Derek Haas Talks Countdown: Story, Season 2 & Why Fans Matter
A screenwriter friend of mine turned me on to a podcast that I listened to immediately. If she knows anything about me at all, she knows how much I love Derek Haas’ work, Countdown and the entire cast of that show.
I have added a link to that podcast at the bottom of the article, if anyone is interested. Don’t be surprised if you hear some overlap regarding questions. When I got the chance to Q & A with Derek Haas, I got a little giddy. My brain goes mushy when that happens.
Kicking off this interview, I had one overarching question in my mind: Will we get a second season of Countdown? The answer to that question is ultimately in the hands of Prime, but one thing that is absolutely certain is that fans play heavily into that equation.
This Wednesday, Prime will air Countdown episode 7 (Nothing Else Helps), and it marks the halfway point of season one. Fans have already fallen head-over-heels in love with the show’s high-stakes action, but even more so with the complex team at its core.
The chemistry between Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) and Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho) has everyone dying to know “will they, or won’t they?” And if that wasn’t exciting enough, the incredible cast of this show has us all asking… What’s going to happen to Mark? Will Amber overcome her drug addiction? Will Valwell’s meddling dismantle all that Blythe (Eric Dane) is trying to do? What new growth will we see for Finau (Uli Latakefu), Bell (Elliot Knight) and Shepherd (Violett Beane)? Is there a mole in our midst? Volchek is becoming more ruthless and dangerous. Will his own countrymen be able to stop him?
My Q & A with Haas to talk about Countdown was a thrill. We got to talk about him, his writing, and so much more. Let’s get into it…
Why He Keeps Coming Back to the Blank Page
Q: You’ve written movies, novels, huge TV franchises, and your latest installment Countdown (thank you by the way—loving it). What keeps you coming back to the blank page? What still excites you about writing?
Derek Haas:
I love telling stories where viewers get as invested in the character’s emotional arcs as they do in the crime cases. I get excited when I know those personal stories are connecting with the audience.
Storytelling in a Streaming World
Q: We know it takes a multitude of people to bring a story like Countdown to life. If you weren’t the writer/showrunner, what other part of filmmaking would you love to do?
Derek Haas:
I would enjoy being a camera operator—though I’d be terrible at it! You have to keep your body still, and that’s just not in the cards for me. I get antsy. But I love how the operators know the story intimately and do this dance with the actors as they work with the director to capture the action. The great ones are amazing technically and artistically.
Derek talking about being a camera operator reminds me of a fantastic scene in Countdown where it all comes together. Performance-Editing-Music-Camera-Action!
Q: What’s something about writing for streaming that you wish more people understood?
Derek Haas:
I don’t ask any more of the audience than to watch and hopefully enjoy the show. We get in trouble when we think too much about all the work that goes into creating a scene or a shot. The audience doesn’t care about the difficulties you overcame to achieve a scene—they only give you credit for what they’re watching. And they should. I’m cool with that.
Going Viral and Getting Emotional
Q: I have to ask about the trailer. Were you or the cast surprised when it hit over 10 million views in just six days?
Derek Haas:
I was really surprised and delighted. I thought our marketing and promotions team did an awesome job, so I’m glad it was rewarded with that many views. And so far, the viewers have turned out!
Q: The emotional tone of Countdown is outstanding. Fans are falling in love with these characters, which ups the tension when the action hits. Can you walk us through your process for developing these personal arcs?
Derek Haas:
I’ve always believed that audiences for crime shows are drawn by the big master plot, but they come back again and again for the personal stories. They’re invested, and they want to be along for that journey. I try to think of ways to put the characters in as much emotional conflict as possible, usually things that audiences can relate to because they’ve lived it too: a health issue, a difficult co-worker, addiction, a needy family member. Then I try to make the audience pull for them to overcome it. Like life, though, they don’t always get to the other side.
