are tasked with solving the mystery of a death within the Air Force, leaving their navy crime-fighting days behind them.
Meanwhile, their relationship has moved on considerably in the new outing, with the couple now firmly together and raising Amy's daughter Poppy, while Kirsten is pregnant with their second child.
But their happy family is disrupted when a demonstration of the latest RAF drone technology goes awry and several of those in attendance are gunned down and Amy is the one tasked with solving the horror.
However, the change in scenery, the unrealistic nature of the plot, and one or two technical blunders have left fans less than impressed.
Rose Leslie also returned to the Virgil season 2 cast
BBC
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one fan fumed: "Should have left it as one off stand out series no need do another series!!!! Like a poor sequel to a great movie just isn't great. #Vigil some dramas fine as one off memorable hits! @BBC."
A second hit out at the contents of the season two premiere as they slammed: "Too much BBC virtue signalling and inaccuracies in #Vigil, became too annoying. Series link cancelled."
Meanwhile, a third highlighted the errors at play: "#BBC on #Vigil proving that they can not only get naval uniforms and rank insignia wrong in series 1 they can also get it completely wrong for the RAF in series 2 as well!
"Perhaps it's done on purpose to show us it's supposed to be a comedy?"
WATCH HERE: Vigil season 2 trailer
A fourth raised defund calls: "#Vigil new drama on #bbc & blow me down it's more overwrought dross; the #lidl drones were funny though #defundthebbc."
"#Vigil what utter ridiculous nonsense," added a fifth. "Yes, it's TV but at least make an effort to to portray some reality. Absolute dross!!"
"S2 is shocking #Vigil," a sixth weighed in while a seventh echoed: "Felt a bit amateurish if I'm honest #Vigil."
However, some fans defended the return of the drama, with one viewer arguing: "OMG what a great start to the season for #Vigil. As I don’t have access to iPlayer, I’m watching it live on BBC and have to wait for the next episodes, but I don’t care at all, I’m just happy I have Silvacre back."
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Dougray Scott (right) joined the Vigil line-up in season 2
BBC
And a second agreed: "I absolutely LOVED #Vigil Season 1 and I've been anxious to see if Season 2 could live up to the bar S1 set... But damn, that first episode of Season 2! I'M OBSESSED ALL OVER AGAIN!" (sic)
As if the change to the setting wasn't enough, the second season of Vigil has also undergone a new scheduling pattern for its release.
The premiere aired on BBC One on Sunday evening and episodes one to three dropped on iPlayer soon after.
Episodes two and three air tonight and tomorrow at 9pm on BBC One before episode four arrives on Sunday.
Once again, episodes four to six will drop on iPlayer on Sunday or fans can watch five and fix at 9pm next Monday and Tuesday again on BBC One.