The thrilling opening of Episode 1 in Season 2 of "The Rig" unfolds with Coake orchestrating a chaotic scene as he manages traffic and escorts some members of the group into isolation. They find themselves scattered across various rooms, setting the stage for an impending drama-laden saga. This time, they find themselves aboard another oil rig, perched in the icy expanse of the frozen north. Though their arrival isn't explicitly shown, there's an urgent scramble to restore order amidst the confusion.
In the med bay, Fulmer and Kat confront a dire situation, with Fulmer exhibiting signs of infection marked by extreme rage. He's convinced that Emily's tale of ancestral vengeance is manifesting through him. Meanwhile, news of a catastrophic Scale 12 tsunami ripples across mainstream media, obliterating the oil rig and wreaking havoc across parts of Europe and the UK. World leaders vow to deploy resources for aid, yet coastal regions, particularly in the UK, bear the brunt of devastation.
Elsewhere, the remainder of the group takes refuge in the cafeteria, where Magnus strives to keep morale high despite Hutton's typical antagonistic demeanor. Coake enters, presenting an enticing offer of a return home. He unveils a contract offering a 200,000 payout in exchange for their silence about their ordeal, complete with yearly stipends to sweeten the deal. However, the NDA clause ensures they can't disclose their experiences or incriminate Pictor. The camp divides; some recognize the bribe for what it is, while others eagerly sign to reunite with their families.
Magnus and Emily are then escorted out by Coake, who reveals that the company has a specific need for them. He's merely a secondary figure to a higher authority—Miss Morgan Lennox. She arrives in her own helicopter, aware of the entity and ready to greet Magnus and Emily. Lennox introduces herself as the CEO of Pictor, revealing her ambitions to mine deep within the Earth for rare minerals, particularly from the seabed, as a pivotal step towards a smoother transition to green energy.
However, the intrigue deepens here. An underwater exploration team has been meticulously probing the depths, but recently, their communications have gone silent. They were operating in proximity to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and Coake elucidates that beyond the drilling platform, there lies a precipitous plunge known as the Abyssal Plain, stretching down an astonishing 4,500 meters. The search for the missing team has been narrowed to a precise locale, but now, the burden of retrieval falls upon Rose and Magnus.
Within the confines of Pictor, a battle of wits is waging. Lennox reveals her ambition to reorient the company towards renewable energies, yet she encounters substantial resistance from numerous board members. She aims to steer the entire industry in this direction while simultaneously keeping Coake, who is hell-bent on exploiting the Earth, in check. For Lennox, her vision is firmly fixed on the future, and she intends to unveil the truth about the mysterious entity when the "moment is ripe." She desires Rose to be at the epicenter of these events, even offering her the reins to oversee everything—at least for the meantime. Rose harbors a degree of trust in Lennox, albeit mindful that this could merely be a carefully crafted illusion, given her position as the company's CEO.
Lennox then turns her attention to Kat, urging her to seek medical assistance away from the rig. She assures Kat that the truth will come to light through Emily, but she must sign the contract and depart temporarily. This stipulation, which stipulates "no sustained injury," earns a scoff from Kat.
After exiting the room, Lennox confronts Coake, noting that she has persuaded a few others to abandon their posts. Her true objective, however, lies in the survey log… but what secrets does it hold? What enigmatic revelations await within its confines?
With renewed determination, those remaining on the rig converge under Magnus's guidance, heading to mission control where they prepare for a perilous deep-sea dive. Fulmer is also released from isolation, but time is running out—they have barely more than an hour before the survey team's oxygen supply is depleted entirely.
As we encounter a novel dive technician named Dale Cameron, we venture into the lab, where another intriguing figure awaits us. This scientist harbors an unwavering belief in the wonders of discovery and the preservation of life, hinting at a potentially pivotal role in the unfolding narrative. We shall eagerly anticipate the influence he will exert on the story's trajectory. Meanwhile, our attention shifts to the Dive team, as Easter and Dale descend with the Rover, intent on retrieving their companions.
As the mission unfolds, Magnus engages in conversation with Fulmer, revealing that he has not received any visions from the Ancestor for some time. However, given that Pictor initially discovered it in the depths, this lull could be temporary. Rose, however, decides to abandon her oversight of the operation midway, choosing instead to embark on an "investigation." Despite her departure, Rose and Magnus remain in charge.
Deep beneath the surface, a dispute arises over the optimal course of action. Dale and Easter discover the wreckage of another Survey team, but Magnus cautions against rushing into anything until the situation is fully assessed. Coake, on the other hand, insists on immediately recovering the crew and inspecting the wreckage.
Amidst this debate, Easter and Dale take matters into their own hands. Dale, clad in his suit, ventures over to inspect the Rover, fully aware of the suicidal nature of the mission due to the oppressive atmospheric pressure. The damage appears to be a catastrophic failure of the glass, and the crew is tragically deceased. Despite the peril, Dale enters the wreckage to retrieve the log. Successfully returning to their Rover, they prepare for ascension.
However, the log inexplicably seems to disturb the Ancestor, causing chaos both in the depths and within the lab. Tendrils reach out towards the Rover, where Easter decides to push through despite the danger. This reckless move proves fatal, as the Ancestor envelops and squeezes them. The umbilical cord is torn away, stranding the Rover.
