Countdown-Season 1 Best Performance Summary
When Prime Video unveiled its upcoming action-thriller Countdown, it didn’t just mark the launch of a new series, it signaled an audience’s desire for a high-caliber addition to the procedural genre. Getting there would require a powerhouse cast, a pulse-pounding concept and the creative vision of Derek Haas at the helm. Check, check and check!
Fast forward twelve of the thirteen ordered episodes, and here we are, on the verge of the finale. Not only has Countdown delivered on all of it’s promises, but it has also garnered an incredible fanbase unwilling to wave goodbye to what has become a beloved series. We wait, rather impatiently, for the announcement that Countdown Season 2 will be in our future!
Each FoundMyJam.com recap/review article done for Countdown, includes a segment that features the best performance in that episode. Sometimes, more than one. So, in honor of Episode 13, “Your People are in Danger,” to be aired on Wed Sept 3/25 on Prime Video, here is a walk down memory lane.
Episode 01 – Teeth in the Bone
I should only have one pick for the best performance in this episode, but I simply cannot choose between these two remarkable scenes. I think that says a lot about a series when one is spoiled for choice when picking out quality.
First Pick
Not only do both picks demonstrate the kind of performance that sets the bar for what is to follow, it checks a lot of boxes. These performances are memorable for their quality, authenticity and depth, but they also deliver a glimpse into the world of undercover law enforcement, which carries emotional impact. These scenes do not shy away from the dangerous situations our characters find themselves in, which really amps up the drama and excitement.
Jensen Ackles as Mark Meachum, working undercover in Palmdale Correctional facility, gets into a deadly fight in the prison yard. The stakes are as high as they could be, as it’s clear that some of the inmates are intent on killing him. The hand-to-hand combat that ensues is so well done. The camerawork is intense. As an audience member, you feel like you are right there in the heat and the dust. I had a visceral reaction to the violence being played out on the screen. The music is powerful and adds gravity while the sound effects are spot on. The stunt work couldn’t be better. Not one frame of that fight looks artificial.
On Sunday June 29/25 Derek Haas offered to answer 5 fan questions online. When a fan asked how much of the prison fight was Ackles and how much was his stunt double, Derek Haas shared the following:
“Mark’s fight was on the first day of filming. It was 114 degrees. It was probably 85 percent Jensen and 15 percent stunt double. It’s hard to keep Jensen from doing his own fights/stunts.”
Second Pick
My second pick for top performance is Jessica Camacho as Amber Oliveras in her opening scene. Agent Oliveras is being held captive by drug dealers, hung by her wrists in chains. Just as a woman is mopping blood off the floor, Oliveras awakens from being unconscious. It’s clear that some of the blood belongs to Oliveras. You can see she is injured, as she begs the woman for help. Everything about this scene is really intense. Camacho plays this so well that you can not only feel her struggle but also her fear and desperation. She’s injured, is in obvious danger and fears that her captors will come in before she has a chance to free herself, all while she strains to get purchase on an old tin bucket to get her feet under her. She sees a baseball bat on the table and knows exactly what comes next.
We see her sneak up on one drug dealer and smash his head with the bat, rendering him immediately unconscious. Her second captor comes in and eyes the gun sitting on the table. He will have to reach for it which puts him easily in striking range of Oliveras and her bat. She smiles at him, almost daring him to go for it. He does, and he pays for that poor decision as she swings hard and knocks him to the floor. She finds a cell phone and calls for backup and an ambulance at the same time as she inflicts more injury on the man trying to get up from the floor.
Jessica Camacho puts in a stellar performance in this scene. She brought all the feels and what a bad-ass she is. I know I’m repeating myself with that accolade, but I can’t say it enough. I don’t know if she had a stunt double for any of this scene, but hanging by her wrists, even for a very brief time, had to difficult. I remember Derek saying during the press junket for Countdown that Jessica worked really hard to get in tip-top shape for this role and wanted to do as much of her own stunt work as possible.
Everything about this scene was intense including the music. It was jarring but that felt very much on purpose. It made the whole scene more tense.
