After the stunning revelations of last week's plot twists, "The Capture" returns today with a finale that, rather than culminating in a satisfying climax, leaves more questions than answers, cleverly paving the way for a second season whose arrival remains uncertain. The BBC's espionage thriller has silently emerged as a surprise hit, and episode 5, in particular, cemented its status among the elite dramas produced by the BBC in recent times, resonating deeply with numerous viewers. Regrettably, the finale somewhat undermines this hard-earned reputation, replacing momentum with an hour-long saga of convoluted twists and contrived plot devices that serve primarily as a setup for a potential second season.
The episode kicks off with Shaun awakening from a slumber, his mind haunted by flashbacks to his tour in Afghanistan. While the team reassures Faizel of their plan's efficacy, Rachel offers Shaun solace, insisting that he bears no blame for his circumstances. Back at the office, Danny and Gemma strategize their next moves, only to be interrupted by Jessica, Danny's American superior, who demands to know from Frank the identity of the mole. Frank reluctantly divulges Eli's name but hints that Shaun will soon surface from the shadows.
As Shaun tunes into the news, he watches Correction weave its deceptive narrative once again, depicting him as the abductor of his own daughter from school. His jaw tightens in anger as he bolts from his seat. Meanwhile, Abigail informs Rachel of Shaun's plight. Soon enough, Shaun confronts the cameras, provoking the authorities who are spying on him. Complicating matters further, Rachel steps into the limelight, forcing a face-to-face confrontation with Frank to discuss their next steps. Danny and Gemma's arrival is followed by Rachel's demand list, culminating in her revelation that she possesses footage of Hannah Roberts boarding the bus. She threatens to disseminate the footage to key figures in Britain unless she is reinstated and Shaun's daughter is freed.
Danny seeks a private conversation with Rachel, hoping to persuade her to join their cause. However, their deliberations are cut short when Frank receives an update that Shaun is back on camera. In a dramatic turn, Shaun heads straight for Charlie, beating him severely before Gemma intervenes with a proposal. Shaun, albeit reluctantly, agrees and follows her to a safe house where his daughter awaits. The scene then shifts to a flashback revealing the truth behind the events in the Middle East. As a gunshot echoes through the air, Shaun warns a man to retreat. Regaining composure, he shares heartfelt memories of Afghanistan with his daughter, who sits beside him, attentively listening. In this intimate father-daughter moment, they are granted a precious stretch of time alone.Meanwhile, Danny returns and engages Rachel in conversation, earnestly endeavoring to enlist her support for their mission. She declines his offer, naturally, and amidst escalating tensions, confides that she once harbored feelings for him. Gemma, realizing Danny's efforts are fruitless, steps in to persuade her directly. Elsewhere, Charlie discovers himself entangled in a predicament, having mistakenly believed he was being transported to a hospital. Instead, the paramedics whisk him away to Frank's lair.
As the clock strikes 1 PM, Frank and Gemma unlock Rachel's chamber and escort her downstairs to unveil their operation. It is during this tour that she catches sight of Charlie in one of the rooms, poised on the brink of interrogation and, presumably, brutality. Horrified, she dashes outside, far from the premises. There, she bears witness to Shaun's shattered spirit as he sits with Nadia, confessing to the murder of Hannah Roberts.
We are then transported once more to the sequence of events that preceded this harrowing scene. Frank converses intimately with Shaun, as Jaycee is reunited with her mother. He is handed a tablet, revealing snippets of the material Correction is concocting. His heartheavy, Shaun realizes that every element within the room has been meticulously staged. Although not explicitly stated, some of the incriminating footage, depicting him playing with his daughter and sitting together, could be cleverly manipulated to haunt his entire family.
To me, this can be perceived in two ways: either Shaun has sexually and physically assaulted his daughter under Correction's influence, or he is portrayed as a madman, playing an imaginary game of catch with his phantom daughter. Regardless, Correction has ensnared him in a far more perilous situation than his involvement with Hannah Roberts, one from which escape seems impossible. This dire strait ultimately impels him into the interrogation room, where he confesses to the crimes to thwart an even darker Correction from being exposed to the public domain.We then leap ahead three days to witness Shaun standing in court, confessing to manslaughter in Hannah's death. In the wake of the verdict, Gemma sits beside Rachel, once more endeavoring to enlist her in their endeavor. She persists in convincing Rachel that Faizel's Correction was indispensable, given his illegal dealings. Correction, Gemma elucidates, is the reenactment of truth. She further asserts that Rachel, far more astute than Hannah Roberts, would be an exemplary addition to their operation.
Back in the dimly lit basement, Frank is deceived by the footage from the interview room, realizing with a start that Eli is missing, having been abducted by Jessica. As they converse in her car about the ramifications of Correction, Frank suddenly becomes aware of being watched. Meanwhile, in prison, Shaun's ex-partner visits him, informing him that Rachel has revealed the entire truth to her. She inquiries about his reason for pleading guilty, but he remains mute, unable to utter the real reason. He then inquiries whether she is aware of what transpired in Helmand. As emotions run high, she expresses her belief in him and hands him a souvenir to take to his cell.
Rachel cunningly conceals a SIM card within a picture frame before departing, abandoning her sister. Shaun, on the other hand, returns to his cell with a photograph of Jaycee and her mother, which he pins up on the wall. As Shaun prepares to settle in for the night, Rachel purposefully heads back to the police station, confronting Gemma and Danny with a declaration of her desire to join their mission, marking the cliffhanger of the episode.
Embarking on the finale of "The Capture" felt akin to standing at a crossroads, uncertain of the path ahead. Before delving into the conclusion, I must confess that over the past five weeks, the series has held me in its thrall, weaving a tapestry of drama so enthralling that it alone justified my investment. Regrettably, this finale, teeming with hints at a second season, failed to ignite the spark expected of a climactic episode, instead perpetuating the BBC's recent trend of lackluster conclusions. I harbored hopes that "The Capture" would buck this trend, delivering a conclusion as compelling as its premise, but instead, it merely laid the groundwork for future installments, touching upon thought-provoking themes about the futility of outsmarting the system without truly delving deep.
The obvious trajectory of DS Rachel going undercover felt like a plot twist telegraphed far too early, rendering the characters' supposed foresight null if Danny and Gemma remained oblivious, especially considering the omnipresent surveillance. Gemma's speech about Correction as a vehicle to "uncover the concealed truth" felt misplaced, undercutting Hannah's video's impact, especially after learning Shaun's true nature. And then there was Jessica's endgame maneuver against Frank, a trope so overused it felt like a lazy plot device. These elements conspired to transform "The Capture" from one of the year's most intellectually stimulating shows into just another crime drama.
Writing this critique stings, given my deep investment in the series. Yet, even with the promise of a second season, this finale, seemingly designed solely to hook viewers for more, feels like a disheartening blow. It's a tactic Netflix has employed with increasing frequency, but unlike them, who release entire seasons at once, "The Capture's" six-week rollout left a lingering sense of dissatisfaction among those anticipating a more definitive conclusion.
Indeed, it's a shame. "The Capture" did not conclude with a resounding bang or a thunderous roar. Instead, it faded out with numerous questions left dangling, sparking frustration among fans and casting doubts on its future. While not inherently a poor ending and certainly ripe with intriguing themes and ideas, it failed to meet the lofty expectations set by its predecessor, emerging as one of the year's most significant missed opportunities.
