The Capture

When soldier Shaun Emery goes free after his wartime conviction is overturned because a video used at his trial was flawed, he tries to rebuild life with his young daughter. His fragile stability is shattered when a new piece of CCTV from a night out in London appears, showing Shaun in a situation that looks damning. Detective Inspector Rachel Carey becomes involved as the police and media circle, and what seemed like a clear legal victory becomes the start of another fight over truth, evidence, and who gets to control the story.

Created by Ben Chanan, The Capture premiered on BBC One in 2019, with Chanan also directing parts of the series. The show stars Holliday Grainger as DI Rachel Carey, Ben Miles, Lia Williams, Paapa Essiedu, and Indira Varma. Its production leaned into real-world concerns about surveillance and digital forensics, and the series reached international audiences through later streaming deals.

Critics generally responded well, reflected in a user vote average of 7.76 out of 10 from 268 votes. Reviews highlighted the procedural tension and the ethical questions around modern evidence, while some noted uneven pacing across episodes. The central themes include the reliability of digital media, institutional power, and how public narratives can be shaped or manipulated.

The Capture prompted conversations beyond entertainment, helping to bring the topic of deepfake technology and the limits of CCTV evidence into public discussion. Journalists and commentators used the series as a touchstone when debating how courts and police should treat digitally altered footage, and the show fed into wider awareness of how easy it can be to misread or misuse visual proof.

While the series drew significant attention and sparked debate, it did not dominate major international awards lists in its initial run. It did, however, raise the profiles of several cast members and helped fuel interest in serialized thrillers that tackle technological threats to justice.