Episode 02 – Dead Lots of Times
The scene I chose for best performance is when Oliveras and Meachum show up to Javi Lopez’s auto garage. This scene is powerful. The moment Oliveras and Meachum enter the garage, everything about this scene spells danger; the fact that they are conspicuously outnumbered, they are surrounded by ruthless men who belong to the cartel, they would be instantly murdered if their true identity were discovered, even the lighting in the garage is ominous. There is no music playing. There is an undercurrent of menacing sound, but everything about this scene boils down to the dialogue, body language and camera angles. This is all about power and intimidation. Javi is immediately triggered and points his gun center mass on Meachum, accusing him of being a cop. Oliveras is sidelined trying to plead his case, but Javi isn’t buying it. The death glare between Meachum and Javi is scathing and the distilled concentration of emotion in this scene is palpable.
Full marks to Jessica Camacho in this scene, she is fantastic. You can feel Oliveras’ fear and desperation as she defends Meachum’s identity. Meanwhile Jensen Ackles produces something I’ve rarely seen before. His ability to emote on screen is one of his remarkable calling cards as an actor, but this was next level. What I’m referring to is that look.
The death-glare he wore was eerily calm. There was no element of self-defense or self-preservation in it. Spine chilling in its detachment, it was the look of a man who had already made peace with his own death, daring Javi to pull the trigger. It stopped the world around them, freezing everything in place waiting for Javi’s next move. Remarkably, the pinnacle of this scene only lasted about 30 seconds.
In the early 1990’s I read an excellent non-fiction novel by David Simon called Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, and it was the very first time I heard the term “eye-f*cking” and Jensen Ackles brought that back for me. I also know from Ackles’ convention panels over the years, that it was a term frequently used in Supernatural scripts.
This scene has it all; tension, suspense, fear, high-energy, great camera + sound + lighting work, and most of all, wonderful performance.
For full effect, I’m sharing the whole video segment from start to finish, as it perfectly captures Countdown at its exciting “edge-of-your-seat” best. It’s so good in fact, I also used this clip in my “Countdown Needs a Season 2” article.
Episode 03 – Happy Birthday Final
My choice for best performance in this episode is a clear example of what Countdown fans have come to expect; high-stakes drama, dangerous circumstances and unhinged excitement, all of which elevates our love for this show. In order for the task force to eliminate Volchek and his threat, they need to find him. They know he’s Belarusian, so the goal is to tap into the Belarusian underground that exists in LA. To make that happen, Meachum needs to reconnect with a prison inmate he knew while on his last undercover assignment in Palmdale prison.
They can’t put him back in Palmdale, so the next best thing is to fabricate a prison transfer and subsequent escape orchestrated by the task force and led by Meachum.
So much of what went into this scene made it great. It starts with story. With Meachum and Novikov in the van together, tensions are running high. Meachum has to be convincing to reestablish trust. Instead of just delivering the prisoners to some new lockup, the idea of an escape is brilliant. It instantly creates a bond between the two men as they will need to rely on each other to get away. It also opens up the possibility that Novikov will gravitate towards other Belarusians taking Meachum with him. A more target rich environment for Meachum to gather intel that will lead them to Volchek.
Layered on top of a compelling cover story, all the other thematic elements make this scene special. The tight music segments and sound effects, exciting camera work shot from different angles, stunts and weaponry all combined into a truly authentic piece from start to finish. All the actors put in great performances, with a special shout out to Mark Puchinsky who played Timur Novikov.
Episode 04 – Bite ‘Em Down
My choice for best performance in this episode is another example of what Countdown is becoming known for; action and excitement. I seem to be leaning into these as they often incorporate so many thematic elements and typically involve most of the task force characters.
Mikhail agrees to meet his wife in Chinatown. He arrives but one look at her and he knows it’s a setup. A foot chase ensues. Meachum and Oliveras follow Mikhail into the subway. When he fails to board the train he runs to the next subway platform exit. When he gets back up to ground level, he is met by Finau and Bell and then subsequently tackled by Meachum.
