As we plunge further into the labyrinthine depths of the rabbit hole, "The Capture" resurfaces with another mesmerizing episode, one that finally peels back the layers to reveal some devastating home truths amidst an hour teeming with exceptional dramatic flair. Among the myriad of shows the BBC has churned out this year, "The Capture" has undoubtedly emerged as a standout, and this episode only further cements its status by providing us with long-awaited clarity amidst the labyrinth of conspiratorial quandaries.
With Shaun eagerly awaiting answers and DS Rachel having been relieved of her duties, the narrative kicks off with Rachel stepping into a car, her journey homeward laden with sorrow as tears stream down her cheeks. However, her despair is momentarily halted when she receives a pivotal piece of evidence – surveillance footage capturing Hannah Roberts boarding the bus.
Concurrently, Shaun stands nervously before Charlie and the rest, his eyes glued to the authentic footage from that fateful night. Relief washes over him as he witnesses Hannah actually getting onto the bus, with him stepping out of frame. The validation that he isn't insane reinforces his sanity internally. He eagerly proposes to Charlie that they upload the footage, but Charlie declines, urging Shaun to heed their warnings as the true narrative is far more intricate and tangled.
Flashbacks to that night unravel the entire fabrication, revealing a man impersonating Shaun as the one feigning the assault, with Charlie playing the role of the Director in this elaborate charade. We then cut to the culmination of their scheme, where Hannah and the others dissect Shaun's "narrative" surrounding his blackouts.
All of this converges on the fateful night, where Hannah kisses Shaun once more, but this time with a deeper context. The context being a collar that wasn't present in the original rehearsal tapes. Her kiss was a subtle maneuver to lower his collar, aligning the real footage with the fabricated one. Shaun then learns the reason behind his selection – knowing his case would grab headlines, the group intended for Hannah to reappear post-trial and expose Correction's nefarious operations. This elaborate ruse was designed to deceive the public and provoke deeper contemplation about what they perceive. However, the operation derailed, largely due to Rachel seizing control of the case.
Meanwhile, DS Rachel continues her investigation, uncovering the truth through her own relentless pursuit. It transpires that she was the inciting catalyst for this cascade of events, stretching back to the very first episode when she dispatched the footage and requested a trace. This trail leads back to Faisal, a man detained on terrorism charges, of whom the authorities were apprised from the onset. An American operative was also ensnared in this charade, tasking his staff to target Shaun. Eli, the whistle-blower aligned with Hannah, turns out to be in cahoots with the American. The various CCTV snippets scattered across the episodes finally provide clarity, painting a comprehensible picture of the ongoing saga.As Hannah realizes that Emery has been freed, the group hurriedly devises a scheme to re-incarcerate Shaun. Reluctantly, she consents to Plan B – planting evidence. This brings us to the scene of Shaun outside Hannah’s apartment, with the team keeping watch on their "toy soldier." The individual inside the apartment, tasked with planting the evidence, is forced to make a swift exit due to Shaun’s unexpected intrusion. In response, the American takes drastic action, luring him out with a planted taxi driver awaiting outside.
Shortly thereafter, our trio of conspirators converge in a graveyard, where they discover that Correction has been utilized against them, particularly as Shaun was unaware of Hannah's involvement. They decide to turn fiction into fact by eliminating Hannah and framing Shaun. Upon uncovering Eli as the mole, two of the men brutalize him for answers, which lead the American straight to Hannah’s safe house. There, she reveals her mission to uphold the justice system, a revelation that ultimately costs her her life.
DS Rachel, learning the same harrowing truth, departs in disgust. Meanwhile, Shaun realizes he has the power to make a difference. His plan? Surrender himself for arrest, allowing the group to release the authentic footage. They make this decision for him, anonymously phoning the police and informing Shaun of his impending arrest. As he flees, Shaun hurls his double over the balcony, and in their collective plunge onto the electronic equipment below, the lights flicker and extinguish, amidst the throng of people, as Shaun evades the police.
Midway through the building evacuation, the police receive an urgent call from Patrick, instructing them to depart swiftly. As the cars speed away, Shaun slips out the rear and limps off, only to be confronted by Rachel. She informs him of his innocence and assures him she can prove it if he comes with them. With no alternative, he opts to get into her car. As the episode draws to a close, the American resorts to drastic measures, using Shaun’s daughter as bait to lure him out of hiding, leaving the episode on a cliffhanger.
As I remarked to some colleagues immediately after the final credits rolled, an ending has the power to either elevate or detract from a series. In the case of "The Capture," this penultimate episode has propelled this drama from an above-average thriller to one of the most impressive offerings of the year. Unlike "The Bodyguard," which started with a bang but fizzled out, "The Capture" has only gained momentum, showcasing how all these grand conspiratorial ideas are addressed in a coherent and plausible manner, testament to its exceptional writing.
Crafting a satisfactory ending is an arduous task, and my earnest hope is that "The Capture" can bring its finale with the same prowess it exhibited in this episode. With meticulous editing and an unwavering narrative thread throughout, "The Capture" has the potential to emerge as the hidden gem of 2019, leaving audiences engrossed and sparking conversations long after this installment has concluded.
