The Capture and the 4 best political thrillers to watch on Peacock

Peacock's slate of programming generally relies on NBC series along with occasional shows from other networks (like CBS' FBI spinoffs). Most of their original programming involves comedies or crime dramas. Yet the streamer does offer some intriguing shows, many of which are from the UK. These are five political thrillers exclusive to Peacock to make it more than worth watching!

The Capture

"Seeing is believing," right? Not on this British thriller which directly discusses the use of "deepfake" videos. A British soldier accused of war crimes is arrested for murdering his lawyer with clear video evidence of the crime. As he continues to deny it, a cop (Holliday Grainger) starts to realize this is part of a wider conspiracy using deep fake videos against the public.

Season 2 is even better, with a politician horrified to see a video of "himself" doing a live interview saying things he'd never say. The mysteries are good, yet it's more striking how realistic this all is and chilling to think dark forces can alter things right before our eyes. 

The Undeclared War

More timely than you can imagine, this series has England preparing for a new general election. A pack of government hackers believe that Russia is behind a recent cyberattack that crippled London. As the security team tries to restore the systems, a younger programmer suspects this is all a distraction for someone trying to influence the election.

There's a great cast of Simon Pegg and Oscar winner Mark Rylance, with newcomer Hannah Khalique-Brown making for a compelling lead. The rising conflict between the UK and Russia looks ripped from today's headlines, and the finale has a major turn that shows that, in any war, truth is usually the first casualty. 

Departure

Any show starring Emmy-winner Archie Panjabi is worth a watch. She plays Kendra Malley, an investigator on a case about an airplane mysteriously crashing. As she delves deeper, she uncovers a conspiracy that could be tied to a noted billionaire (Christopher Plummer in his final on-screen performance). 

Season 2 has a new case of a train crash tied to an escaped fugitive. Both season are good, mixing various international agencies and discussions on the political implications of some moves, with Panjabi amazing in the lead. A third season is being planned, so it's a great time to hook onto the show. 

Vigil

As compelling as a police procedural and as much as a thriller, this show is notable for two dynamic female leads. Rose Leslie and Suranne Jones are British cops (and lovers) assigned to investigate a murder on a British Navy submarine. Things quickly go wrong, and the pair are separated, each unraveling part of a conspiracy that could set the stage for war. 

Season 2 moves the story to the Middle East, and there are more conflicts between the various powers there. The political overtones are obvious, especially in the second season, and the fact that it's two women at the lead of these cases makes it even more enthralling. Both seasons have fast running times, which makes them a great watch. 

The Lost Symbol

Fans of Dan Brown's adventure novels will find a lot to like in this thriller. Ashley Zukerman is Brown's famous hero, Robert Langdon, who is searching for a missing mentor. Before long, the symbology professor is on a worldwide whirlwind mystery involving the CIA, the Freemasons and more. The episodes flow at an interesting pace, combined with Brown's usual mix of history and action. It lasted just one season, yet it was still worth watching for fans of these hit novels to see Langdon brought once more to life.