Countdown-Run, Season 01-Episode 11. Recap & Review.
| Episode | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Teeth in the Bone | Wednesday June 25, 2025 |
| 02 | Dead Lots of Times | Wednesday June 25, 2025 |
| 03 | The Birthday Final | Wednesday June 25, 2025 |
| 04 | Bite ‘Em Down | Wednesday July 2, 2025 |
| 05 | Blurred Edges | Wednesday July 9, 2025 |
| 06 | A Needle or a Bullet | Wednesday July 16, 2025 |
| 07 | Nothing Else Helps | Wednesday July 23, 2025 |
| 08 | The Nail in the Chair | Wednesday July 30, 2025 |
| 09 | 10-33 | Wednesday August 6, 2025 |
| 10 | The Muzzle Pile | Wednesday August 13, 2025 |
| 11 | Run | Wednesday August 20, 2025 |
| 12 | This is His Signature | Wednesday August 27, 2025 |
| 13 | Your People are in Danger | Wednesday September 3, 2025 |
The Mission and All It’s Parts
At the morning status meeting Bell goes over how the underground target range came into being. The cabins have a close proximity to a set to tourist caves that were shut down in 1981 because of collapses. The killer must have known how close his rental cabin was to the underground caves, so he broke through 2 feet of foundation and rock to open up the section he converted into a target range.
Finau asked about the gun they found, and Meachum reported that it is the best sniper rifle made in the world. A British soldier recorded kills of two Taliban combatants over 2,700 yards away with that gun. Bell said that the killer, who the team have nicknamed Todd, has obliterated the serial number on the gun.
Oliveras shows up and Blythe took some pleasure from the surprised looks on everyone’s faces. Blythe had told the team they couldn’t get Oliveras for this mission.
She showed up prepared having already read the case reports during her flight. Fitz updates the team on what they know about Todd’s targets, who are the Governor of California, George Shelby, and possibly President Hanover.
Blythe assigns Meachum to update Oliveras on the work done so far, and then for the two of them to go interview Kieran Teo, owner of the hunting cabins in Sugarloaf.
No sooner does the interview get underway when they are interrupted by a lawyer (with the People’s Action Party of Singapore) who advises Meachum and Oliveras they have to work through their consulate or embassy for cooperation. The interview is abruptly ended.
Meachum and Oliveras inform Blythe what happened during the interview and Blythe told them he will do all he can at his level, which in fact turned out to be involving the Governor. Once the Governor impressed upon these lawyers that it is not in their best interest to withhold information from law enforcement when threats have been made against himself and the President, they agreed to cooperate. Meachum and Oliveras revisit Mr. Teo the next day to question him about the hunting cabins and get all the information they need about who has been renting them.
Bell and Shepherd review the rental information and one name seemed worthy of investigation. A man called Trevor Kellen Pasternak (aka TK), rented cabin 6 for months at a time. It was under cabin 6 that the tunnel was found. His current known whereabouts is what looks like a cult; Spirit of the Mother.
Meachum, Oliveras, Fitz and Finau go to TK’s last known address. They end up in a high-speed chase with TK on his motorcycle and he manages to get away from them. Back at HQ when they review more incoming information on TK the team realizes that he cannot be the mastermind who created the manifesto. They get an address for his ex-wife, so Bell and Shepherd go over there to apprehend him.
Meachum and Oliveras interrogate TK and discover that he allowed a man to use his name to rent the cabin. Their communication is via email, and the man sends TK a prepaid credit card that covers the cost of the cabin and an extra five hundred for his trouble.
It becomes obvious that he isn’t clever enough, however he is a target for someone much smarter, someone who could manipulate him. TK says he has no idea who the man is, so Bell and Shepherd track TK’s online footprint and find he used an encrypted chat to communicate with Todd.
Blythe tells Shepherd to leave a message on the chat log and hope they get a response. Todd replies immediately asking if they are federal officers. Blythe instructs Shepherd to tell Todd that “they just want to talk.”
Blythe is convinced that TK was placed in their path. Todd wanted them to find TK so that he could establish contact and get the task force to begin decoding his manifesto. He sent them the Rosetta Stone that will help them do that and the messages are disturbing.
The Villain – Todd
To recap from the last episode, this mission’s villain is initiated into the series when a cleaner by the name of Patricia Perez phoned in a threat to the USSS (US Secret Service) tipline after discovering guns and suspicious materials in a remote rented cabin in Sugarloaf. Fitz investigated and found Perez murdered. Inside the cabin they discovered a crude map of the Sacramento home of the Governor of California, George Shelby. They also uncovered burned fragments of a cover story done on the Governor from an old Vanity Fair magazine article.
Most disturbing of all, was a mysterious manifesto containing a code or language only the author could decipher. Task force Armor was formed to investigate and after inspecting the cabin, they exposed a secret entryway to an underground target range containing a tripod mounted sniper rifle.
Throughout the episode, we learn about the villain, now known as Todd, from a series of flashbacks beginning in November 2023. Our first introduction is seeing Todd loading up his pickup truck with supplies he’s purchased at a grocery store. He arrives at San Bernardino National Forest and dresses in hunting gear.
There are two other hunters that pass by the area and he hides himself from them. It’s not clear why. Todd creates what looks like a sniper’s nest hidden amongst camouflage gear to watch for his prey, in this case deer. He patiently waits until he has a deer in his crosshairs and shoots. The deer goes down but is not dead. Todd approaches the animal and stomps on its head to kill it.
There is a detached angry coldness about him, like a piece is missing. Is he a psychopath? At this point we know nothing about him, but I would guess he is ex-military, who saw action when deployed and is now having difficulty adjusting to civilian life. Was his unique military skill that of a sniper? Does he miss killing or is he simply a deer hunter?
In thinking about Todd’s mental state, and perhaps because he is hunting deer, made me think of the movie “The Deer Hunter.” That movie, more than any other, epitomizes the dehumanizing effects of war and its far-reaching detriment to the human psyche. Are these the kind of circumstances that created our villain?
In a continuation of the November 2023 flashback, we see Todd having breakfast at a restaurant with a friend/coworker, who presses him to get back to work. We have no idea why he is on sick leave, or what he does for a living, but he does not take well to being told to get back to work. He drops some money onto the table and walks out.
Still in November 2023, the next flashback takes us to a scene in his home where he is having a bowl of cereal His wife walks in the kitchen and fusses over her dog Penny, which she calls precious. She asks Todd if he will take the dog to the vet for a checkup and he refuses. He tells her he is going deer hunting and won’t be back until the weekend.
There is nothing warm about him. She hugs him and he barely responds. There is an angry tension that seems to shield him from a connection to anyone else in the room and she does not seem to be invited into his world. Before she moves on with her day his wife asks him if he is going back to work the following week, and he says that is his plan – but you can tell the question annoys him.
The next flashback indicates that it is December 2023, so are we to assume he is back at work now? It isn’t made clear. We see Todd sitting in his truck parked down the street from where he lives. He is watching his house. His friend/coworker shows up and goes inside.
Todd follows him after a time, with a pistol in his hand. He enters the house quietly as though he is sneaking in and follows the voices until he sees his friend and his wife in bed together. He says nothing, but his physical reaction clearly indicates the emotional blow he is feeling at that moment, and for a brief second it looks like he might use his pistol.
Instead, he takes the dog and leaves.
Todd drives to what looks like an area of forest surrounding a clearing, where he lets the dog loose and screams at the animal to make it run, and then he picks up his rifle and takes aim.
Character Development
◄ Nathan Blythe ►
Operation Armor S01E11
- From the moment the US Secret Service deemed the Sugarloaf incident a credible threat, we get back the Blythe we know and love.
- He immediately assembles the Operation Hurricane task force and reassigns them to the new operation, tagged Armor. There is one exception, Blythe tells the team that the only member they could not pull back into service for this operation is Agent Oliveras.
- Little did we know Blythe would take such delight in punking his team.
- True to form he steps in to sort out the political sensitivities surrounding the Beruang Holdings issue.
Operation Hurricane/Operation Armor S01E10
- Nathan Blythe is intelligent and perceptive. He personifies the attributes of a leader who commands respect and demonstrates loyalty, agency, discipline and duty. He has the backs of every member of his team. He is tough but fair. He rises to every challenge with tenacity and resilience. His superiors call on him because he is a man who gets the job done. Nathan Blythe, steadfast and intrepid, leaves Operation Hurricane having been tested on two fronts. The first of which was losing his good friend and colleague Damon Drew. The second, was summoning the strength of will needed to survive the brutal stabbing he received at the hands of Volchek. Blythe will carry the echo of these events forward in his career, and being the man he is, the lessons he learned will serve him well.