Before I get to my next question, I thought this was a good place to share some emotional scenes that really spoke to me as an audience member. Not only is this first one well performed, but this scene is the first heart-to-heart between Meachum and Oliveras and it dispels some of her preconceived notions about him. In episode one when she first saw his personnel file, it said many unflattering things about him and she was eager to believe them, but now, we are finding out why those things were in his file to begin with. The very Sergeant he pissed off for helping a battered woman, is the one who filled out his file and demoted him to traffic duty. Now we know why, and so does Oliveras. This offers her a glimpse of who Mark Meachum really is. He made a promise to help a battered woman. Knowing full well that his commitment to stop the man who hurt her, would end badly for him, he stuck to his principals. Even after he was given a direct order to stand down.
Not only did she learn something about Meachum that is in direct contrast to what she thought she knew, she is now discovering that he has her back. Her history as a DEA agent comes heavily into play here, and she is loath to allow 500 kilos of heroin to hit the streets. For Oliveras, this is a moral issue. Meachum offers her a way out. He makes a commitment to her, that regardless of the consequences, he is willing to put his career on the line in order that their next move, be whatever she needs it to be.
Can she trust him? What she is learning about him could be “all talk.” They don’t know each other very well. But we know what is going on in his personal life. We know what he endured in his last mission with Blythe. We want her to trust him. This is one of those delicious examples of the audience knowing more than the characters on the screen do, that knowledge for us should soften the edges of her ire and make her lean into him in ways that will develop the bond we are all rooting for.
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.
Writing the Roadmap and Leaving Room for Magic
Q: How much of Season one did you have mapped out before filming, and how much changed as the show progressed?
Derek Haas:
I had about 90 percent of it mapped out in advance and left 10 percent for refinements as the actors grooved with their characters.
Q: Fans are already hoping Countdown will move into a second season. Without giving away storylines, what are you excited to explore if the show continues?
Derek Haas:
Can’t jinx that one!
Q: Do you have any particular character arcs you’d love to expand on?
Derek Haas:
I feel like we’re just getting started, and we still have so much more to experience with these characters. I hope to do it for years.
Q: When you started this journey, there was talk about building your own brand of entertainment, similar to how Chicago Fire spun off multiple shows. Do you see Countdown as the first in a family of shows?
Derek Haas:
I try not to think too hard about what the future might hold. It never goes as expected. If you had told me in 2012 that Chicago Fire would still be on the air, I would’ve thought you were absurd.
When Cast Chemistry Changes the Game
Q: Has anything surprised you while watching the actors bring your story to life?
Derek Haas:
The actors bonded so quickly and had such great chemistry—it was like a dream. That’s what you always hope for when you start a collaboration. The plots of episodes didn’t change, but we definitely looked for ways to exploit that camaraderie. I think it shows on screen.
Building Realism Into the Action
Q: How much time is spent on research? For example, I was surprised to see children in episode 2 (Dead Lots of Times) with the cartel, but after doing a little research of my own, I found out that’s true to life.
Derek Haas:
I’ve been writing crime fiction for 30 years. I’ve spent a lot of time with law enforcement, first responders, Federal officers, armed forces, and intelligence officers. Some inspiration comes from years of talking with them, and some comes from technical advisors.
For Countdown, I read books about task forces, especially the Anthrax case, the Portland Christmas Tree bombing, and the creation of modern task forces. Every outline and script went to two technical advisors who gave me notes.
Some people wish task forces solved cases in 24 hours, but the truth is, most cases go on for years. I try to capture a little of that reality while still keeping the show action-packed.
Life on Set and the Golf Course
Q: Hearing about fun stuff on set makes the cast feel more human and relatable. Any stories you can share?
Derek Haas:
We had a Countdown golf tournament, put on by our great head of Craft Services, Phil. It had an amazing turnout, including guest cast along the way. Just about every department was represented. Some had never played golf before but just wanted to hang out with the crew. It was very rewarding that everyone chose to hang out together on an “off” day. Jensen got Uli to come, and now Uli has the golf bug!