The fast-paced music track ramps up the energy in this scene. There is great camera work, especially in the subway, culminating in the tackle stunt at the end of the scene. It all combines with great performances, contributing to an exciting action sequence.
Episode 05 – Blurred Edges
I think the best performance spotlight belongs to Jensen Ackles in his portrayal of a man suffering with the effects of his illness.
Mark Meachum is a man to whom the job means everything. Operation Hurricane only elevates that priority because he knows the cost of failure will be countless lives. So, he keeps hanging on. He pushes his feelings and symptoms aside, keeping them hidden from both his colleagues and Blythe. His symptoms are progressing to the point that keeping them under wraps is proving difficult, so much so that it leaps out of his control entirely and he loses consciousness.
Ackles has often played, and played to perfection, personas who wear, among other things, the mantle of a rebellious and reluctant hero. Sometimes that is overt, often subtle but always tangible, detectable and effortlessly relatable. So, we have Meachum, kicking against the traces, bucking protocol, keeping the facts of his condition from those he works for and works with. And we can see the emotional toll it is taking on him. And thanks to Ackles, we see it all.
We see his fear. He’s looking down the barrel of his own mortality. We see the pain, that is clearly evident. We see the frustration as his condition worsens. We see the emotional toll it is taking on him, as that spills over in this scene where he wells up, obviously reaching the end of his rope. And then the doorbell rings, and he buries it all away again.
Episode 06 – A Needle or a Bullet
This episode had some heavy themes given that Volchek demonstrated his obsession with harming America, his hatred of his birth country, his ruthlessness in getting what he wants and the dangerous levels he is willing to go to take revenge on Iosif Astapov who dared to threaten him and his mission.
When he finds a traitor in his camp, namely Danill, he wastes no time in executing him.
I thought the storyline here was excellent, especially how Volchek used his cunning to expose Danill, an agent of Astapov and the Belarusian government.
Episode 07 – Nothing Else Helps
I just love the deepening bond that is forming between Meachum and Oliveras. I have to say well done to Jensen Ackles and Jessica Camacho for dialing up the realism and authenticity of these interactions. They deliver this relationship in believable and nuanced layers.
When the episode begins, we see Meachum working out. The moment he stops, he’s overcome with pain and collapses on the floor if his garage, losing consciousness. We know that Oliveras is calling him to find out why he isn’t at work yet. The fact that she does this is very telling. They share secrets now. Their relationship has changed from co-workers to something much deeper and she’s worried about him. There is also an element of self-preservation in her concern. The fact that she wants to help him by giving him medication to ease his symptoms, puts her in a vulnerable position. This plays heavily on her mind as well. He finally shows up to work and she can tell he’s been through something.
Meachum goes to the men’s room to splash cold water on his face, and she follows him in there. Her first words are about the drugs, but it becomes clear that she is looking out for him. He tells her that the drugs aren’t really working so she urges him to see his doctor.
The most telling clue regarding their connection happens when Blythe walks in. Oliveras could have easily outed Meachum and forced him to come clean with Blythe regarding his health, but she stands by him and protects his secret. Blythe may suspect that something is going on, but like a good leader, he says nothing.
Jensen Ackles and Jessica Camacho do a fantastic job of capturing Meachum’s and Oliveras’ shared dilemma. You can clearly feel his frustration, but also, he is gently beginning to yield to her, and it is becoming obvious that if anyone can get through to him it will be her.
Episode 08 – The Nail in the Chair
The deepening bond between Mark Meachum and Amber Oliveras is, once again, the focus of this week’s choice for Best Performance.
This episode was highly charged and emotional. It contained the potential for unspeakable tragedy. Given that the truck they thought was a dirty bomb, turns out to be nothing more than a test designed by Volchek to gauge law enforcement response, the team retreat to prepare for what Blythe called, the final push.
