The emergence ofAI and deepfake technology has sparked much debate and controversyall over the world. While some see it as a positive for its creative potential, others are concerned about the implications for privacy and misinformation. TheBBCseriesThe Capture,currently streaming onPeacock, explores the latter, delving into theextremely unsettling world of surveillance and deepfake technologyand the ramifications it can have if used nefariously.What may seem like science fiction is frighteningly plausible, given the advancement in deep fakes in the last few years.
From writer and directorBen Chanan(The Missing),The Captureis a two-season conspiracy thriller centered around Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger), a tenacious detective who recently moved from Counterterrorism to homicide. In Season 1, she’s assigned a seemingly open-and-shut kidnapping case, but what she uncovers goes much deeper.Her investigation sends her down a dark and twisted path, forcing her to question her own reality and her part in the conspiracy.
What Is ‘The Capture’ About?
In Season 1 ofThe Capture,Rachel finds herself in the middle of a case involving a former soldier, Shaun Emery (Callum Turner). He was just acquitted of war crimes but is now accused of kidnapping his barrister, Hannah Roberts (Laura Haddock). His face is captured on CCTV, but Shaun has no memory of the incident and claims he is innocent. Eventually, Rachel begins to believe him and what they uncover is a deep web of conspiracies surroundingtheuse of modern technology to manipulate video and audio, known as “Corrections.”
This conspiracy gets even more sinister in Season 2, whenit’s revealed that deepfakes are being usedagainst British politician Isaac Turner, (Paapa Essiedu). The way his image and words are being manipulated not only impacts him personally, but also has significant geopolitical ramifications. Alongside DI Carey, who is now working as a double agent, the two uncover the true motives of who is behind the deepfakes and why they’re using them to ruin his life and career.
Great Performances and Rich Characters Bring This Conspiracy Thriller to Life
Proving thatThe Captureismore than just a flashy techno-thriller,the performances by its cast and their rich and complex characters are what make the show worth watching.Grainger shines as Rachel Carey, who balances her ambition and her sharp intellect as she dives deeper into her investigation and has to grapple with her own part in it.Callum Turner acts as a great adversary turned allyin Season 1 as he plays Emery with a real layered humanity. When he discovers the deep betrayals of what actually happened, it devastates him and leads him down a dangerous path of desperation.
Equally impressive is Essiedu’s portrayal of a politician who is hiding his own secret and trying not to fall apart at the seams in the show’s second season.In one of his best roles to date,Ron Perlmanplays Frank Napier, a seedy U.S. intelligence officer who is pulling the strings behind the scenes of British politics.Perlman has a knack for playing characters that are morally gray, making him the perfect “bad guy” inThe Capture. Rounding out the cast is the always wonderfulIndira Varmawho, in Season 2, plays a famous BBC news host and an integral part in uncovering the bigger conspiracy.
Holliday Grainger Talks ‘The Capture’ Season 2 and ‘C.B. Strike: Troubled Blood’
She also talks about the differences between Rachel Carey and Robin Ellacott, as characters
‘The Capture’ Discusses the Morality of Surveillance and Justice
The Captureraises a lot of ethical questions about technologyand how it’s used to capture known criminals, as well as manipulate the truth to get some form of justice.While CCTV is becoming more pervasive, especially in cities like London, it can be effective for solving crimes. But,The Captureposes the question ofhow far law enforcement should go to prove that a crime has been committed. This series does a great job at exploring the psychology behind CCTV and how it plays a role in our society, rather than focusing on the technical aspects.
The Capturealso presents the horrifying reality thatwhat you are seeing, even if it’s live, can be manipulated. In one of the most horrifying scenes of the series, it is shown how, in real time, someone on a live news show can have their image and words completely altered and aired to the masses.While that may seem like a sci-fi concept, it’s hard to ignore that the existence ofdeepfakes and facial recognition software can make something like that very possible. The idea of doctoring footage to create “truth reenacted”, as one character puts it, is especially chilling.
While Chanan’s writing is not at all preachy, it is definitely educational and compelling.The Captureis unfortunately alarmingly relevantas it discusses howthe weaponization of AI and surveillance can have a real world impact. Along with its solid cast and layered storytelling,The Capturehas been praised by audiences and critics alike as a thought-provoking and highly entertaining watch for any fan of the genre.
Seasons 1 and 2 ofThe Capture areavailable to stream on Peacock in the U.S.