Operation Hurricane S01E09
- If there was ever an episode that could prove how tough and resilient Nathan Blythe is, it is definitely this one. Not only did he manage to call in a 10-33 when he was gravely injured, he underwent surgery and was back with the task force in record time.
- He displayed parts of his character that clearly demonstrated that given the right circumstances Nathan Blythe could be impatient, ornery and stubborn.
- When he does make it back to the office, he’s adamant he isn’t going to put up with resistance to him being there. A comment clearly meant for Meachum’s benefit.
- Back out in the field, Blythe easily returns to his true role as leader and manages the task force in one of their most challenging circumstances ever.
Operation Hurricane S01E08
- Blythe, exercising all of his authority as task leader, confronts Astapov about Volchek’s intentions and demands information. When Astapov fails to comply, Blythe escalates up the food chain to Executive Assistant Director and the Deputy Director of the FBI.
- In order to protect the team Blythe orders them to stay at HQ and catch the guy if the bomb explodes. Only Meachum goes with him, and we see Blythe push back on Meachum’s risk taking, ordering him to retreat to a safe distance. It’s not often we see Blythe exercise his authority this way. Of course, he doesn’t want anyone on the task force to be injured, but it’s obvious Blythe cares about his team members on a personal level.
- Blythe greets Jerry (Bomb Tech) when he arrives on the scene and it’s obvious they know each other. Blythe gives him a look that shows he is genuinely afraid for him and wishes he didn’t have to call him in to do what he has to do.
- Blythe singles out Bell to compliment him on the work of finding the farm property that was linked to VKN. It helped them forward the investigation.
- Blythe pep talks the team at Volchek’s farm and encourages them that he has a good feeling about where the whole investigation is going. He feels they are in the final push. He tells them all to get a good night’s rest because the next 48 hours will be all-hands on deck.
Operation Hurricane S01E07
- The team is in a slump and Blythe knows how frustrated they are. The Gallagher clue has run cold and they are no closer to finding Volchek. Blythe continues to encourage his team.
- At every setback Blythe continues to do his best to keep the team focused and motivated.
- After the task force does a raid on the Iskanders office, Blythe and the SWAT team leader end up in a screaming match over who tipped them off.
- Blythe vehemently defends every member of his team, and his team can hear him. It demonstrates to them that Blythe has their backs and believes in them.
Operation Hurricane S01E06
- Blythe learns that the Belarusians have discovered and severed their connection with the server, offering Bell and Shepherd some wisdom on why Astapov would keep this quiet.
- The team is facing another challenge trying to find the connection between Gallagher and Volchek. Blythe does his best to keep the team motivated and positive.
- When Gallagher ends up being a dead-end, tempers flare and Blythe quickly gets the team back on track but not before sending Bell a cautionary message about criticizing the work of others on his team.
Operation Hurricane S01E05
- In the last episode Blythe warned Valwell that if he continues to disrupt his mission, Valwell will see a side of him he won’t like. It looks like Tim Carmichael is the card Blythe was forced to play.
- We don’t know the origins of Blythe’s relationship with Tim Carmichael except to say they have a longstanding friendship. When they meet, Tim asks if Blythe will be joining him and his wife Elizabeth on their trip to Lanai in the fall. If they are vacationing together, this is a friendship of some significance. It would seem that Tim Carmichael is a man of some wealth and influence, but the only thing we find out about his role is that he is the “party fundraising chairman.”
Operation Hurricane S01E04
- As the task force leader, it was Blythe who delivered the news to the team that Drew died in surgery.
- Drew’s death was a blow to the whole team, but it was particularly difficult for Nathan. He and Drew were friends. Drew had been sharing with Blythe the difficulty of losing his son Noah, how he and his wife Cora were coping. They also spoke of Drew’s time as assistant coach of Noah’s little league team.
- Blythe was also aware that Drew held him in high regard, having defended him against D.A. Valwell in their most recent altercation.
- Blythe never seems to miss an opportunity to teach Shepherd the good and the not-so-good duties required of them. He takes her along to visit Cora, so they can deliver the death message. He also lets her conduct her very first interrogation of a suspect.
- Drew’s death strengthens the teams resolve to really go after Volchek and ramp up their efforts as much as possible which is evident in Blythe’s talks as he does his best to keep the team motivated in the face of such loss.
Operation Hurricane S01E03
- Nathan and Damon have worked together in the past, but it’s obvious their relationship is deepening. After the death of Damon’s son Noah, the two men make time to check in with one another. Nathan asks how the little league team is doing and offers to grab a beer when the mission is over to talk… or not. Whatever Damon needs Nathan is there for him.
- Forced once again to deal with Valwell, Blythe is clearly a man who stands his ground especially where his team and his mission is concerned. He refuses to buckle under Valwell’s accusations.
- Blythe clearly has the respect of his team, as demonstrated by Drew when he defends Nathan Blythe’s leadership and tactical expertise.
Operation Hurricane S01E02
- In his task force leadership role, he seems to attract attention from local law enforcement and political wannabes. He effortlessly dispels their interference.
- Blythe hails from Greenwich, attended Ivy League (Princeton), wanted to be a lawyer, aspired to clerk for SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States), but pivoted after 9/11 and enrolled in the army after the twin towers came down. Army Intelligence.
- Nathan obviously grew up wealthy and Drew teases him about it.
- He is clearly a leader who is all about getting the job done and has no time for political aspirations, which is obvious in his dealings with D.A. Grayson Valwell.
Operation Hurricane S01E01
- We know he is a 22-year vet with the FBI and has worked on 5 task force missions, being the lead on 2 of them, and one of them included Mark Meachum.
- He worked as a co-case Agent on the Amerithrax Operation (this was a real case in 2001 involving anthrax spores being mailed to victims, killing 5 and infecting 17 making it the deadliest bio-terrorism attack in US history).
- We learn he worked undercover with the Aryan Brotherhood for a year, earning Blythe’s respect despite the danger.
- We discover he was tipped off by an informant claiming a “foreign player” was trying to buy off DHS (Department of Homeland Security) officers but was denied from initiating a mission until he went to the Director of the FBI personally, which is why their mission is under cover.
◄ Mark Meachum ►
Operation Armor S01E11
- This is a big episode for Mark Meachum, so instead of the typical character breakdown I do here, I dedicated what is happening to him, in the section titled;
Push, Pull, Pause and Possibility
Operation Hurricane/Operation Armor S01E10
- Mark Meachum has been, from the very beginning, a study in contradictions. He is a principled man, but one that is willing to bend the rules when it’s necessary, especially if it’s needed by a friend or colleague. He’s teasing, funny, sharp-witted and swaggering on the surface but deeply compassionate at his core. He is a military grade, decorated marksman, natural maverick and possesses all the attributes that make him a good cop and a good investigator. Brave, intelligent and astute, Meachum is the guy you want at your back. Throughout Operation Hurricane, the task force evolves from a collection of law enforcement misfits into his chosen family, unknowingly standing witness to the most personal and painful battle of his life; the progression of his disease. Through this journey, Meachum becomes a tiny bit softer around the edges. In whatever way this works out for him (or doesn’t), these people will always be a part of it and no one more so than Oliveras. When you open your heart a little, there’s no telling what will rush in.
Operation Hurricane S01E09
- Mark seems to be losing the battle with his illness, and it is heart wrenching to watch. His strength and resilience are really being tested.
- Meachum is intelligent, astute and knows his job well. When he shows up to the crime scene where Blythe was stabbed, he is able to assess what happened so effortlessly that I think he may have annoyed his LAPD Detective buddies. Being close to insider info on the villain Volchek was a big help, but that can be our little secret.
- Even though it is overstepping their bounds and skirting regulations, Oliveras wants to get a look inside Astapov’s car for anything that will help them discover more about Volchek and possibly more about what happened to Blythe. Mark doesn’t hesitate; he immediately distracts the officers so Oliveras can get inside the car and take the file she finds.
- Meachum pushing himself to do his job is now getting dangerous. The vertigo he experienced on the roof where they apprehended the forger was a big red flag that the battle is becoming too big for him. It was also very telling that he sat out the interrogation of the forger with Oliveras. They typically work together on those, and Bell stood in for that one.
- The battle with his illness came to a head in office bathroom where Meachum retreated when the pain became unbearable for him. He lashed out in frustration and the noise was enough to bring Oliveras. She stayed with him. She has a way with him that calms him down, centers him and helps him get ahead of the pain. She stayed with him until the episode passed.
- Oliveras tells Mark about Julio, her childhood friend, and he later teases her about him. While Oliveras is keen to get Mark to consider getting a second opinion, he remains skeptical. She gives him Julio’s contact information and urges him to make the call.
