The Capture season 3 episode 2 first look as writer breaks down thrilling twist – and teases what next for Rachel Carey
The mind-bending first episode of season 3 has now aired on BBC One.
*Warning - contains major spoilers for The Capture season 3 episode 1.*
The first episode of The Capture season 3 is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer, and it features one almighty cliffhanger that sets the stage for a tense, twist-filled run.
Not only did the opening episode feature the death of Paapa Essiedu's Isaac Turner in an apparent assassination, but it also featured a final twist which put Holliday Grainger's Rachel Carey face-to-face with the gunman.
When the shooting took place, she was the only one to see the gunman's face – something which almost seems purposeful, given that he lingered, looking at her for so long.
The gunman was played by Killian Scott; however, when camera footage was retrieved, they showed a different gunman committing the act, played by Joe Dempsie.
Carey was adamant that Correction was in play, despite her colleagues' doubts. However, at the end of the episode, things ratcheted up a notch when she was introduced to her new Commander, taking over the job in which she had been acting.
The new Commander, Noah Pierson, was played by none other than, you guessed it (or maybe you didn't!) – Killian Scott.
You can see an exclusive image of Grainger and Scott in character at the top of this article.
When asked about this huge twist, which sees Carey seemingly pitted against her new boss, creator Ben Chanan exclusively told Radio Times that it came up further down the line than you might have thought in the writers' room.
"We actually sat down, we put a writers' room together, and we fleshed out quite a different story, which involved bringing Shaun Emery (Callum Turner's character from season 1) back as the killer, and the only person who sees him is Carey," Chanan explained.
"But as I was writing it, as much as I would love any excuse to get Callum Turner back, I, at the same time, found I was writing myself into a cul-de-sac with that story.
"And I suddenly realised, 'Wait, if she's the only person who's seen the killer, and the killer is someone she can't arrest because he's a new boss', then that felt like it had a lot more mileage, and we would get six hours of storytelling out of it."
Explaining why Scott was perfect for the role, Chanan said: "Oh my God… Killian read for the role, which I was happily surprised about, and he just stole it, man. It was just a very, very easy decision. From that point, he had the authority, had the charisma, had the presence and had the unknowability, critically, that you just don't know if you like this guy or not.
"He's funny, he's got swagger, in many ways he's the kind of boss that everyone looks up to. At the same time, we've seen what he's capable of with Holliday... haven't we? And I think the idea is, can you trust your own eyes?"
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Chanan also spoke about the journey he wanted to take Carey on in season 3, teasing where she might go in future episodes.
"She's always been a rebel," he said of Grainger's character. "She's always been someone who's held power to account, and she's always been one to push back against those above her.
"She's an ambitious person, but she could have climbed the greasy pole of policing much more easily if she just kept her head down and been a yes person. But she's definitely not a yes person. She's very disagreeable. And so it's like, 'OK, so you want to be the commander. Let's see what happens when you are, and let's see what kind of position that puts you in.'"
Read more:
- The Capture season 3 review: The best thriller on TV returns to provide Holliday Grainger's finest hour
- The Capture writer teases secret theme for season 3 after previously tackling justice system and fake news
The Capture season 3 will continue on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 15 March 2026.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
