[Closed] Vigil, TV drama

Yes, caught the start of the first one as it was straight after Bob and Paul and got drawn in. Looks decent but slight concern that it might descend into nonsense. Tonight will tell.

Yeah could turn into line of duty in a tin can.

Enjoyed last night, but as above, let's see how silly it gets!

We're watching it. Seems decent enough, and it's got plenty of room to get interesting. I like the claustrophobic atmosphere on the sub.

After seeing a yellow seaking with Royal Navy written on it I can’t bring my self to watch it.

@peajay Yes, the SeaKing threw me too, although they are of course 'proper' helicopters. Big Yellow Taxi, and all that. Will stick with it for the novelty value of the rest of the setting though.

Watching it. Plenty of space inside there!

I like the claustrophobic atmosphere on the sub.

It’s absolutely palatial in comparison to a real sub - you’d have to drill holes in the hull of a real sub to try and get some of those shot angles.

After commenting on the fishing trawler getting dragged backwards at a silly angle rather than just sinking, and the crap effort at CPR, I was ordered to keep quite! I don't watch much telly but have been waiting for this one so hopefully its worth the wait 🙂

After seeing a yellow seaking with Royal Navy written on it I can’t bring my self to watch it.

Aye. And that’s not the worst crime either. Did the RN actually cooperate with this in any way?

I can’t for the life of me work out why civilian police and not SIB are investigating this - did I miss something?

I can live with technical inaccuracies, it's fiction after all. Plot holes and poor characterisation are what kills any drama for me and it's ok in that regard so far.

I can’t for the life of me work out why civilian police and not SIB are investigating this – did I miss something?

No, you didn't, and the entire premise of "the navy dropped a civilian detective on a Trident sub" is really bugging me. Maybe there's some deep conspiracy that the Navy can't trust their own police to deal with, or maybe they hope that most people won't care (my wife doesn't, for example).

I’d imagine the SIB aren’t investigating as the RMP don’t deal with murders etc since all the shambles of the past (deepcut and the like), and it would be down to home office police as it’s supposed to have happened in British waters. But yes, a civilian on an active trident sub just wouldn’t happen. Enjoying it though!

The technical inaccuracies are glaring, and there’s a fine line between dramatic license and an apparent lack of basic research. The uniforms are all wrong too as far as I can tell (Christ knows what cereal packet Branning’s cap badge was found in, but it’s not an RN one).

Vigil has, however, given me the opportunity to point out to my former RN Reserve colleagues this is what it’s like watching Casualty as a medic.

I am wondering why there seems to be a mix of various rig worn by the crew.. never been in a sub though so maybe it’s different rules beneath the waves 😉

Poor IMO. Big name actors (well for Uk tv) and an attempt at fancy CGI. Neither of which make up for a weak story and script. No real performance from anyone that stands out but Tbf script doesn’t give them much to work on.

And as others have said loads of holes to pick at and spoil the experience.

I keep thinking of old star trek as they do the lean to the side bit!

Not a fan, shame as bet it cost a decent budget to put together.

I can’t for the life of me work out why civilian police and not SIB are investigating this – did I miss something?

According to the writer the premise is..

....a sailor being found dead during an active patrol, with an additional problem so far as the Navy is concerned: the death occurs while the submarine is inside British territorial waters, making it a matter for the police. A compromise between Navy and police is reached, and a single detective is flown by helicopter to join the submarine on its patrol.

Bullshit though. Would still be an RNP matter (with or without civilian police help).

Must admit I’m finding it hugely contrived. “ I know let’s take a police officer who has just survived an accident featuring being trapped underwater in a confined space & put her in a submarine”..
Also the way in which everyone is behaving seems really unrealistic. The police aren’t acting like police & the navy aren’t acting like the navy. For me it is getting in the way of the plot. The whole premise it’s based on lacks any credibility.