When Oliveras pulls up to Meachum’s place to drop him off, they have a moment on his front porch. Meachum offers to take the couch and let her stay at his place, so she doesn’t have to drive all the way back to Eagle Rock when they only have 5 hours. When Oliveras says she needs her bedtime ritual of eye mask and noise machine, Meachum is quick to tell her he can make the soothing white noise she needs to sleep.
The whole atmosphere seems to be alive with the possibility that their relationship is about to take a leap forward from co-workers, partners and friends to something much more personal and tender. His offer sounds very much like a romantic overture and for a brief moment, I was convinced he was going to lean in and kiss her. Perhaps he would have if her next sentence didn’t put him on the back foot; she is not Melinda Bates or her sister Rachael.
He shrugs off her teasing in a good-natured way, but I was left to wonder about this scene. I was trying to figure out Meachum’s motive for the invitation, and Oliveras motive for refusing. It resulted in more questions then answers but either way, the journey is a delicious ride between these two characters.
It is possible that Meachum was simply extending a friendly invitation to save Oliveras from having to waste precious time driving home, but I don’t think so. There was just too much unspoken electricity between these two for his offer to be anything but a potential for more. Perhaps she is trying to figure out his motive too. Is this a genuine first step towards a romance? Meachum looks very much like a man falling in love. But then I wonder, given that he is dying, is this just a desperate yearning to be intimate with someone? And who better to be with then the one woman on the planet who knows his secret. Is it just a need for human touch, compassion, for Mark to hold and be held? We all know that during the most frightening challenges of our lives we seek understanding and connection.
She shuts him down but why? She doesn’t want their incredible partnership to turn into an uncomfortable scenario that looks like “the walk of shame” the morning after when common sense seeps in and they question their actions? Is she afraid to get to close knowing he is dying? Is she afraid that all she will be is another Melinda Bates?
At this point in time, what is most evident is how Jensen Ackles and Jessica Camacho are playing these characters and their sizzling chemistry to absolute perfection.
Countdown fans are hooked and on the edge of their seats to see where this relationship goes. They want these two to get together. They want to see concern, connection, protective undercurrents and juicy romance. And like all high-stake scenarios, it really ups the tension considerably when the intimacy of a shared bond between two characters exposes their vulnerability when danger poses a threat to either one of them.
Episode 09 – 10-33
This week’s episode has two best performances worthy of the spotlight; Eric Dane as Nathan Blythe and Jensen Ackles as Mark Meachum. Let’s start with Eric Dane.
First Pick – Eric Dane
The opening moments of the episode are a masterclass in physical storytelling, anchored by Eric Dane’s gripping portrayal of Blythe in the aftermath of a brutal attack. This scene is as painful to watch as it is powerful. Stabbed and bleeding, Blythe drags himself across the pavement toward his vehicle. Every painstaking movement he makes is laced with desperation and determination. When he finally manages to reach his car radio, it isn’t just an act of self-preservation, it’s a moment that reveals Blythe’s unwavering commitment to his duty in the face of overwhelming odds. Dane conveys both the physical agony and the intense focus of a man unwilling to surrender. The physicality of the moment is raw, agonizing and staunchly visceral, making it one of the most affecting scenes of the season for him.
Second Pick – Jensen Ackles
As Detective Mark Meachum, Jensen Ackles delivers one of his most layered performances to date. In the progression of his illness, we now see the final threading together of his vulnerability, stubborn pride, unspoken fear and the rage he feels as his body betrays him. This episode places Meachum in a relentless spiral of symptoms that have become too big to hide. His vertigo, migraines, blackouts, and unyielding pain have pushed him to the limits of his endurance, and each symptom is eroding his ability to function in the field.
Ackles resists the temptation to overplay these moments; instead, his portrayal is full of subtle cues, but the audience can see him falter, see the tightening of his jaw, the flicker of panic in his eyes, all of which have elevated to him clutching at his head in his attempt to alleviate the pain. Ackles makes the decline we are witnessing authentic, and it comes off the screen as real, devastating and moving for the audience.