Q: Will Countdown release a blooper reel from Season 1?
Derek Haas:
The editors put one together for the wrap party. It has spoilers in it, so it would have to be after the show airs. I’ll talk to Amazon about that!
Q: Do you know of any official Countdown merch fans can buy?
Derek Haas:
I don’t know of any. What do you recommend? What would fans like to purchase?
Q: It was sad we lost Damon. Did he get to take home a piece of the set as a souvenir?
Derek Haas:
That was an emotional day. Our first AD sent Togo off with a very nice speech about how good he was both in the show and on the set. Noah’s hat is on Shepherd’s desk, so he couldn’t take that! I don’t know if Jonathan took anything, but I did take a prop myself. I’ll let you know at the end of the season what it was. It’s pretty kooky.
We miss you Jonathan Togo ❤️
So, About Season Two
Countdown has delivered on its promise with heart-pounding action, complex characters, and a team you can’t help but root for. If fans know anything, they know that with streaming, nothing is guaranteed. Let’s let Prime know how much we want our show to continue.
If you love Countdown, now is the time to rally the forces. No one knows better than this fanbase, how that gets done! Here is our call-to-action. Leave comments on this article letting Prime know what you love about this show and post about your favorite characters and scenes using #CountdownS2.
Oh… and I was curious about Countdown merch. If that interests you too, please say so. I don’t know about you guys but I want a Countdown coffee mug for my desk.
Thank you Prime, for Keeping Fans Well Fed
Countdown Fans have also been treated to exclusive content supplied by Entertainment Weekly (EW).
No disrespect to the original music created for the show, and supplied in some of the exclusive content courtesy of EW, but in this following video edit, I added a romantic Frank Sinatra track in keeping with the “will they or won’t they” vibe of our lead characters Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) and Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho).
Here is the Link to the Podcast.
Enjoy!
Thanks again for writing these articles. I really hope we get a Season 2, I would love some Countdown merchandise!
TRICIA 🥰 You are most welcome and I’m glad you are enjoying them. This show is just too good to not get a Season 2, right? I’m with you on the merch… I would love a Countdown coffee mug! T-shirts (baseball style) and ball caps would be cool too. We’ll have to wait and see. Thanks for commenting Tricia. I appreciate you taking the time. Cheers!
Thank you so much for the very compelling interview and your work for us Countdown fans. I love and enjoy all the cast members and hope to see them in Season 2. Really hope Derek doesn’t kill of more of them because I already feel connected to them. Not gonna lie but especially Mark Meachum‘s death would be an absolute no go for me.
Great chemistry between the actors and characters already is such a special thing.
Bring them all back for a second season Amazon, please.
#CountdownS2
MASCHINA 😍 I know right? I’m falling in love with all these characters. If ANY of them go, we may have to storm the castle! And I noticed that right away – the chemistry is just so good. They make it look easy don’t they? Like every other Countdown fan, I’m gonna keep pushing for a season 2. The show is great! I have to tell you… the real surprise for me is Jessica Camacho. I knew she was good, but OMG… she is so kick-ass in this role. Jensen delivers like always – the man is a machine! Just adore his talent. I can’t wait to see more character development for Finau, Bell and Shepherd. WE NEED A SEASON 2!
Fantastic article! Beautifully written as always! Kudos to the cast for doing such a great job! Huge thank you to Derek Haas for sharing his inside scoop on the one and only Countdown! Great job Gail!
GAYLE 🥰 Love your name 🤣 Thank you so much for the kind words. It really does help to lift the spirits when so often writing in this format is such a one-way communication. I love to hear how people are enjoying the show as much as I love writing about it. And I’m so very grateful to Derek for giving us his time. He really is a sweet and gracious man. Cheers!
