In the icy expanse of the Arctic, "The Rig" Season 2 Episode 2 delves deeper into the mysterious connection between the crew and the enigmatic Entity. As the frozen waters harbor secrets both ancient and perilous, the episode unfolds with Dale Cameron's discovery of a Sonar pulse that not only affects the Entity but also Fulmer, who becomes increasingly entwined with the Ancestor's consciousness.
The episode begins with a tense underwater operation as the Rover, damaged and with its glass on the brink of shattering, prompts the surface team to devise a daring plan. They aim to detonate charges through the ice, shifting the rig to rescue the stranded rovers. Amidst the frigid backdrop, the team successfully marks and detonates over 20 charges, but not without a harrowing incident. Magnus and Fulmer are forced to save a comrade from the treacherous ice, losing their radio in the process. The scene is a stark reminder of the Arctic's unforgiving nature, as Magnus's hand freezes upon contact with the water, yet his suit remains miraculously dry.
As the ice explodes and the rig moves to rescue the crew, Rose takes charge, signaling the detonation that saves the day. However, the fate of Ester and Dale, as well as the Rover, remains uncertain as the episode shifts back to the technical area, where the team retrieves the other Rover and the deceased crew members. Tensions rise between Dale and Magnus, with Dale feeling unappreciated and believing Magnus to be self-serving.
Meanwhile, Hutton and Kat take flight over the UK, witnessing the tsunami's devastation firsthand. The coastal areas are in dire need of relief, with casualties being moved to clearance centers before being sent to hospitals. Edinburgh is inaccessible, forcing Kat to search for her family and Casey elsewhere. Instead of searching, Lennox manipulates Kat into holding a press conference, following a mysterious call from Darian York, a figure whose role in the season is yet to be fully revealed.
Back on the Pictor Rig, Rose grows increasingly suspicious of Pictor's lack of knowledge about the Entity. She believes in Lennox's good intentions, seeing Coake as the true antagonist working with shadowy executives. Magnus, in a conversation with Coake, challenges the notion that exploiting natural resources for humanity's gain is virtuous, arguing that humanity has become overly dependent on such practices.
Rose arrives to remind them that Mother Nature is fighting back, unstoppable despite Coake's arrogance. She learns that Fulmer's connection to the Entity makes him a potential key to understanding the situation. The crew tunes into Kat's broadcast, where she reads a PR statement, leading the rig's crew to feel betrayed. Rose, however, maintains her trust in Lennox and her commitment to green energy.
Kat and Hutton search for Casey among the relief tents, Kat initially refusing to help others but eventually shocked by the widespread devastation and the many searching for loved ones. Hutton provides comfort and encouragement amidst the chaos. On the rig, Dale and Easter notice discrepancies in the mining operation on the sea floor, finding no evidence of mining activity. This raises questions about the true purpose of the crew's underwater mission. Rose struggles to convince Lennox of her suspicions, also growing wary of Fulmer's secrets. Amidst the web of deceit, Dale Cameron lies about the safety log, which he secretly possesses.
Coake confronts a scientist in the lab, who explains that the Ancestor is an ancient living network throughout the sea-bed, connected globally. Pictor's goal is to destroy the Ancestor by poisoning and dismantling its nodes, a plan that the survey team may have discovered. This revelation recontextualizes the Ancestor's actions as defense rather than aggression.
As the episode concludes, Coake, overhearing the scientist's explanation, seeks to eliminate Fulmer, the weak link in their operation. Cameron, meanwhile, examines the Rover's log, uncovering the project's codename: Cirein. The plot thickens as the crew's journey into the unknown continues, with each revelation bringing them closer to the truth of the Ancestor and Pictor's sinister plans.