- Julio is a man with whom Amber has history. Mark teases her about “the pride of the neighborhood” which may have a spark of jealousy behind it.
Operation Hurricane S01E08
- Mark assesses the damage at Volchek’s home after the explosion and delivers his suspicions and findings to the task force. Blythe agrees with his assessment.
- Mark has a chat with Amber about sharing his condition with Blythe from the perspective of the whole task force and how they have a right to know, seeing as it may put them at risk. Mark views Damon Drew’s plaque on the wall and knows she is right.
- Meachum shows his determination to be a part of the task force when he tells Oliveras that if Blythe benches him, he will find a way to work the case from the outside.
- When Bell alerts Blythe about the truck parked outside the federal building, Blythe, with the exception of Meachum, orders the team to remain in the office. Meachum looks directly at Oliveras before he heads for the elevators. It was fleeting but seemed protective (stay here), reassuring (don’t worry), comforting (I’ll be back). It was full of all the things he wanted to say to her but couldn’t.
- Meachum and Blythe get into it at the federal building, because Mark did not retreat to a safe distance as instructed. Until he is interrupted, it seems as if he is going to approach the truck and possibly open the trailer looking for Volchek. It demonstrates that he still views himself as expendable in the face of duty, but he never gets the chance to take that risk once he is issued a direct order from Blythe.
- The task force only have 5 hours before they are expected to push through to the finish line on the investigation. Meachum offers to sleep on the couch and let Oliveras crash at his house instead of driving all the way back to Eagle Rock. This leads to an intimate moment on his front porch. Meachum’s offer sounds very much like a romantic overture, but in the end Oliveras teases him about Melinda Bates and refuses his offer.
- Meachum still has not told Blythe about his condition but agrees to rectify that the next morning.
Operation Hurricane S01E07
- The moment Meachum stops working out in his garage, he collapses on the floor and loses consciousness. Another indication that his condition is worsening.
- While he’s in the men’s room splashing cold water on his face, Oliveras follows him in to find out what’s going on. This is a clear indication that their relationship is deepening, as she not only wants to help him, but covers for him too.
- Oliveras visits Meachum at home and they share a beer. Meachum finally tells her about his brain tumor. She asks how long he has. Meachum tells her the doc doesn’t know for sure. It could be 6 weeks or 6 months.
- Meachum tells Oliveras that if he can, he’s going out saving something; their city, it’s people. No beach or sunset end for him.
- Meachum by nature is extremely independent and leans on no one, but Oliveras is becoming someone with whom he can confide. He struggles to share, but she doesn’t let him off the hook.
Operation Hurricane S01E06
- There is some good-natured teasing as Meachum and Oliveras get in some target practice. Their relationship is taking on new layers of warmth and trust.
- We learned in episode 5 that Meachum served in the military. Here we find out a little more detail; he was part of the Airborne Rangers (aka 75th Ranger Regiment) which is a highly trained and specialized unit within the U.S. Army, known for its expertise in airborne and air assault operations, direct action raids, and seizing key terrain. They are an elite, airborne light infantry combat formation.
- Meachum was decorated with the highest ranking in marksmanship; Distinguished Expert.
- Mark reassured Oliveras that he is not a drug user while confiding in her about his migraines. He held back the entire truth, not telling her what the source of that pain was.
- When Gallagher turns out to be a dead-end, frustration boils over and Meachum’s temper flares.
- Oliveras gives Meachum some medication (pain killers) to help Meachum deal with the migraines. It’s obvious that she wants to help him, but it is also very revealing when she lets him know that she needs him.
Operation Hurricane S01E05
- Meachum has increasing concerns about Oliveras.
- Oliveras utilizing drugs as a tool to get information from suspects does not pose a moral issue for him.
- He is not above stretching ethical boundaries when the job requires it, but he wants to know if she is using. I think partly out of concern for her safety, but also, he wants to know how her state of mind will impact their working relationship. Her being high poses risks to those she is working with as well as threatening her career.
- Mark Meachum shares a number of facts about himself; he’s not from LA; he is from Victorville; he dropped out of high school at the age of 17 and joined the military.
- For the first time we see Meachum’s illness take a significant toll on him physically as his vision becomes impaired, he loses balance and ultimately passes out in the stairwell. This could have been so much worse.
- Meachum is beginning to display the tell-tale signs of what persistent severe pain can do to a person’s state of mind; we can see his desperation, frustration and anger.
- The bathroom scene in this episode is heartbreaking to watch. He is desperate for help but has to walk a fine line between managing his pain and not diminishing his cognitive abilities.
- His angry outburst at his doctor shows us how desperate his situation is becoming. It also demonstrates that his doctor is not much help to him.
- Once the shaky episode passes, it’s nice to know he hasn’t lost his sense of humor. He and Bell get into the “my badge is bigger than your badge” exchange. Funny stuff.
- Once the team established a connection with Pascals catering, each member of the team assumes a role. Meachum takes on the role of husband to Olivera’s role. They become Tim and Tina Murphy.
- Finally, no matter how Meachum is feeling, we see those times when his military and law enforcement training take over. This was especially evident during the consulate event when he needed to subdue 2 security guards.
Operation Hurricane S01E04
- Damon Drew’s death was of great significance to Meachum for a number of reasons. The first being his presence in the ambulance, witnessing the magnitude of injury to his friend. It was bound to be traumatic. Drew’s death would also rattle him in ways the others wouldn’t experience, because Meachum is looking down the barrel of his own mortality. And lastly, Meachum feels he bears responsibility because he took risks he shouldn’t have taken, and it ended up in a shootout that took Drew’s life.
- The conversation about Drew, shared between Meachum and Oliveras, is a heartwarming one and adds to their deepening relationship.
- Meachum’s temper boils over into physical intimidation as Mikhail feigns ignorance of Volchek’s terrorist plot and blames everything, including Drew’s death, on his nephew Timur.
- Meachum finds out that Oliveras still has heroin from the brick she took from Javi. She told him she was going to flush it and apparently did not. Meachum’s overarching fear is that she is using again.
- The whole team watched with pride as Evan Shepherd conducted her very first and very successful, interrogation of a suspect.
Operation Hurricane S01E03
- Mark is having painful flashbacks to recent events, which seems to be a deepening symptom of his condition. He is still in acute pain and is medicating himself regularly to manage it.
- Mark takes another opportunity to tease Oliveras when she questions him about going back into Palmdale. He seems to take endless joy in playfully taunting her whenever he can.
- We learn during Blythe’s video call with warden Gill Thompson that Meachum was lucky to get out of Palmdale alive. He was in there for 9 months, which coincides with the timing of his terminal diagnosis. It’s possible that his wildly reckless behavior is the result of him being resigned to stop at nothing to get his job done while he still can.
- Mark takes improv a little too far, as Finau will definitely get him back for taking a shot at him during the prison transfer and escape.
- Having stumbled into something unexpected in this episode, Meachum is forced on his knees and is about to be executed. As with all things, Meachum faces the inevitable with stoic courage.
Operation Hurricane S01E02
- When Oliveras suggests she reconnect with Javi Lopez she tells Blythe she would prefer to work alone, to which Blythe refuses. Meachum seems to enjoy her discomfort and simply smirks when she doesn’t get her way.
- Meachum is intent on winding Oliveras up and getting a rise out of her, as he starts messing with her on the drive over to Javi Lopez’s compound. She is so angry you can almost see smoke coming out of her ears. The whole exchange further fuels the tension between them, which he seems to be enjoying.
- He is still in pain but so far no one knows about his illness.
- When the smuggle operation is complete, Meachum shares a story about his rookie year as the arresting officer on an assault charge. It demonstrates who he is as a cop and a man. It also demonstrates the commitment he has to his principals and those he’s sworn to protect. See Favorite Scene for more details.
- He takes this a step further by expressing his willingness to protect Oliveras in whatever steps she wants to take regarding the truckload of drugs. So much so, he reveals he is willing to put his career on the line, regardless of the consequences.
- Rather than helping her, his exchange with Oliveras leaves him on shaky ground. A grand plan to thwart a huge infusion of heroin onto the streets of LA, is now replaced by her taking a single kilo.
- As opposed to helping thousands of kids on the streets of LA, has he just aided and abetted a heroin addict?
- Now he’s left wondering if he can trust her.
Operation Hurricane S01E01
- Mark Meachum is a Detective with LAPD, Robbery/Homicide.
- When Blythe introduces the team, he looks square at Meachum when he says, “No lone-wolf.”