I can live with technical inaccuracies, it’s fiction after all. Plot holes and poor characterisation are what kills any drama for me and it’s ok in that regard so far.

There's fiction and far fetched bull shit. They did the same with bodyguard - it could have been much better if they just calmed down a bit. I've started so I'll probably finish but right now its far from impressive.

I caught about 30 seconds of it by accident after finishing a film, I was just in time to see them pootling along at periscope depth (in a Trident boat?) and the Captain being startled by the sudden appearance of an oil tanker. Righty ho.
I was intending to catch it on iPlayer but maybe I'll not bother.

There's a decent not-quite-edge-of-darkness thriller in there somewhere I think, but it feels like they're trying to do three or four different series in one go so far.

(I'm happy to suspend disbelief as far as RN/police stuff goes so far - it is only TV after all)

I think we'll stick with it now though having got through the first two episodes.

I caught about 30 seconds of it by accident after finishing a film, I was just in time to see them pootling along at periscope depth (in a Trident boat?) and the Captain being startled by the sudden appearance of an oil tanker. Righty ho.

that's not even the worst bit! Presumably it's there for a reason though - otherwise it was just poor dramatic filler? Is it too early to predict stuff?

- so the near miss with the oil tanker someone was trying to crash the sub intentionally?
- Cal MacAninch is too big an actor to just be a bit part on the camp - so he's probably an undercover MI5 operative that's penetrated the CND group

Clearly the bloke who died has done 'something' to the sub to make things go wrong, eg, the reactor, the sonar. I'm not sure if I'll keep watching. I thought subs were small inside! The Capt had a lovely big office.

After seeing a yellow seaking with Royal Navy written on it I can’t bring my self to watch it.

Documentaries and news programmes available on other channels, I believe?

It reappeared this week with rescue on the side, but looking for wreckage so RAF SAR

As has been mentioned the set inaccuracies are an annoyance but weak plot and characters are making it a farce,
The Navy are enemy within, trying cover up everything, with a rogue public school boy, who is responsible for everything, back dude commander , who is really a good guy, but struggle again "the system" .... but as we are on episode 2, this is going to take more twists and turns than a naked Twister session.
Of course, we have to have police person with mental heath and anxiety issues (Marcella anyone) , and her new lesbian lover. Who is now going to be on the sub fro threes ( with no survival train, no H&S training, no familiarisation with the boat, and no basic training) Just waiting for the transgender wheelchair child to roll into the action, and maybe a cameo from Meghan and Harry.

It's all going to be Line of Duty Lite/ Dr Foster hybrid - with Marcella bits ...

I thought subs were small inside!

Typhoon class boats have swimming pools in them.

Typhoon class boats have swimming pools in them.

Yeah, but no diving boards.

Anyway I'm prepared to suspend belief for 4 more episodes.

BTW does Adam James only ever play arseholes?

( with no survival train, no H&S training,

I just can't wait to see a TV drama about HSE training 🙂

I just can’t wait to see a TV drama about HSE training 🙂

Dunno - the way BBC drama is going, it would bet against it> It was more the issue of the setting ( other than it wouldn't be police matter) is nonsense - she would not be allowed on a sub for 3 weeks with out prior assessment. And anxiety and depression wouldn't really be idea - esp after a bizarre drowning incident.

And nobody takes dump, takes a wash or eats

And nobody takes dump, takes a wash or eats

when was the last time you saw a character in a film having a shit?

Still. I'll bear it in mind. I'm working on a screenplay based on my BOSIET training. It's all about a middle aged desk jockey chundering his guts. At least STW will appreciate the realism, if not the plot 🙂

And nobody takes dump, takes a wash or eats

Suranne Jones on the crapper for 55 minutes is hardly going to be prime time viewing, well not in our house anyway.

Next up... The dragons in Game of Thrones weren't real.