Here is me, just posting as me (not as host). I want to express how much I’m enjoying Countdown. Specifically, the storyline is great; it offers up the excitement and tension we were all expecting, but what I am really enjoying is the character development. It is so well done. It’s not enough to simply state “a thing” about a character, but to watch this cast so skillfully breath life into that, to make it authentic and relatable, is remarkable. It is done well enough that the audience is pulled in and they find themselves invested in these characters and this story in a way that feeds from one episode to the next. And we can’t wait for the next. All I can say is I sure hope there is a “next” once we hit Episode 13! Cheers and thanks to all the Countdown family for this great entertainment.
Such a great interview, thanks for posting and thank you Derek Haas for giving us some insights into the show and characters. This show is really so good – I came for Jensen Ackles and stayed for the team! Love all of them and will be heartbroken if something happens to one of them or if one of them turns out to be a traitor or mole. Love the action scenes and Jensen is killing it! Looking forward to see how things develop between Mark and Amber and I hope he opens up to her about the reason for his headaches. Although I think Nathan is suspecting something. I really hope we get a season 2!
MEGAN 🥰 Thank you so much. It was a real pleasure doing this one. Not all articles are this much fun! And I agree with you completely about falling for these characters! It has got to be the strangest feeling when you really invest in a show like this and then spend time on the edge of your seat hoping you don’t lose the characters you have become so invested in. But that is part of the fun isn’t it? I think all of us are holding our breath waiting to see what happens between Mark & Amber. We already lost Damon… no more Derek 🤣
Thank you for this! I’m loving this show. Waiting for every Wednesday is like torture 🤣 but that’s how we did it back in the spn days! Jensen is nailing it. Natural born leader of this incredible cast. Jessica is also blowing me away and I’m really enjoying getting to know Oliveras. Have to mention Uli, doing us Australians proud! A long way from Jonah from Tonga! Praying for season 2. 🙏🏼
BITTY HALPIN 🥰 Thank you so much for taking the time to post, and I’m right there with you on how much the cast is crushing it! This show is so good. Everything we hear about what that set was like, I agree, that’s got Jensen written all over it. The guy should be running a masterclass on how to build kind, nurturing, inclusive, productive, fun sets to work! I would so much love to take a set tour. I’d go all the way to Cali just to get my coffee mug! Cheers!❤️
I just wanted to say that this series gives me something I lost..a slow burn character development,kick ass music cues and incredibly deep performances. The whole cast is amazing in bringing these characters to life and I wait with baited breath for each episode each week. As for Merch a tee shirt would be amazing but also mug,tote bag, keyring etc.
ANNA 😁 I love the action in this show, but like you, its the character development that has me really hooked and coming back for more. Loving it! Your merch idea on totes and key rings. <--- Love that idea! I'll sign up for those too! I'm holding out for a coffee mug with the Countdown logo on one side and Mark Meachum's face on the other side! 😉
Fantastic interview. Derek seems like a great guy and I love how well thought out and detailed his answers are. I’m so invested in the personal stories of Task Force Hurricane. I want to know more about every character. Amazon if you are reading this, please give us s2.
ADDER5741 🥰 Thanks so much for the kind words on the article. And you nailed it! Derek is such a sweet man. I am so very grateful he took the time to answer all my questions. You get a real sense with him, about how much he cares about the cast, the characters and the whole show. You see all those pictures and videos of him beaming on the red-carpet! He just lights up when he talks about his work. YES on getting to know more about all his characters! We need a Season 2, so we can get all that out of Derek’s head and on the screen. Countdown Season 2! I’m chanting now 🤣
Another great article, Gail! You can just feel the love and excitement he and those involved feel for this show! You do such a great job expressing the fans love also! For the powers that be… Announce a Season 2 already! Oh, and coffee mugs! 😄
HEATHER 😃 My sweet friend… Thanks for your kind words. This one was fun! It’s true isn’t it… the cast and crew and Derek himself love this show so much and their commitment, dedication and talent just jumps off the screen. I hope Prime is listening. We want a season 2! 3! 4! 🤣🤣🤣 We got our hooks in and we ain’t letting go! Cheers! ❤️
Love how #Countdown does combo of actions and emotions. Showing how character are sharing parts of themselves on assignment. I would love to see a season 2 of Countdown so we all see more character growth and sl that keeps us wanting more. I do love every episodes. But I keep thinking of of episode where Mark on the phone you can hear the panic and fear but soon as that doorbell rang it’s like a switch he got focus on the job. The fight scene was awesome the end with
You know where the bathroom is? Crack me up. And in comes Amber to help. Also think about when Amber helps Mark by getting him some medicine for his head hurting and she goes
“I need you.” Shows she cares.
