Fear of the unknown is a powerful thing. You're stuck in the middle of the North Sea, miles from the Scottish coast, surrounded by nothing but grey water and howling wind. Then the fog rolls in. Not just any fog—a thick, unnatural mist that cuts off all communication with the outside world. That is the baseline for The Rig, and honestly, it’s one of the most unsettling setups for a supernatural thriller we’ve seen in years.
People keep comparing it to The Thing or Doctor Who, and while those vibes are definitely there, the show feels much more grounded in the gritty reality of blue-collar life. It’s about oil and gas workers. These are folks used to danger, but they aren't prepared for something that might be as old as the earth itself.
What is the Kinloch Bravo actually hiding?
The story kicks off on the Kinloch Bravo oil rig. The crew is ready to head home. They’re tired, they’re missing their families, and then everything goes sideways. A massive tremor hits, followed by this weird, shimmering fog. David Macpherson, the show's creator, clearly did his homework on the isolation of offshore life. You can feel the claustrophobia.
Iain Glen plays Magnus MacMillan, the rig manager. You might know him as Jorah Mormont from Game of Thrones, and he brings that same weary authority here. He’s trying to keep a lid on a crew that is rapidly losing its mind. The tension isn't just about the "monster" or the "fog"—it’s about the hierarchy of the rig breaking down. When the power goes out and the radios go silent, who is actually in charge?
The science (and pseudoscience) of the Ancestor
The central mystery revolves around something the show calls "The Ancestor." Without getting into heavy spoiler territory, it’s not some guy in a rubber suit. It’s an ancient, biological entity. Think more along the lines of a prehistoric fungus or a sentient ripple in the ocean floor.
This is where the show gets smart. It taps into real-world fears about climate change and what happens when we poke the earth too hard. The Ancestor isn't necessarily "evil" in the way a slasher villain is. It's just old. And it’s reacting to us. Baz, played by Calvin Demba, becomes the primary vessel for this entity early on. His transformation is genuinely creepy—not because he turns into a werewolf, but because he starts seeing and knowing things he shouldn't.
Why the cast makes it work
If the acting was sub-par, this whole thing would fall apart. But it’s a powerhouse of UK talent. You’ve got Emily Hampshire (Rose from Schitt's Creek) playing a corporate scientist who is basically the most hated person on the rig. She represents the "company," and the friction between her and the crew provides half the drama.
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Then there’s Martin Compston as Fulmer Hamilton. He’s a long way from Line of Duty here. His character is vulnerable and scared, which helps ground the high-concept sci-fi elements. The show excels at showing the physical toll of the rig. It’s loud. It’s rusted. Everything looks like it might break at any second, and that was even before the ancient spores showed up.
The Scottish connection
It's great to see a big-budget genre show that leans so heavily into its Scottish roots. It was filmed at FirstStage Studios in Leith, Edinburgh. The accents are thick, the slang is real, and the cultural friction between the local workers and the "outsiders" feels authentic. It doesn't feel like a Hollywood production transposed onto Scotland; it feels like it grew out of that environment.
Breaking down the ending of Season 1
By the time the finale rolls around, the scale of the threat has expanded way beyond a single oil rig. We realize that the Kinloch Bravo is just one small part of a much larger awakening. The "Ancestor" is everywhere.
The final scenes are chaotic. The rig is literally falling apart. The visual effects for the massive wave—the "Tsunami"—were actually pretty impressive for a TV budget. It leaves us with a massive cliffhanger: Magnus and a handful of survivors are on a helicopter, looking down at a world that is fundamentally changed.
They didn't "win." They just survived the first wave.
What we know about The Rig Season 2
Amazon Prime Video officially greenlit a second season, and production has been moving along in Scotland. The story is moving away from the Kinloch Bravo—mostly because the rig is a wreck—and toward a new location.
- The Cast: Most of the heavy hitters are returning, including Iain Glen and Emily Hampshire.
- The Setting: Expect a more "global" feel, though still anchored in the cold North Sea atmosphere.
- The Plot: It’s going to explore the fallout of the Ancestor’s awakening. If Season 1 was the "outbreak," Season 2 is the "pandemic."
The scope is clearly getting bigger. We’re likely to see more of the corporate side of things—the people who knew this was coming but kept drilling anyway.
Why you should actually watch it
Honestly, some people find it slow. If you want Michael Bay explosions every five minutes, this isn't it. It's a slow burn. It’s about the "dread."
But if you like stories where the environment is the main character, The Rig delivers. It's about the hubris of thinking we can control nature. We drill into the earth, we take what we want, and we assume there won't be a price. This show is the bill coming due.
It’s also surprisingly topical. We’re currently having massive debates about North Sea oil drilling licenses and the transition to green energy. The show takes those boring news headlines and turns them into a nightmare scenario.
Actionable steps for fans and new viewers
If you're planning to dive into the series or just finished it, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
Watch with a good sound system. The sound design is half the experience. The creaking of the metal, the thrum of the engines, and the weird "singing" of the spores are much more effective if you aren't just using your laptop speakers.
Check out the real-life Storegga Slide. If you want to get spooked by actual history, look up the Storegga Slide. It was a real underwater landslide off the coast of Norway about 8,000 years ago that caused a massive tsunami. The show uses this real geological event as the basis for its mythology. It’s fascinating and terrifying to realize that the "threat" in the show has a factual anchor.
Pay attention to the "signs" in the first episode. On a rewatch, you’ll notice that the Ancestor starts communicating much earlier than you think. Look at the patterns in the oil and the way the birds behave.
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The show doesn't hand-hold. You have to pay attention to the dialogue between the engineers to understand why the rig is failing. It’s a rewarding watch for people who like to theorize. Once you finish the first six episodes, you’ll be in the perfect position to jump into Season 2 when it drops. The mystery of the North Sea is only just beginning to unfold.