I’m enjoying it so far. Know naff all about submarines so lack of realism isn’t really an issue for me..😀

Next up… The dragons in Game of Thrones weren’t real

You have literally ruined my life ... 🙁

From now on I will watch Vigil as a fantasy - any idea what episode the dragons and goblins will appear in?

I can't bring myself to watch it (and I could look at Suranne Jones all day long) I'll just annoy the boss on the settee pointing put stuff so I will let her watch it alone.

Size wise I will say that some boats are bigger than others and nowhere was really that claustrophobic. There was a 'gym' on bombers, if you can call a few free weights and a treadmill a gym.

It’s all going to be Line of Duty Lite/ Dr Foster hybrid – with Marcella bits …

You are a TV commissioning editor and I claim my £5

Next up… The dragons in Game of Thrones weren’t real.

Oh, spoiler alert!

As it happens in Scottish waters I'd have thought the minimum police drop onto the boat would be two detectives for corroboration purposes.

But there is so much else that isn't accurate ao who cares. On Radio Scotland one of the actors claimed they had an ex submariner on the set to advise on accuracy.

They can't be real cops. They dont solve the crime by pinning photos onto a board and staring at them for a bit. Well. Not yet, anyway.

I'm not arsed about technical accuracy of uniforms, hardware, liveries etc. I just want to be entertained and VIGIL is doing that up to now. It is fiction not a documentary so bring on the holes.

Not sure if it's the angles and lighting but I didn't realise Suranne (Sarah) had such a hooter on her.

I think the warm and cuddly coxswain (Endeavour bloke?) will turn out to be a proper badass.

As a lover of contrived dramas with no real plot to speak of, starring surranne Jones, my wife loves it. I fully expected to hate it already but so far it's tolerable. I'm sure it's on borrowed time though.

There’s a decent not-quite-edge-of-darkness thriller in there somewhere I think,

I watched EoD again a few years ago. It was utterly ludicrous, something which escaped me as a teenager.

when was the last time you saw a character in a film having a shit?

Game of Thrones: Tywin Lanister - Didn't end well.

Still on GOT is anyone else waiting for the detective (back on land) to say "you know nothing (Jon Snow)".

IdleJon
Full Member

I watched EoD again a few years ago. It was utterly ludicrous, something which escaped me as a teenager.

At least they didn't find the dead sun dodgers vibrator ;o)

^ you just made me snot-bubble. Thanks.

i quite like it. Sure, it may have a few plot holes but it's not supposed to be a documentary and it also has to appeal to the masses.

Everyone round here is creaming themselves over it because it was filmed around Largs and the hole in the ground (Hunterston ship yard). Fun trivia, the only RN connection that yard has is that it built the sub lift for Faslane.

I was just in time to see them pootling along at periscope depth (in a Trident boat?) and the Captain being startled by the sudden appearance of an oil tanker. Righty ho.

Aye, usually they go fully up or fully down to collide with rogue sand bars/French submarines/Irish trawlers.

Typhoon class boats have swimming pools in them.

Heavy lifting there. Glorified bathtub deep enough to "swim" in if you tie yourself to the end.

when was the last time you saw a character in a film having a shit?

Lethal Weapon 3 I think.

Trainspotting. It's an integral part of the plot

And Pulp Fiction now I think of it. Actually Travolta has two shits, one of which proves fatal, and also a wee which is indirectly near fatal for Mia Wallace.

It's got absolutely no reality, but it's a TV drama, so don't think you'd tune in for it to be realistic, christ i've not seen a bedford 4 tonner in years, same with an active sea-king, or a base with so many MoD Police wandering round with SA80s, or so much going on, i won't get into the sub or the crew much either, but it's all about drama and it's been not too bad so far, seems to be a story in there, yes a bit of contrived stuff as well, but i'll give it until the end to see.

I haven't watched it and never served in the armed forces. However just watching the adverts I'm wondering why the submarine is still operating with that crew whilst there's a murder investigation. Surely the crew would be grounded (no pun intended) whilst the investigation took place 🤔

Reasonably entertaining pile of absolute cobblers.

