Episode 6 of The Rig season 2 starts with Fulmer and Magnus shocked as they realize Rose is dead. Well, for a bit anyway. The bullet dematerializes inside her and she regains consciousness. It turns out Rose has survived thanks to being part of the Ancestor. She injected herself with part of it off-screen, and that now allows her to survive seemingly fatal blows. As she herself embraced the Entity, rather than rejecting its hostile takeover like the others, this has allowed her to be stronger and survive where they may have faltered.
Rose is convinced that they need to save the Ancestor, and now knows that she’s been wrong this whole time. It didn’t cause the mass extinctions of the past, it’s what allowed life to regenerate afterwards. If Pictor destroy the heart of the Ancestor, it won’t be able to come back, and there will be no chance of preserving life.
Meanwhile, York promises Bremner that his cheque will go through given he’s secured the data drive. In turn, York messages through to someone from the board, claiming that Cirein II is going to be launched once the deal is signed off. With Rose alive, Magnus goes on the hunt.
In the UK, Kat works with Mackendrick to uncover evidence, which happens to come in the form of a public apology and message from Lennox about what Pictor are up to. This is what’s on the USB drive that Lennox handed over last episode. Lennox’s message quickly makes the news, and it doesn’t take long for Lennox to arrive on the Stac in her helicopter. She’s with Hutton, who’s back and is here to help out.
Lennox unfolds her strategy concerning Pictor with a gravity that commands attention. She confesses to intercepting the Coast Guard's tsunami warning broadcast, a decision she now regrets deeply. Upon discovering Coake's true intentions, she feared that allowing the Coast Guard to respond could inadvertently imperil countless more lives. They were unaware of the Ancestor's formidable prowess, but that ignorance has since been shattered.
Lennox elucidates that a colossal engine of power reigns supreme, impeding their collective progress and stifling any meaningful change. Whether this omnipotent force emanates from the Pictor Board itself or an even higher echelon remains obscure. She acknowledges that truth alone is insufficient in this battle; Pictor, in cahoots with this machination, will ruthlessly quash any rebellious uprising.
Darian York stands as but one of many formidable leaders steering the ship at Pictor, yet he poses the gravest threat at present. Lennox's initial maneuver was to proceed with the Arctic plan, intending to hold onto the rights and render the company a stagnant asset, beyond exploitation. However, a critical twist emerges: this very drive harbors the precise coordinates to the Heart of the Ancestor, setting the stage for a relentless race against time to reach it before calamity strikes.
Compounding their plight, Darian York publicly denounces Lennox, shifting all blame onto her shoulders and threatening legal repercussions. The stakes have never been higher, the clock ticking ominously.
Who is travelling to the Heart of the Ancestor?
The only solution is to show the world the Heat of the Ancestor to turn public sentiment to one of sympathy rather than anger. This would work to potentially stop Pictor given they care so much about their reputation and public face.
In order to find the Heart and get there, Hutton gets to work reprogramming the signal so it can work underwater on a massive level in the Rover. He works with the other workers, who are now up from the subsea module, and working with Hutton to fix everything up ready to go.
Rose and Fulmer are the ones going down, but without the drive it’s unclear exactly how long it’ll take to reach there. Askel is disappointed he’s not going too, but these two make sense in going given they both have a connection to the Ancestor.
Does the ROV launch the poison?
While this is going on, Magnus has an uneasy feeling regarding Bremner and what he may be up to. There’s a guidance system on the Stac that could be used to launch an ROV, which would allow Bremner to also find the Heart of the Ancestor, potentially before Rose and Fulmer. And this, as it turns out, is exactly what he’s doing.
Bremner and Coake have actually equipped an ROV with poison which, when released, would choke the ocean with toxins and wipe out the Heart. However, Rose and Fulmer suss what’s happening and they hurriedly turn off the signal so Bremner can’t find the right position. He was relying on following their Rover but without that to go on, he just takes a lucky stab and ejects the poison into the water all the same.
Despite releasing this, Magnus shows up and holds Bremner up at gunpoint. He shoots the guy, stopping his plan, but the damage has already been done. At least for the ocean life in the area anyway, as he isn’t anywhere near the heart.
Fulmer and Rose receive the bad news, and they know this is a one-way trip, given their air supply is reaching 50% and lower. They may not make the trip back, and they remain steadfast in their desire to try and find the Heart.
Do Rose and Fulmer ultimately meet their fate? Magnus, determined not to resign to their potential demise, endeavors to redirect power and maneuver the Stac in a daring bid to reclaim Rose and Fulmer. Inside the Rover, the duo discovers what resemble roots embedded in the seabed, prompting Rose to slip into her diving suit and venture out for a closer inspection. Upon touching adjacent rocks, they begin to emanate a glow, resonating with her touch and awakening a magnificent, intricate web—none other than the Heart of the Ancestor.
Perched precariously at the cliff's edge, darkness envelops them as the Ancestor seemingly attempts to convey a message solely to Rose. As light returns, it unveils an expansive, luminous network of roots stretching indefinitely into the heavens, casting a breathtaking radiance even upon the frozen landscape beyond. The Ancestor has emerged from its dormant state, and the phenomenon captures the world's attention, causing the seas to glow and subsequently crashing oil prices. The Prime Minister vows to launch a comprehensive investigation into Pictor Energy's operations. Darian York, in a panic, receives a call from a mysterious individual named X, adding to his turmoil.
How does Season 2 of The Rig conclude? After expending every ounce of effort, Rose and Fulmer are reunited, confronting the stark reality that their journey was a one-way venture with just 1% battery life remaining. Yet, what they never anticipated was the Stac itself, gliding across the waters to rescue them in a dramatic twist. We're spared the sight of the rescue operation, instead transitioning straight to their safe haven atop the Stac. United and poised for the impending battles, our characters step onto the balcony, surveying their surroundings. Yet, looming high above, a satellite zeroes in on their location, hinting at unseen challenges awaiting on the horizon.