- We learn very quickly that Mark Meachum is everything authority figures don’t like. He’s a maverick. He’s unorthodox, cavalier, risk-taking to the point of reckless. He uses humor as a shield and he’s a smart-ass. He’s not the kind of guy who asks for permission or stays between the lines.
- But he’s also everything a leader admires; he’s brave, courageous, intelligent, astute, has good investigative instincts and will go places others won’t, literally and figuratively. He’s an asset most would love to have, if they can find a way to control him.
- Meachum immediately recognizes that Blythe hasn’t shared all the mission facts and has been working on it for some time before the team was brought in. During this conversation the audience learns what Meachum endured in his previous mission with Blythe.
- Meachum worked undercover for a year, cut off from everyone, to live with a very dangerous group of Nazis known as the Aryan Brotherhood. He got Blythe what he needed to save a woman’s life and get information necessary to make arrests.
- Blythe is so impressed with Meachum that he tells him he’d put up with anything if Meachum could do work like that again. It sounds like it came at some cost to Meachum.
- Just before the episode hits its dramatic climax, the audience is made aware that Meachum has a brain tumor. His doctor has informed him that the condition is terminal. He was diagnosed nine months prior with glioblastoma multiforme, and neither radiation nor surgery are viable options for him. His doctor recommends that he load up on relief medication and live out his remaining time in as much comfort as possible.
- Meachum tells the doctor that finding some beach and checking out is not an option for him. He wants the medication to manage the pain in his head, so he can keep working.
- No one knows that Meachum is terminally ill, or the threat that his condition poses for the team. He is quite literally a ticking time bomb. Knowing his fate, his recklessness becomes the wild card he plays knowing he’s expendable.
◄ Amber Oliveras ►
Operation Armor S01E11
- This is a big episode for Amber Oliveras, so instead of the typical character breakdown I do here, I dedicated what is happening to her, in the section titled;
Push, Pull, Pause and Possibility
Operation Hurricane/Operation Armor S01E10
- Oliveras is a no-nonsense DEA agent who is passionate about her work. She is resilient and brave. With intellectual savvy and a take-no-prisoners attitude, she navigates her DEA world between the lines of justice and lawlessness well enough to make her keen undercover skills a sought-after commodity. That knowledge came at a price. She is an officer with a complicated past. She operates with street-smart practicality, common sense, logic and intuition. But she’s also a woman with emotional fluency. Underneath that veneer of kick-ass cop is a heart that is fiercely protective. Oliveras fought her way back from the edge of addiction and that battle gave her not only strength but also empathy. By the time Operation Hurricane is over, her growth is most keenly noticeable by the willingness she had to support Mark through his darkest moments. She saw a man drowning and became his life preserver. No one did more for him. She helped alleviate his pain, she brought him new medicine, she found an oncologist for his treatment, and when he was reluctant to lean in, she convinced him otherwise. And when he was at his most vulnerable, his most alone, she rallied the troops.
Operation Hurricane S01E09
- Amber runs into an old childhood friend, who is now a Neuro Oncologist at Dignity Medical, who is kind enough to get them some inside information on how Blythe is doing.
- Oliveras wants to get a look inside Astapov’s car for anything that will help them discover more about Volchek. Meachum doesn’t think twice about helping her by distracting the officers on site, while Finau stands watch so she can search the car. She takes a file and tucks it into the back of her pants.
- There is no doubt that if it was not for Finau, Meachum would likely be dead after falling off the roof. But no one knows Meachum’s secret except Oliveras, and her helping him after his vertigo episode is a perfect example of the deep and supportive bond that Mark and Amber have.
- Blythe is in the hospital and Meachum is sidelined while he struggles with his illness, still feeling the aftereffects of his episode on the roof. Immediately, Oliveras steps up into a leadership role during the task force meeting after capturing and interrogating the forger.
- Drawn in by the noise, Oliveras goes into the men’s room and discovers Meachum in a full-blown episode of his worst symptoms. With a pain level that has become unmanageable, he is really suffering and admits he can’t take it anymore. Amber calms him, gets him centered and helps him regulate his breathing until the episode passes.
- The team returns to the hospital when Blythe is out of surgery and Oliveras takes the opportunity to talk to Julio about Mark’s illness. This is deeply important and demonstrates how much she cares about Mark and what he is going through. Is this the glimmer of hope that Meachum needs to extend his life?
- Amber and Julio have history, a shared background and have an undeniable respect for one another and their accomplishments. I think it’s obvious that there is a potential here for connection and Julio sees it too.
- Oliveras tells Meachum all about Julio and how he is the “pride of the neighborhood,” and Mark doesn’t waste any time in teasing her about it. I’m convinced there is a shimmer of jealousy behind his teasing banter. She gives Meachum Julio’s contact info and tells him to call for a consult.
Operation Hurricane S01E08
- Amber talks with Mark about making Blythe, and by extension the whole team, aware of his condition. She cares about him but also does not want to see his condition interfere with the success or safety of the task force.
- When Bell alerts Blythe about Volchek’s truck parked outside the federal building, Blythe orders the team to remain in the office, except for Meachum. Meachum looks directly at Oliveras before he and Blythe head for the elevators and her gaze lingered on him as he walked away. It conveyed fear. Would he be hurt? Would he do something reckless? What if he doesn’t come back?
- When they roll up to Meachum’s place, he invites her to stay. They definitely have a moment on his front porch, and faced with the decision, she hesitates. It’s only a second or two but we see it. There is no doubt in my mind that she was torn; that she wanted to lean into him. Instead, she dismisses the possibility.
- Oliveras’ restraint suggests she is afraid of what staying would do to her partnership with Meachum, but their relationship is so nuanced, more needs to be known.
Operation Hurricane S01E07
- Oliveras tries calling Meachum when he’s late for work. It’s obvious these guys are looking out for one another.
- She is also concerned that he might be abusing the medication she gave him which could blow back on both of them.
- Oliveras visits Meachum at home to give him a new medication to see if it will help with his migraines. While they share a beer, he finally tells her about his brain tumor. She is really struggling to take it in.
- Meachum tells Oliveras that if he can, he’s going out saving something; their city, it’s people. No beach or sunset end for him.
- Oliveras is someone who is tough and unyielding when it comes to the job, but with Meachum, she is demonstrating a softer version of herself. She wants to help him. These two are becoming bonded in meaningful ways neither of them are experiencing with anyone else, inside or outside the task force.
Operation Hurricane S01E06
- There is some good-natured teasing as Meachum and Oliveras get in some target practice. Their relationship is taking on new layers of warmth and trust.
- We learned in episode 5 that Meachum served in the 75th Ranger Regiment, and decorated as Distinguished Expert, so Oliveras told him in a firefight, he needs to stand next to her.
- Mark tells Amber he thinks they are pretty much partners by this point in the mission and should lay their cards on the table, to which she admitted to her drug addiction.
- Oliveras gives Meachum some medication (assuming pain killers) to help Meachum deal with the migraine headaches. She admits to him that she needs him.
Operation Hurricane S01E05
- Oliveras defends her position on using drugs as a tool to get information they need to save lives.
- What the audience (and Mark) does not know at this point, is whether or not she is using the drugs for herself.
- She gets defensive when Meachum questions her. Is she hiding details of her past because she is ashamed or is she in denial? Keeping the drugs handy offers her the ability to use again if she wants to.
- She offers Meachum a glimpse of how her undercover work as a DEA Agent compromised her in the past.
- Oliveras and Meachum are really beginning to move in synch, and she senses something is wrong with him but hasn’t guessed what it is. This is obvious when she goes looking for him in the stairwell.
- Once the team established a connection with Pascals catering, each member of the team assumes a role. Oliveras takes on the role of wife to Meachum’s role. They become Tim and Tina Murphy.
- She comes through at the consulate event, watching Shepherd’s back as she installs the root kit and takes out the Security Supervisor when he finds Meachum subduing one of his guards.
Operation Hurricane S01E04
- The whole team experienced the loss of their fellow agent, Damon Drew.
- Nine months into her career as a DEA Agent, Oliveras lost her training agent in a raid. She demonstrates the singular torture of questioning every move, every decision, every action leading up to the moment her teammate was killed.
- Oliveras shares her experience with Meachum, offering perspective and comfort. It’s a kindness they seem to extend to one another as needed.
- Oliveras isn’t above planting heroin on a suspect to get the information needed to solve a case and this is demonstrated with Dmitry Kotov. Ethics aside, it worked, and it also opened up a point of contention between her and Meachum regarding the brick of heroin she was supposed to destroy.
- The whole team watched with pride as Evan Shepherd conducted her very first and very successful, interrogation of a suspect.