A lot like line of duty i guess

I haven’t watched it and never served in the armed forces. However just watching the adverts I’m wondering why the submarine is still operating with that crew whilst there’s a murder investigation. Surely the crew would be grounded (no pun intended) whilst the investigation took place

That's almost the dumbest comment possible 😉

(not meaning to be rude, honest, but the first two episodes have largely been about why the boat hasn't just returned to base so it can be investigated)

Everyone round here is creaming themselves over it because it was filmed around Largs and the hole in the ground (Hunterston ship yard). Fun trivia, the only RN connection that yard has is that it built the sub lift for Faslane

Once got a lift back to the hotel by the local coppers in Largs after a reasonable amount of beer in various pubs. Didn't help my colleague wouldn't give his name. IIRC he had to pick up his wallet the following day.

A weird night.

One thing that made me chuckle a lot, the vast amount of extras wandering around the 'Naval base' like it was a Sunday afternoon at a shopping centre.

Well, the portrayal of RN officers as arrogant self important tossers seemed spot on from my time in a Navy Mess, so I assumed it must all be as accurate 😎

Oh dear, as Ex-RN I was looking forward to this when I'm back home.

I can allow oddities like a Civilian Police officer investigating, for the purposes of plot. But, if simple routine stuff, like uniforms and the cramped conditions of a boat, can't be done right it's a no-go from me.

You hear of painstaking research in period dramas about the correct clothes, wallpaper and locations, so why not modern day stuff?

Yellow 'RN' Seaking? What were they thinking?

You hear of painstaking research in period dramas about the correct clothes, wallpaper and locations, so why not modern day stuff?

I suspect the historical stuff might actually be easier to get right. It's certainly less likely to be spotted by the self appointed technogeeks of STW.

Yellow ‘RN’ Seaking? What were they thinking?

That probably came down to budget/availability. Maybe the right kind of 'copter wasn't available or they couldn't afford it having blown the budget on some big hitter actors?

You hear of painstaking research in period dramas about the correct clothes, wallpaper and locations, so why not modern day stuff?

That could be inaccurate too, but there's nobody about with first hand knowledge to comment on it.

Anyway, I think the Mr Cuddles the Coxswain is a wrong 'un too.

Was that Sea King real or CGI? If it was CGI then getting it wrong was a bit of a silly mistake.

It's quite good brain off entertainment.

I've given up wondering where all the driving is to/from there's not that much open moorland countryside between "sub" bases and civilization. It's a fair old humpf to nowhere to be on the other side of water looking across at the base.

It’s quite good brain off entertainment.

I’ve skipped reading the second page as I watched the first episode last night, and it’s this for me. I watch these programs very much at face value so found it entertaining. Hopefully there’s more Steve Arnot.

Hang around a navy base long enough you will spot a Merlin? soon enough. Saw them frequently in Helston recently. Not too tricky they fly loops.

You hear of painstaking research in period dramas about the correct clothes, wallpaper and locations, so why not modern day stuff?

Except a lot of the time it's marketing guff to boost viewing

The compromises will have been to keep production costs down, they are aiming at the 80% of viewers who won't really care

I can allow oddities like a Civilian Police officer investigating, for the purposes of plot. But, if simple routine stuff, like uniforms and the cramped conditions of a boat, can’t be done right it’s a no-go from me.

Civis will be none the wiser about uniforms, crampt conditions etc. Some probably even though a Yellow Sea King was more accurate. Nobody understands corroboration in Scots Law. But there are big holes in how people behave react and what detectives do that surely everyone struggles with. Bodyguard was the same though - it did stuff that ruined the believability for me to get 3 mins or extra drama that added nothing of value to the story.