His interactions with Oliveras provide an emotional counterbalance. Their partnership is deepening as she shields him from the rest of the team, as she shores up his strength. Ackles fills their shared moments with an undercurrent of gratitude and unspoken trust, allowing viewers to glimpse the emotional toll his illness is taking on both of them. She has become the calm in his storm, his emotional touchstone and the quiet steadfast support that is helping him cope.
Episode 10 – The Muzzle Pile
There are a number of steadfast elements that Derek Haas has maintained throughout Operation Hurricane. Two that bubble to the surface are those I’m going to highlight as Best Performance and Favorite Scene. Each of these elements have become intrinsically woven together.
First Pick
The first one is Mark Meachum’s illness. We have seen it’s progression from the very first episode and watched him suffer through it. He was able to keep it hidden until the resulting symptoms became so pronounced that they caused a cascading array of physical ailments; migraines, vertigo, impaired vision, blackouts and excruciating pain. Only one person knew the full extent of what was happening to him. Through that shared knowledge there stretched a gratitude and trust between them. Oliveras becomes the one person with whom Meachum could lean, no matter how hard he resisted it. She became his emotional touchstone, the calm in his storm. And through it, she became his savior. The person who brought him pain killers. The person who brought him new medicine. The person who kept his secret. The person who found an oncologist who offered a glimmer of hope. The one person who convinces him to not accept his fate but instead, “To rage against the dying of the light,” as the poem goes.
This arc has truly been a journey for the character, his relationship with Oliveras and for the audience. And this scene brings it full circle. We see Meachum show up at the hospital for treatment and the very effort of it delivers such a pang of fear and isolation, that is until he finds his found family of misfits in the waiting room.
Second Pick
The other story element that fans have thoroughly enjoyed (myself included) is the chemistry and deepening bond between our two lead characters, Amber Oliveras and Mark Meachum. What started off as animosity has grown into camaraderie, mutual respect, and friendship. But it’s what simmers underneath that have kept fans glued to their televisions each week waiting for the next episode to drop, and that is the undeniable attraction that draws our characters ever closer.
There is nothing that pulls at the heart strings quite like the very human experiences that focus on love’s sweet yearning, love lost and unrequited love. All of which ebb and flow with an exquisite suffering that comes from stolen glances, carefully calculated distances and the measured restraint that is louder than any declaration could possibly be. Even though there is something in the space between them that has always hummed, I think that the torch Mark carries is heavier than Amber’s. I’m never quite sure if she wants him, or just wants to help him. That being said, they agree to try and “do it right,” once Mark gets beyond his illness.
Episode 11 – Run
First Pick – Chasing TK
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.
Second Pick – Mark and Amber
This was featured as a favorite scene, but I feel it has to be included in this summary. For the duration of season one, Mark and Amber’s relationship has been featured as something that has been elemental to the story. Not only have I shared the video I showcased in Episode 11, but I have also included my editorial segment titled Push, Pull, Pause & Possibility.
Push, Pull, Pause & 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 re-calibrates 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.
Episode 12 – This is His Signature
The best performance, in my opinion, had its groundwork laid out when Meachum, Oliveras, Finau and Bell arrived at the murder scene of Governor Shelby’s press secretary, Hope Miller. Immediately the task force seems to draw negative attention from CHP Officer Tooks (Rico E. Anderson). Later when back at HQ, Bell receives a call from Tooks, asking him to meet with him in private to discuss some information he has. Bell agrees to go. While this is happening, Oliveras reports to Blythe that she feels that Todd is in law enforcement or is working with someone in law enforcement.
Immediately we wonder if Tooks might be someone working with Todd and begin to fear Bell’s safety. Playing off of this is Meachum trying to reach Bell by phone and getting no answer. This scene does a great job of raising tension and igniting the suspicion of the audience.
Everything is pulled in, working in unison; the darkness of Tooks’ place, the eerie music playing and the storyline leading the audience to believe that Bell may be walking into a trap. Nicely done.
Reminder
Next Countdown episode is the Season 1 Finale “Your People Are In Danger.” It airs on Prime Video Wednesday September 3/25.
Check out this preview…
- 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.
