Warning! This review contains SPOILERS for Countdown season 1, episode 11.Countdown’s new case is starting to heat up, and I wonder how the show will pace itself. Volchek’s schemes were what kept me gripped before, so I was wary of the idea of ending his story before the season 1 finale. That said,Countdownepisode 10did start the show’s new case on the right foot, making things interesting.
Having thought about it, I like the idea of starting a new case late in season 1. It breaks away from the expected formula, which the show has done multiple times with deaths and cliffhangers, by always keeping it fresh. It’s unlikelyCountdownwill be done with the case by the end of the season.
It could still wrap up by episode 13, with apotentialCountdownseason 2covering a new threat or multiple threats, but what matters most is that the characters are well served as the show moves into its final episodes. To that end, last episode’s time jump was quite a shake-up, for better and worse.
Countdown Delays Its Long-Awaited Romance
I always knew Oliveras was coming back. After all, she is a key character, and her relationship with Meachum isone ofCountdown’s most beloved aspects. After the last episode, I was sure their friendship was evolving into a full-blown romance after season 1 had built up to it. To my disappointment, that didn’t happen.
Oliveras is in a relationship, and that leaves Meachum fuming for a good part of the episode.
I wasn’t sure if Oliveras' relationship with her doctor friend would turn romantic or if he was just there to make Meachum jealous, while also curing his disease. However, episode 11 reveals that Oliveras is in a relationship, and that leaves Meachum fuming for a good part of the episode.
I’ve wanted sparks to fly between Jensen Ackles and Jessica Camacho’s characters for a long time, so the decision to delay it further was not exciting. I feel like Meachum has already gone through sizable progress, and the way he reacts to Oliveras' new relationship regresses that a bit.
Thankfully, he later apologized, which showed that his behavior was a lapse of judgment. The angst is still there, and it is clear the two characters are meant to be together, so we could have skipped the romantic triangle with the doctor, even if Meachum’s yearning adds tension to their dynamic.
Countdown’s New Villain Is Quite Dark
While the relationship twist to Oliveras' return was not one of my favorites, I was glad to see that the show did not go for another plot turn. In the last episode, Bell told Shepherd that he needed to tell her something about her sister, Molly.
Given how Shepherd was away for some time, as well as how Molly is a known flirt and told her sister she found Bell attractive, it seemed likeCountdownwould have had Bell fall for the wrong sister. I have enjoyed watching the task force’s technological powerhouses bond throughout season 1, so I did not want to see that potential relationship die.
Countdownneeds another villain who can challenge the team mentally.
Thankfully, both Shepherd and I were wrong. However, the reveal that Molly is in trouble with some heavy-duty drug types is scary. Elsewhere, the episode told us more about who appears to beCountdown’s new villain. A man who was cheated on by his significant other and hasno qualms about killing her dogover it is quite a dangerous individual.
With his ability with firearms, camouflage, and intelligence, the new guy is a triple threat. After Volchek, who managed to anticipate the task force’s every move for a long time,Countdownneeds another villain who can challenge the team mentally. That seems to be what is at play here.
With two more episodes before season 1 ends and the governor’s life at risk, things should really ramp up. For now, I genuinely can’t tell if the new villain’s storyline will be wrapped up this season or the next. I hope it is the latter, as we will get more time to see his plans fleshed out.
Countdown Season 1, Episode 11
Cast
Countdown, released in 2025, follows LAPD detective Mark Meachum as he joins a secret task force composed of undercover agents from various law enforcement branches. Following the murder of a Department of Homeland Security officer, they uncover a deep conspiracy, igniting a time-sensitive mission to protect millions.
