Alert! This article contains significant spoilers regarding The Rig, season 2, episode 6.
Understanding The Ancestor’s Role in The Rig Season 2
In the second season of The Rig, the enigmatic behavior of the Ancestor remains as puzzling as in its inaugural season. Thanks to the Ancestor, several characters who faced dire circumstances managed to survive, including Fulmer, who lives on through to the end of season 2. Similarly, Rose’s survival after a life-threatening gunshot wound is attributed to her contact with the Ancestor. Yet, the Ancestor also exhibited aggressive tendencies, attacking both a probe containing Ross and Easter and the crew members Magnus, Askel, Heather, and Murchison from beneath the icy surface, leaving viewers questioning its motivations.
Rose’s Vision and the Ancestor’s Significance
The episode opens with both Fulmer and Magnus mourning Rose, believing her to be dead after Bremner’s attack. However, as her wound miraculously heals, it becomes evident that she had infected herself with the Ancestor’s essence, showcasing its healing power. Additionally, this connection grants Rose a profound vision regarding the Ancestor’s Heart. This vision starkly contrasts with Fulmer’s and reveals a critical foreshadowing; the Ancestor’s heart is threatened by poison, suggesting an imminent peril should Darian’s plans unfold. More importantly, Rose’s experience finally clarifies the Ancestor’s relationship to past mass extinction events.
Understanding that the Ancestor was not the orchestrator of these extinction events provides clarity to its prior actions. Throughout season 1, the Ancestor sought to rejuvenate life on the platform by nurturing plant growth and halting oil extraction, actions that now resonate with a distinct purpose.
The Ancestor’s True Nature and Purpose
Rose decodes that the Ancestor has endured through the ages, navigating numerous mass extinction events. Throughout her experience of regeneration, Rose learns that each ring structure of the Ancestor not only signifies these historic events but also symbolizes its inherent role in nurturing life after devastation. The Ancestor’s essence has been more than just survival; it has actively contributed to the resurgence of life following these cataclysmic occurrences, reinforcing Rose’s commitment to its protection.
Initially, the Ancestor’s actions appeared contradictory, often endangering the Kinloch Bravo crew. However, season 2 reveals its ultimate goal: the preservation of life, regardless of its origin. The Ancestor’s aggressive actions were defensive, primarily aimed at safeguarding itself from oil drilling operations and, in season 2, from the rovers sent to find its heart. The crew’s subsequent ability to communicate their intentions through a recorded plea for help marks a crucial turning point in their relationship with the Ancestor.
The Ancestor’s Reveal and Its Implications for Season 3
The Kinloch Bravo crew achieved a significant milestone by disclosing the Ancestor’s existence to the wider world, effectively overcoming Pictor’s deceptive machinations, which had previously led to fatal consequences on the rig. Although Pictor can no longer suppress information about the Ancestor, the response from the public remains uncertain. Will they rally to protect this ancient life-force, as the crew did, or adopt a more hostile stance, akin to Pictor’s destructive tactics?
Watch here for more details
Watch here for more details
The Rig season 2 is available for streaming in full on Amazon Prime Video.
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