Tense Sci-Fi Thriller Series Scares You Out Of The Water
British supernatural thriller The Rig is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. The six-episode series is the only Amazon Original to be entirely filmed in Scotland to date. Following its release in January 2023, the show, which stars Emily Hampshire, Iain Glen, Martin Compston, Mark Bonnar, Rochenda Sandall, and Owen Teale, was renewed for a second season.
Stuck On The Rig
The Rig Season 1 offers a twist on the disaster movie genre as the crew of the Kinloch Bravo oil rig find themselves surrounded by an eerie fog. The group becomes exposed to mysterious spores, which seem to affect their behavior. A scientist aboard the rig speculates that an ancient parasite, which previously lay dormant on the ocean floor, has been unleashed.
With all external communication channels destroyed, the crew is forced to deal with the aftermath. This includes facing several unexplained occurrences like tremors and electrical faults. In the final episode, the truth behind the events on the oil rig is revealed. The crew then races against time to prevent a catastrophic event.
The Climate Looms Large
While reliant on sci-fi and mythology, The Rig remains firmly rooted in the reality as it explores climate debates. The characters openly discuss the impact of the oil industry on the planet versus its social and economic significance for the workers and their families without coming across as preachy. The characters give due consideration to various perspectives which are woven into the story.
Much like the ongoing real world discourse on climate change, these debates become somewhat inconsequential when faced with a crisis. The crew of the Kinloch Bravo realizes that theoretical discussions are overshadowed when an emergency, whether resembling real-life climate disasters or the peculiar fog on the rig, becomes an imminent threat.
Inspired By Real Life Oil Rig Work
Series creator David Macpherson was inspired to develop The Rig by his father’s tales of working in the oil and gas industry. In 2018, Macpherson turned these industry anecdotes into a one-page pitch which he presented to producer Derek Wax. This marked the beginning of a collaborative effort to bring the series to life with writers Meg Salter and Matthew Jacobs Morgan.
The Rig Gets The Thumbs Up From Amazon
In November 2020, Amazon officially gave The Rig the green light. Directed by John Strickland, filming began in March 2021 at FirstStage Studios in Edinburgh, Scottland, where a three-story oil rig stage was constructed. Additional shots were captured on a real oil rig in the country. The series wrapped in August 2021.
The Rig Didn’t Succeed With Everyone
The Rig received mixed reviews from critics following its release, alongside a lukewarm reception from viewers. The series currently holds a 67 percent critic rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score is less favorable at 44 percent based on over 250 ratings. According to the site’s general consensus, the show’s atmospheric qualities and excellent performances were hampered by clichés.