It's a TV drama set on a fictional sub with a dysfunctional crew, corruption at the highest level, dark forces at work among the protesters and only two plucky cops (with issues) will be able to piece it all together. And as it's from the team behind Line of Duty we won't even meet the real baddie for another couple of episodes.

...and that's Subwang! (with due deference to paterson joseph)

Watched first 2 episodes last night. Never watched line of duty.
We know nothing about submarines, helicopters or police procedures. We did wonder why it was civilian police not some internal military investigation but not enough to spoil the enjoyment.

We both thought it was great turn your brain off and get sucked in to the drama type tv.

Looking forward to the next episode.

Agree with comments above about similarities with watching casualty as a medic. This must be painful to watch if you can’t help spotting the inaccuracies in the detail.

I’ve given up wondering where all the driving is to/from there’s not that much open moorland countryside between “sub” bases and civilization. It’s a fair old humpf to nowhere to be on the other side of water looking across at the base.

That's the Brisbane Glen they filmed it on IIRC, not watched it so don't know. It's actually a good road for filming as you can pass through about 5 different looking places along it's length.

…Line of Duty we won’t even meet the real baddie for another couple of episodes years.

Ftfy

I'm ex RN, ex Police and a tad OCD about accuracy. After a few minutes of watching me tut, mutter and slowly implode at discrepancies in EVERY F'ING THING, Mrs Shep gently pointed out it was fiction and suggested I "might want to watch something else if this is too stressful?"

"No dear, I'm FINE!!!".

Fun guessing where they did the filming though. Plenty on the A817 Haul Rd, B833 at Mambeg and some on the old A82 near Firkin.

I want to know where the car crash was filmed, they're driving by the side of a loch and when the car goes in it sinks deeper than Loch Ness and her and the kid pop up on a stony beach in a wildnerness area!

I want to know where the car crash was filmed

I'm not certain the whole sequence was filmed in the same place but bits looked like Loch Lomond.

They must have been hoofing it to end up that far out though. 🙂

And as it’s from the team behind Line of Duty we won’t even meet the real baddie for another couple of episodes.

Shouldn't take them as long to work out the deathbed morse code blinking.

There’s documentary thing on Channel 5 with the real boats now.

Bit less elbow room…

Edit- ‘On board Britain’s nuclear submarine’

Was that Sea King real or CGI? If it was CGI then getting it wrong was a bit of a silly mistake.

Real. Historic Helicopters own it and fly it, along with loads of other interesting aircraft. They said on Facebook "all our Eagle Eyed followers: yes we know and yes we did inform the production company. HH gave them exactly what they asked for and we think she looks spectacular!"

If you like (real) subs then watch How To Command A Nuclear Submarine on Prime. Really fascinating stuff, including them hunting down and (virtually) destroying the Ardrossan- Brodick ferry.

The car crash looks like Firkin Point on Loch Lomond. Big car park for the production team, the old, largely disused, road running south to a secluded spot away from passing traffic. Ideal location. The view north from the shingle beach looks familiar.

Fun guessing where they did the filming though

The helicopter take off sequence (and possibly some others) was done at Cumbernauld Airport. We were walking in the area when we saw a huge amount of filming wagons and the copter.

That could be inaccurate too, but there’s nobody about with first hand knowledge to comment on it.

Seriously? What a daft thing to say.

Just come across this yesterday and binged all the episodes. As above enjoyed it for brain off tv.

The scene where they were getting drunk and having their first kiss in the pub, was that the Drovers?

Not watched it yet, but this book was worth a read for life on a nuclear sub.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Under-Pressure-Avoiding-Nuclear-Submarine/dp/0008313075/ref=asc_df_0008313075/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=430805552339&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3924409224122053797&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007080&hvtargid=pla-948010791284&psc=1&th=1&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=101598702938&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=430805552339&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3924409224122053797&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007080&hvtargid=pla-948010791284

Me and the wife are enjoying it. If I wanted complete accuracy I'd watch a documentary (and probably fall asleep).