Operation Hurricane S01E03
- Oliveras is having significant struggles. Her past is haunting her. Having access to a kilo of heroin has really tempted her to use again and each time she gets close to disposing of it, she gets shaky. Her time as a drug user rears its ugly head and and is torturing her. It’s clear she hasn’t found a way to subdue that monster inside of her.
- While Meachum is revealing moments of concern for Oliveras, she is doing the same with him. She questions the safety of him returning to Palmdale as a prisoner, and he wastes no time teasing her about it. Oliveras claims that Meachum makes it very hard for her to like him. It’s easy to believe she already does.
- Oliveras admits during this episode that she hates doing deskwork and prefers to be out in the field.
- It turns out that her instincts were correct when she spoke with Meachum while he was on the run with Timur. She sensed he needed backup, and the task force responded.
Operation Hurricane S01E02
- Two years prior, Oliveras was involved in a mission where her undercover identity was that of a smuggler who worked both sides of the border. She worked with a cartel lieutenant named Javi Lopez, who likely would know who they passed the fissile material off to.
- She got in touch with a runner of his to reestablish contact and offered to set up a meeting. Blythe told her to take Meachum as her muscle.
- She wanted to do it solo, but Blythe refused. It’s obvious that she is still annoyed with Meachum and is trying to avoid working with him.
- Her level of knowledge about the cartel and their smuggling tactics are impressive and obviously come from her own extensive undercover work.
- She and Meachum have that heart-to-heart in the truck about the drugs and he shares some of his past regarding his rookie year on the force. You can see her opinion beginning to soften.
- The fact that Meachum would put himself on the line to play out the drug delivery any way she wanted to, really has an impact on her.
- Instead, she takes a single kilo. Are we seeing the actions of a cop trying to lighten the influx of drugs one kilo at a time, or are we seeing the undeniable temptation of an addict not being able to pass up on an opportunity to take some for herself?
- What is this going to do to her relationship with Meachum, who was willing to lay it all on the line for her?
Operation Hurricane S01E01
- Special Agent Amber Oliveras, DEA.
- Blythe shares with the team that she has 14 years on the job and has been involved in multiple operations, some of them undercover.
- She speaks up with knowledge and authority when talking about the cartel, which tells the audience that she has seen some pretty harrowing stuff.
- Oliveras’ opening scene clearly demonstrates she is one tough agent.
- We learn very quickly that Oliveras is fearless facing down bad guys and has no problem defying her bosses orders. She is also unorthodox, cavalier and risk-taking to a much lesser degree than Meachum, but I wonder if this contributes to their clash of personalities. They have more in common with one another then either of them would be willing to admit.
- Oliveras demonstrates immediately that she is bold, gutsy, intelligent and perceptive.
- However, in her conversation with Bell we learn that her undercover operations were hard to come back from, not because they were dark, but because she didn’t want to.
- This is almost immediately supported when another officer in the FBI meets privately with Blythe to offer substantive information that Oliveras has been identified by a credible informant as a drug addict.
- Later that night Oliveras sits in a bar and takes up Finau’s suggestion that she look up Meachum’s last undercover assignment, which was Palmdale prison. In doing so, she also comes across details of Operation Smoke, which is the task force that Meachum worked with Blythe.
- She reads Meachum’s personnel file and it describes Meachum as arrogant, selfish and unprofessional, exhibiting a lack of restraint and discipline, accusing him of “cowboy” behavior that endangers the lives of his fellow officers. At the time Oliveras reads this it validates her low opinion of Meachum. It isn’t until episode 2 that she learns a significant revelation about what is written in his file, and it calls into question, it’s validity.
- While at the same bar, we see a woman nod for Oliveras to follow her to the restroom. The audience is naturally left to imagine that this clandestine meeting is drug related.
◄ Evan Shepherd ►
Operation Armor S01E11
- At the tail end of Operation Hurricane, we knew that Shepherd was being sent to Washington, and she asked Bell if he could keep an eye on her sister Molly. Bell discovered that Molly had been hanging with some pretty heavy-duty drug players. He’s known for two weeks and didn’t say anything to Shepherd, and she is very upset about that.
- Evan has been trying to reach out to her sister, but she isn’t responding. Given the new information that Shepherd has about her sister, she is especially worried that Molly is not responding to her text messages.
- Bell apologizes for not keeping a closer eye on Molly.
- Evan and Bell did some good work on investigating TK’s online footprint which led them to Todd and the encrypted chat that established connection – and the Rosetta stone needed to decipher his manifesto.
Operation Hurricane/Operation Armor S01E10
- Evan begins the task force mission, green and untested. She steadily earns her place by showcasing her technical brilliance and modern approach to policing. Her skills have found a place to shine and Bell; a seasoned FBI Agent comes to admire and learn from her. When the mission is at its most critical, Evan’s courage is tested like never before. Her quick thinking, fast action and gut instincts paid off and she defused Volchek’s dirty bombs. Even though she was terrified, she refused to retreat, proving her composure and bravery under pressure. One element in Evan’s life remains volatile and that is the behavior of her sister Molly, who threatens to derail everything Evan has fought so hard to establish on this task force.
Operation Hurricane S01E09
- Evan’s sister Molly is as yet, and undeveloped character. We know so far that she is a troubled and troubling young woman who can best be characterized as a self-centered, party-girl who leaves turmoil and difficulty in the wake of every action she takes in life. We also know that she is forcing her way into Evan’s life at a time when her focus and attention cannot be divided. Evan wants to prove herself on this task-force and Molly poses a threat to that goal.
- Evan continually proves the worth and effectiveness of her technical skills on the team and it gets noticed. Bell takes a moment to really share his appreciation of all the modern methods of policing she so effortlessly exhibits, but also, his gratitude for all that she is teaching him.
- In the last few episodes, we see a deepening of Evan’s friendship with Bell, and it begs the question of whether or not this is leading to something more. Not every male-female connection on a show requires a romantic component, but by Derek Haas’ own admission, he loves to weave in these kinds of character driven connections, so time will tell.
- There has been no greater test of Evan’s skill when she comes face to face with Volchek’s dirty bomb. Bell gives her an out and tells her to retreat if she wants to, but she stays. You can see how afraid she is, but she remains calm, composed and courageous as she works frantically to disarm the bombs.
Operation Hurricane S01E08
- Evan keeps getting phone and text messages from her sister Molly. Their relationship is volatile.
- Frustrated by Molly’s incessant messaging, Evan calls her mother who informs her that Molly has decided to move to Los Angeles and is enroute to Evan. She appealed to her mother for help, but her mom said she has no control over what Molly does and nothing she says will make any difference. Sounds like Molly is a handful.
- Bell and Shepherd are close enough now that he could tell instantly that something was wrong just by looking at her.
- Shepherd tells Bell that her sister Molly is coming to town and describes her as a disastrous, self-centered, party-girl type who causes upset, turmoil and trouble wherever she goes.
- When Shepherd gets home from the Volchek’s farm, her sister is waiting on the stairs leading into her apartment. Molly insists they go out partying, but Shepherd refuses. Annoyed, Molly dumps her stuff and takes off, warning Evan that she will be back, threatening to break a window if Evan locks the door.
Operation Hurricane S01E07
- Shepherd shows Bell that she is very adept at reading people. When they visit the manufacturer of the tongs, the gentleman is reluctant to supply them with the purchase orders for the last 12 months, but Shepherd makes a personal connection over basketball and the man warms up and agrees to help them.
- Shepherd tries to help Bell by reassuring him that while she heard Blythe is not the guy you want to get on the bad side of, he has a reputation for being a fantastic leader.
- Shepherd finds a significant Gallagher clue that helps the team move forward.
Operation Hurricane S01E06
- When Gallagher turns out to be a dead-end, the whole team is feeling the frustration. Bell and Shepherd are working very hard to uncover it’s meaning and context to lead them to Volchek.
- Evan must be feeling very torn between loyalty to Bell as their friendship is deepening, and the way Bell has now singled himself out by criticizing Meachum’s intel regarding Gallagher.
- When Blythe asks about expanding their search for Volchek targets outside of LA, Evan is quick to point out that moving fissile material would be too dangerous.
Operation Hurricane S01E05
- Shepherd tells Blythe the best way to infiltrate the consulate from the inside as Finau suggests, is to install a Root kit on one of their servers, but that means getting close enough to manually install it.
- Besides Shepherd doing her first interrogation in the last episode, this time she is joining the team in the field.
- Once they have established a connection with Pascals catering, each member of the team assumes a role. Shepherd takes on the role of kitchen help/server inside the consulate.
- She comes through and is able to install the root kit that will gain access to the consulate’s systems as soon as an employee logs into the system.