This article is awesome with good q&a and can’t wait to read the next one you write.
JOANNA CAMACHO 😍 Thank you friend for all the kinds words. You touch on all the things that really hook us in… Mark’s health spinning out of control, the sweet way Mark and Amber are warming up to one another and beginning to open up. You can see the trust building. And Jensen did a great job – his performance in that bathroom scene (I cover this in my recap/review for EP5 if you want to check that out) but that really hit home didn’t it? And when she said “I need you.” 🥹 We need a season 2 to keep this going! Thanks for all your support on these articles. You guys make writing them a joy! ❤️
Outstanding article Gail, deep insight, how cool to “see inside” a bit with Derek Haas!. I am *loving* COUNTDOWN, the style in which it’s filmed, the storyline, the characters. Very escapist entertainment!! Hope Amazon realizes that and keeps on with Season 2!
JEAN 🥰 I’m with you all the way. I’m loving this show. The excitement is fantastic. But the storylines and the characters are my favorite part. For instance, I watched Reacher. I love Reacher. I binged Reacher. But I didn’t feel connected to it. But with Countdown we have a core team right from the jump that we are all learning about and getting invested in. It feels like a different emotional tone, a different emotional vibration. I’m struggling to describe it but you know what I mean. I sure hope we get a S2 so this journey with this cast can continue! ❤️ Glad you liked the article. Cheers!
Countdown: It’s had me totally hooked since I saw the trailer…
Jensen Ackles put all his spark, charm and skill into it… He knows how to captivate his fans… Jessica Camacho in her character of Amber Oliveras with her rudeness and now that she’s let her guard down to get the medication for Mark Meachum, there’s a very good chemistry between them and the group in general… Eric Dane is the Tough One, although he brings them together and directs them, I like how he takes care of them and puts each one in their place… They all make an incredible group, they shine chapter by chapter… Even the one who plays the bad guy surprises with his intelligence, very strategic like any Russian… I want more chapters, it’s hard, one a week… 🙌 success 🙌
VERONICA 🥰 Hey Veronica, thank you for commenting. I got two comments from you, but this one is in English, so it’s the one I kept. Hope that is okay with you. And yes, I agree with you that Jensen really shines in Countdown, and I love what Jessica Camacho is doing with her character. There is great chemistry between these two ❤️ And yes Eric Dane as Blythe is doing such a good job as their leader! Our villain Borys Volchek is wonderfully played by Bogdan Yasinski. My fingers are crossed that we get a season 2! Cheers!
I’m loving the show. I’m a big Jensen Ackles fan & massive Supernatural fan. I love characters Jensen plays that somewhat resemble Dean Winchester & Mark to me does. So it’s no surprise Mark Meachum is my favourite character in Countdown. I was also excited to see Eric McSteamy Dane, as a fan of Greys Anatomy. I really love the action, the character development & exciting plot. I really hope we get a season 2 of Countdown & we don’t lose Mark any time soon! #CountdownS2
NAKKITA 😁 I’m so glad you are enjoying the show. I’m also a big Jensen fan, as I’m sure you can tell from the site. Eric Dane is a treasure and doing such a great job on Countdown. I’m completely in the “Don’t take Mark from us” camp, so I am with all the other fans, hoping Amazon/Prime order a season 2! Cheers! 🥰