Operation Hurricane S01E04
- The whole team experienced the loss of their fellow agent, Damon Drew.
- Blythe takes her along to visit Cora, so they can deliver the death message. Its an experience she later shares with Bell, expressing how much she wants, as the rest of the team does, to put Volchek in the ground.
- Blythe lets her conduct her very first interrogation of a suspect. She was very successful, got the information they needed to move forward, and the whole team was proud of how well she did.
- Something that Shepherd witnessed that the rest of the team did not, is when some administrators arrived to clean out Damon Drew’s desk and remove his personal affects. As they walk by, the baseball cap of Drew’s son, Noah, falls to the floor. Shepherd picks it up and puts it on her desk, while she conveys a quiet moment of grief.
Operation Hurricane S01E03
- Shepherd discovered it is Luke Finau’s birthday and she shares that with Bell so they can plan something for him. It’s kind that she wants to bring some fun to the group when every other aspect of their job is grim. She swears Bell to secrecy so they can make it a surprise.
- Shepherd got some of her investigative skills early. She shares with Bell that while working on her school newspaper she discovered the principal stole the charity money donated to the school and used it to buy himself a new hot tub. She broke the story, and the principal went to jail.
- Evan Shepherd went to Stanford University.
- She delivers the cake to the lunchroom and is just so cute about it, except the bakery spelled Finau as Final, but Bell fixed it with a piece of licorice.
Operation Hurricane S01E02
- Shepherd was able, along with Drew and Blythe, to participate in the smuggling operation using surveillance technology.
- She was able to view the border smuggling operation from cameras at the border, and satellite surveillance images.
- When it came time to “blow it up” they did their part in making sure Meachum could generate enough of a diversion to get the truck across the border.
Operation Hurricane S01E01
- Special Agent Shepherd, FBI, has expertise in cyber investigation, internet fraud and computer intrusion.
- If I had to pick a reason why Shepherd would not be missed by her department (and hence was chosen for this task force) is because she is so inexperienced.
- Shepherd demonstrates her greenhorn status by raising her hand to ask a question during the mission meeting, talking to Blythe and thanking him for picking her, interrupting Blythe from studying Darden’s financial data on their way to interview Darden’s wife, and being corrected by Blythe on the leadership details of the Amerithrax operation she studied at Quantico.
- Shepherd definitely redeems herself when she discovers the panel truck in the vicinity of Darden’s murder and syncs up all the video to reveal an image of the shooters face.
- I think Blythe sees Shepherd as the beating heart of the team as he seems to involve her in the very human aspects of police investigation, like dealing with the family of fallen officer Bob Darden.
◄ Luke Finau ►
Operation Armor S01E11
- As Operation Hurricane wrapped, we learn that Luke Finau gets promoted to the level of Sergeant.
- Ever the silent stoic type, when Fitz asks Luke about what is going on between Mark and Amber, his response is so funny; “He had a thing for her, then he had a medical procedure, I’d don’t fuckin know bro…”.
- The team went to a place called Bonnie’s for a drink, and we learn that Luke encountered a Boa Constrictor during a drug arrest.
- When the team starts poking some fun at the Spirit Mother cult, Meachum and Finau joke around that Mark is going to get a website. Finau says no one wants what you’re selling bro, and Meachum tells Finau he’s going to sell his tears for way more than $150 a bottle – his taste like honey. The whole exchange is pretty funny.
Operation Hurricane/Operation Armor S01E10
- Luke Finau begins as the team’s stoic, dependable presence, but his growth reveals the depth of his character as both a loyal teammate on the task force and devoted family man. His strength lies in every quiet action he takes, whether it’s catching Meachum from a fatal fall from the edge of that roof, or using his body to shield his family from harm. He does not hesitate to step in when he’s needed. His greatest test comes when his wife and daughters have stepped into the line of fire. In a split second, he is forced to straddle the impossible demands of both sides of his life. Finau’s instincts and courage are tested and while his decision to discharge his weapon and send the crowd fleeing could have triggered disaster, instead, it bought him the time he needed to gather his family and lead them to a safer spot. The elements that have consistently shined through in Finau’s character are his loyalty, courage, devotion and his pragmatic approach to police work.
Operation Hurricane S01E09
- Luke’s wife Amina (Nicole Lyn) calls him, worried that he did not come home. This episode really shows Finau as a family man and his concern for his wife and children. He asks Amina to take the kids and get out of LA. He wants her to pull the girls out of school immediately and call him as soon as she is on the road to her parents’ house in Palm Springs.
- Amina goes to the school to get the girls and is persuaded by the teacher to let the girls participate in their poetry event at The Vine. The compromise is the girls get to go first, and she can get on the road immediately afterwards.
- Finau gets worried that he has not heard from Amina yet and calls her, but she doesn’t answer.
- What may have seemed like a simple “helping hand” to Finau, turned into a life-saving act. Luke was able to grab Meachum when he began to topple over the edge of the roof, catching him just in time. Finau saved Meachum’s life. Again, the quiet stoic of the team, he says little and just acts when he is needed.
- When the team discovers that Volchek is at The Vine, Finau, who still hasn’t heard from his wife, looks at the GPS tracking on his cell phone and learns that she is there. He tells Bell, who is driving, to step on it.
- When Finau sees his little girl on stage and can hear her reciting her poem, he immediately kicks into dad mode and does what he has to do to pull his family out of harm’s way the best he can. It was a difficult decision because the panic that ensued after he discharged his weapon could have triggered Volchek to detonate. He went with his gut, and it paid off.
Operation Hurricane S01E08
- Finau calls it after Meachum’s status update; they are dealing with a lone-wolf.
- Finau voices what everyone else is thinking; what happened to Volcheck that he wants to blow up a whole city?
- Finau works closely with Shepherd and Bell to process the evidence from the explosion.
- After Blythe disperses the team to tell them to go home and rest up, Finau checks in with Blythe to make sure he’s going to take his own advice and get some rest.
Operation Hurricane S01E07
- Finau visits an old buddy at the impound division. Turns out it was a good decision; he finds out the dumped vehicle was never from border patrol. It was a stolen civilian SUV that was wrapped to look like it was from border patrol. Now Finau has to see if he can find what shop wrapped it.
- Blythe congratulates him on his hard work and tenacity with the border patrol vehicle. It’s obvious that Finau is pleased.
- When the task force raid the address Shepherd found linked with Gallagher trucks, they find it empty but Finau recognized the plastic on the floor and knew immediately that the trucks have been reskinned and could look like anything.
Operation Hurricane S01E06
- Finau, ever the stoic quiet one, is becoming the barometer of the group.
- He is concerned about Meachum, but he says nothing.
- When he and Bell are riding to Needles, Finau talks about seeing a young kid getting completely stomped by his own gang as part of an initiation, to the point he was no longer recognizable. Seeing that was something that really motivated him to join the Gang Division to try and stop things like that from happening. It says a lot about him that he wants to help young people.
Operation Hurricane S01E05
- When Shepherd hits an impasse in being able to infiltrate the consulate’s systems, Finau has checked in with his wife regarding who is managing the catered event, and suggests they go at this from the inside.
- Once they have established a connection with Pascals catering, each member of the team assumes a role. Finau takes on the role of Chauffeur to Meachum and Oliveras and then joins Bell in the mobile tech unit.
- Once Bell creates the security card Oliveras needs, Finau makes sure she gets it.
Operation Hurricane S01E04
- The whole team experienced the loss of their fellow agent, Damon Drew.
- The whole team watched with pride as Evan Shepherd conducted her very first and very successful, interrogation of a suspect.
- This episode did not include much in the way of character development for Luke Finau, but it did demonstrate his use of brute strength at the Durko residence raid, where he lifted the property gate off its hinges and easily kicks in the door.
Operation Hurricane S01E03
- This episode shows that Finau is a happy family man. He tells his wife he’d love to whisk her away to Hawaii if the task force operation was not so crazy. He seems like a loving husband and dad to his two girls.
- Luke’s wife Amina calls to chat about their dinner reservation. He hedges like he’s going to bail but tells her he will be there. Sounds like the “family-first” thing is really important to him.
- During the prisoner transfer operation, Meachum is working undercover as Jack Walker to help Timur Novikov escape. During the escape, Meachum takes a shot at Finau as he lays on the ground. Finau vows to punch Meachum in the neck when he catches up with him.
- The task force are becoming good friends, which is certainly evident in the birthday planning Shepherd is doing for Finau. She thinks it is all secret, but we find out on the prisoner transfer operation that he knew all along.
Operation Hurricane S01E02
- In this episode we see Finau take on a critical role, being the driver of the rig that is smuggling the drugs across the border from Mexico to LA.
- One thing I noticed about Finau is that of all the task force members, with perhaps the exception of Oliveras, he seems to be keeping a quiet watch on Meachum and notices his telltale signs of pain.
- He comes off as a stoic friend, not wanting to interfere, but always noticing when something is amiss.
- A small piece of show trivia is that Uli Latukefu proudly rocks his Tongan heritage, and so Derek Haas, assured Uli that his character name in the show could be chosen to honor him in this way.
- Uli Latukefu ‘oku mau ‘ofa lahi atu ❤️
Operation Hurricane S01E01
- Detective Luke Finau is from the LAPD and is an 18-year vet with the Gangs and Narcotics division focused on the nexus of guns, gangs, narcotics and crime. When Meachum asks him “Didn’t you get suspended?” the answer was “Which time?” so it sounds like he may have some “suspension” violations? Perhaps he’s been too rough with suspects in the past, however we see no evidence of that.
- Finau moves amongst his teammates as a quiet, keep to himself man who remains focused on the job.
- While Finau doesn’t engage with Meachum about his struggles with Oliveras, he does demonstrate his respect for him by telling Oliveras to read about Mark’s last undercover assignment.
◄ Keyonte Bell ►
Operation Armor S01E11
- At the end of Operation Hurricane, Shepherd had to leave LA for Washington and asked Bell if he would keep an eye on her sister. We find out that he did watch and discovered that her sister Molly has been hanging out with some pretty heavy drug players that moved into her duplex.
- Bell apologizes to Shepherd for not keeping a closer eye on Molly. It looks like she might be in some trouble.
- Bell thwarts TK’s attempted escape by tackling him before he can mount his motorcycle.
- Evan and Bell did some good work on investigating TK’s online footprint which led them to Todd and the encrypted chat that established connection – and the Rosetta stone needed to decipher his manifesto.
Operation Hurricane/Operation Armor S01E10
- Bell begins his time on the task force rooted in the traditions of the kind of policing that was passed down by his father, but his partnership with Evan Shepherd pushes him to embrace modern policing methods. He leaned into her teachings and expanded his skill set, transforming him into a stronger and more versatile investigator. While he was tempted by the promises of career advancement dangled by D.A. Valwell, Bell ultimately proves his integrity and loyalty by rejecting those proposals for a leg up to an easy future. Instead, he turned his investigative talents towards exposing Valwell’s corruption. It was a bold decision and maybe one that some officers wouldn’t have taken, but in so doing Bell demonstrated an evolutionary step along his path towards becoming FBI Director one day. His ambition and honor have both served him and the task force in the best way.
Operation Hurricane S01E09
- Bell, who in his own rite is a vital part of the task force, has teamed up with Evan Shepherd and the two of them together are forming the technical backbone of the team. His way of doing things was heavily influenced by his father’s teachings, and his time working with Evan is proving to be a major glow up of his modern policing skills.
- Bell takes a moment and shares his newfound respect for what can be accomplished from “a desk chair” as he puts it, but he also shines a light on Shepherd and her expertise.
- In the last few episodes, we see a deepening of Bell’s friendship with Evan, and it begs the question of whether or not this is leading to something more. Not every male-female connection on a show requires a romantic component, but by Derek Haas’ own admission, he loves to weave in these kinds of character driven connections, so time will tell.
- There has been no greater test of Evan’s skill when she comes face to face with Volchek’s dirty bombs. Bell gives her an out and tells her to retreat if she wants to, but she stays, and he stays right along with her. The two of them together are tasked with trying to disarm the explosives and we see composure and courage in both of them.
Operation Hurricane S01E08
- Bell points out to the team that the explosion at Volchek’s house, shows he is killing his own countrymen and therefore it’s doubtful he’s acting on behalf of his country.
- Bell is the one who recognizes that the truck parked outside the federal building is one of Volchek’s trucks and immediately alerts Blythe and the team.
- Shepherd and Bell are close and she turns to him to voice her concern that her sister Molly is coming to town.
- Bell finds the farm property purchased by the VKN company linked to Volchek, that lets the team spring into action and is told “nice work” by Blythe. Their relationship is clearly back on track.
Operation Hurricane S01E07
- Bell came up with the idea to go straight back to the beginning to shake things up and see if the team can get out of the slump they are in.
- Bell is feeling like Blythe is being hard on him but tells Shepherd he has no intention of “rolling over.”
- When Bell and Shepherd visit the tongs manufacturer, she ends up teaching him a thing or two about softening up someone to be a little more helpful.
- Bell crosses paths with D.A. Valwell who goes on about his father and what good friends they were. He makes a point of telling Bell how much he did to help his father get promoted in the right way with the right people. He basically tells Bell he will help him get promoted if he becomes “his friend.” This naturally sounds like an offer with strings attached.
- Bell is aware that Valwell is trying to use him to spy on Blythe and the work of the task force. He tells Valwell that he has no intention of going behind Blythe’s back.
Operation Hurricane S01E06
- While driving to Needles, Bell admits to Finau that he plans on being the first black Director of the FBI. Ambition is good. Blind ambition can be dangerous. We don’t know what this is yet.
- When Gallagher turns out to be a dead-end, the whole team is feeling the frustration. Bell and Shepherd are working very hard to uncover it’s meaning and context to lead them to Volchek. When Bell questions the authenticity of the intel, Meachum, loses his temper.
- Blythe tells Bell that he needs to come up with his own leads before he criticizes others. This puts Bell outside the team emotionally no matter how briefly. It is now a sore spot between him, Meachum and Blythe.
Operation Hurricane S01E05
- Bell makes Blythe aware of a potential issue. He shares that Valwell is seeking an audience with the Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) and the phrase “Head on a platter” was invoked. Bell was quick to add that he thinks Blythe is doing a great job as task force leader.
- Bell seems to be taking on a purely technical role, working closely with Shepherd.
- Once they have established a connection with Pascals catering, each member of the team assumes a role to infiltrate the consulate’s systems. Bell is managing the mobile tech unit, disguised as a catering van.
- Bell ensures the Murphy’s (Meachum and Oliveras) are on the guest list (albeit a little late), Oliveras has the security pass card needed to get into Astapov’s outer office, and monitor’s the teams progress.
Operation Hurricane S01E04
- The whole team experienced the loss of their fellow agent, Damon Drew.
- Blythe knows that Bell’s father worked with Valwell and wants to know what his father thought of him. Bell openly shared that his father was working a difficult case and it was a young prosecutor (Valwell) who took a chance and put his career on the line to help him.
- The whole team watched with pride as Evan Shepherd conducted her very first and very successful, interrogation of a suspect. Bell seemed to beam a little more than the others, which is in keeping with their growing friendship.
Operation Hurricane S01E03
- Bell is working very closely with Shepherd to find out anything they can on Volchek. Through their investigations, it looks like their friendship is deepening, which is really sweet.
- She delivers the cake to the lunchroom and is just so sweet about it, except they spelled Finau as Final. Bell fixes it with a piece of licorice.
- Bell seems to be paired with Shepherd the majority of the time but often gets pulled into field work with the rest of the task force. He is at the shootout where Drew gets critically injured.
Operation Hurricane S01E02
- Entering the building, Bell crosses paths with D. A. Grayson Valwell in the lobby and introduces himself. It seems there is an old family connection, as Valwell and Bell’s father worked together.
- Valwell asks Bell if he is a part of Blythe’s task force but withdraws the question. He could tell immediately that Bell was involved based on his reaction, and Valwell thanks him for his service and “keeping them safe.” You can tell Bell feels proud.
- This feels a little like Bell has inadvertently confirmed to an outside member of law enforcement his identity on the task force.
- Will this prove to be another point of entry for Valwell if he continues to pursue the taskforce?
Operation Hurricane S01E01
- Bell is an Agent with the FBI specializing in terrorist threats, homegrown and international.
- He’s a character who seems ambitious but would prefer his path to glory be on his own merit, based on his admission to Oliveras that he was insulted when a coworker accused him of being a “legacy-hire” because his grandfather worked a very famous case back in the day (which was a real case; the Anglin brothers escape from Alcatraz in 1962). It seems his father also had a good reputation, which puts Bell as a 3rd gen agent with the FBI.
- He comes off as elitist when he questions Blythe’s decision to have him hack Spellman’s phones instead of having Shepherd do it.
- As an expert in terrorism, it was Bell who recognized the dangerous elements at the Pier 31 shoot out that has subsequently become the focus for the mission.
◄ Ryan Fitzgerald ►
Operation Armor S01E11
- Fitz introduces himself to Oliveras and outs Meachum about all the nice things he said about her.
- On their way out of the office to go to Bonnie’s Bar, Fitz tells Meachum, he is single too.
- Fitz says he can’t compete with Finau arresting a Boa Constrictor, but he misses the camaraderie of police work.
- Fitz talks about his role with Secret Service and that his eventual goal is to get on POTUS or FLOTUS security detail.
- The character of Fitz (who I’m already loving) is going to be perfect comedy fodder with characters like our stoic Finau and the cavalier swagger of Meachum. Can’t wait to see it.
Operation Hurricane/Operation Armor S01E10
- US Secret Service Agent Ryan Fitzgerald – Credential Number 51615
- Having retrieved a submitted entry from the threats and tip line, Ryan investigates further and finds the murdered body of the woman who called it in.
- The US Secret Service assigns Ryan Fitzgerald to Nathan Blythe who forms a new task force called Operation Armor.
Best Performance
Everything in this scene comes together like a symphony to really deliver fast-paced thrills; the music, the sound effects, the camera work and of course the stunt work and action. The motorcycle/car chase in this episode is a clear example of what Countdown regularly delivers; high-stakes drama and unhinged excitement. As Operation Armor is ramping up, they need to zero in on who is the mastermind behind the manifesto and the active threats against the Governor and the President. Is TK their villain? They need to apprehend him to find out. In this scene TK successfully escapes their capture, but not for long.
Favorite Scene
As favorite scenes go, this one is short but powerful. My impressions and commentary are outlined in the section that follows.
Push, Pull, Pause and Possibility
Much of season one has been devoted to the growth, development and chemistry between the characters of Mark Meachum and Amber Oliveras. At the closing of Operation Hurricane these characters set an expectation that their relationship would, once Meachum came through his treatment, ease into what they had long denied themselves; their chance at love.
It came as somewhat of a shock to the audience that things changed.
At this point, some assumptions must be made. We have to assume that in the 10 months that Amber was working another mission, she found time to return to CA from TX. It’s the only explanation for her being able to establish a relationship with Julio. We have to assume that Mark came through his treatment to find that Amber had moved on. How that came about and how Mark received the news remains a mystery. And finally, even though Mark respects Oliveras professionally, the only other reason I can think for him to advocate for her return, is he wants to be thrown into the mix with her. He hasn’t given up on “them” yet.
So why did Amber switch gears and get with Julio? As an audience member, I’m deeply curious. These characters pique our interest, garner our affection and hijack our Wednesdays, so yeah, I’m invested. I’m convinced we will learn all the details as more episodes unfold (and in the Countdown season 2 we keep begging Prime for). In the meantime, the backstory on these two is thin, but it was worth taking a closer look at what we know.
Here are some details regarding Meachum in this episode, and some speculation on why Amber moved on to Julio.
Mark Meachum
Initially, Mark is eager to see Amber return. He asks his other teammates if they have spoken to her, and he meets with Blythe to see if he has recruited her for Operation Armor. Blythe tells him he wants her for this mission, but the DEA needs her. Meachum’s disappointment is evident.
After the morning status meeting where Oliveras re-joins the team, her and Meachum are assigned the task of driving over to question Mr. Teo of Beruang Holdings about the rental cabins. It’s during this drive that the audience learns that Oliveras is now coupled with Julio, as Mark brings it up, “So, you and the doctor…”
Meachum’s reactions seem fresh, but while we have no idea exactly when or how Mark found out, there is no mystery as to how he feels about it. The tension between them is palpable. Mark starts off the conversation friendly enough, but that warmth evaporates quickly. Jilted, Mark tries to steady his pride and mask his pain by fabricating a string of women in the form of conquests, to which Amber takes issue and chastises him for his “player” behavior. It all goes downhill pretty fast after that.
Nothing epitomizes Meachum’s pain like his next statement, “Well, I’m not the one who took whatever this could have been and chucked it out the fucking window!” Which gets to the heart of the matter.
We all heard the pain in his voice. His pain is no doubt layered in what he envisioned would happen when he got back on his feet. Consider that he went into treatment with the expectation that when he finished walking through that fire, she would be waiting for him on the other side. So, she becomes his reason to fight. It’s easy to believe he felt this way because up until he met her, he was resigned to his own death. She was the one who convinced him to try.
Oliveras and Meachum’s first day working together on Operation Armor is a tense one. By the time they finish updating Blythe on their meeting with Teo, Meachum’s mood has not improved. He spent the afternoon nursing his wrath. His feelings of betrayal and heartbreak at being jilted manifests as a little passive-aggressive dig when he loudly announces to Fitz how great it is to be single. Not only was his statement a direct poke at Oliveras, but so was taking home the girl from the bar, that he really had no interest in. Mark proclaiming the morning after “I still got it,” was proof enough that he has been with no one since he made a commitment to build a relationship with Oliveras.
The next day, when cooler heads prevail, Mark apologizes to Amber for his behavior. Meachum tells her that he’s genuinely happy for her and the doctor. They both take a moment and admit to one another that if they let their connection evolve into romance, it could ruin the great working relationship they have.
I don’t think either one of them believe that, and neither do I. But it has the intended effect. It recalibrates their partnership. It allows them to move on, regardless of the feelings they are now choosing to bury.
The first inkling that Mark’s feelings for her are undiminished, is when he stops by Oliveras’ desk to talk. I absolutely believe that he wanted to ask her out for a coffee, a drink, dinner, he didn’t care. He wants to be with her. Before he can even get the words out, he sees her body language tightening, squirming in her seat, becoming uncomfortable, and he knows he’s making a mistake. So, he pivots. He turns the whole exchange into a joke about them joining spirit mother for one of her retreats.
We still have two episodes to go, and if the stars align, a second season, so much possibility still exists for these two. I don’t think Mark is going to be relegated to the back seat for long. When he’s done licking his wounds, he’s going to be a force to contend with. He wants Oliveras in his life and he doesn’t strike me as a man who goes down without a fight.
Amber Oliveras
When Oliveras and Meachum are in the car arguing about their relationship, Julio is superfluous; he doesn’t exist. Everything in this exchange has been reduced to what these two characters are feeling and both of them are hurting. The moment Meachum lashes out Oliveras is stunned into silence. She carries some guilt in this scenario. I don’t think she ever wanted Mark to be in pain, but most of all, she did not want to be the cause of it.
I think she is in love with Mark. I stand by that. She sure isn’t in love with Julio. She’s running.
Let me say one thing and get it out of the way because it is a factor. Julio and Amber have a shared history from their childhood days in Chicago. Nostalgia has a built-in way of pulling at the heartstrings. They had to have spent time in each other’s company in order for a romantic relationship to be initiated, and Julio wanted her in his life. It’s my guess that he pursued that with vigor. And she did not resist. She let it happen.
When we examine the question of why she ended up with Julio, I think the answer is obvious. This isn’t about Julio, it’s about Mark. I think Mark scares her.
Consider for a moment that Oliveras is a recovering addict. Part of what keeps her life ordered, moving forward, and on-the-straight-and-narrow, is her tightly wound control. Julio would never challenge her need to be in control; she will dominate if needs must. And he is everything a woman would want, right?
But things are different with Mark. He is steadfast, strong, reliable and has her back, but I think he makes her feel things that shake her to her core. Mark is fire-cracker red to Julio’s vanilla beige. Mark is excitement, passion, intensity, danger. Julio is order, safety, stability, straight lines.
These two men are polar opposites. The magnitude of what is possible with Mark requires that she loosen the tight control she has on herself. I think she lives in fear of what that might mean for her. She is afraid it will unravel her. And if she becomes the next victim of the man who brought you “broken hearted Melanie,” then can she survive it? Or is it the inevitable trigger that sends her back to her days of addiction, numbing her life and risking everything?
I think she wants Mark in her life. She wants to lean into him, but she is afraid of what he makes her feel, and she is afraid that it all might go south. For now, she’s going to keep running, unless Mark can stop her.
I don’t think this is over. Mark is not the kind of man to lose a woman like her, to a man like Julio, doctor or no doctor.
Pictures
What Didn’t Land for Me
There are some holes, but I think we need to let things play out first. I think the answers we need are coming, but that is why it is so important to get Countdown Season 2.
A season 2 will give us some background on the lead characters we love, and get more details on the rest of the task force. Lots of storytelling to come! Fingers crossed.
Reminder
Next Countdown episode “This is His Signature.” It airs on Prime Video Wednesday August 27/25.
- Please note, all media used in this article are courtesy of Amazon Content Services, Prime Video and/or IMDb unless otherwise stated on photos or video credit slides.
