[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Countdown Season 1 Episodes 1 “Teeth in the Bone,” 2 “Dead Lots of Times,” and 3 “Happy Birthday Final.”]
Prime Video’s new sequence, Countdown, starring Jensen Ackles and Eric Dane, will get off to a stunning begin with one of many process pressure’s personal shot on the finish of the third episode. (The primary three episodes started streaming on premiere day, June 25.)
The unit led by Blythe (Dane) — Meachum (Ackles), Oliveras (Jessica Camacho), Finau (Uli Latukefu), Bell (Elliot Knight), and Shepherd (Violett Beane) — comes collectively following the homicide of a Homeland Safety agent, Darden (performed by Milo Ventimiglia in a shock cameo!). And over the primary three episodes, we study that one of many process pressure has a terminal analysis and one other could be hiding a significant secret, plus there’s that aforementioned stunning ending to Episode 3.
Beneath, creator Derek Haas and stars Jensen Ackles, Eric Dane, Jessica Camacho, Uli Latukefu, Elliot Knight, and Violett Beane break down the primary three episodes’ large moments.
Why give Meachum a mind tumor?
The top of the premiere reveals that Meachum’s horrible, frequent complications are as a result of he has a glioblastoma multiforme, a mind tumor. The danger of surgical procedure or radiation outweighs the advantages. Whereas his physician recommends he simply discover a seaside someplace, take as a lot reduction treatment as he can, and dwell out the time he has left in as a lot consolation as potential, Meachum says, “Want I might, doc.”
Prime Video
Haas explains, “I wished the countdown to be exterior — we’ve acquired this risk [to] Los Angeles — however I additionally wished it to be inner. There’s a clock going actually on his life. Nearly each character truly has some kind of countdown occurring within the present. And so to me, it imbued each scene. Now, each motion sequence has a second stage of hazard because it progresses, because the episodes progress and as his deterioration progresses. I simply thought that was one thing that we hadn’t seen earlier than and could be further thrilling.”
Along with his signs worsening and his choice to not dwell out the time he has left in consolation, has he resigned himself to dying on the job?
“I feel he’s resigned himself to not laying down, not giving up, and successfully he’s acquired a little bit of kamikaze in him,” explains Ackles. “He’s like, pay attention, I’m not simply going to sit down on a seaside and wilt away. He even says, ‘If I’m going to exit, I’m going to exit saving one thing.’ And I feel that it does give him a way of function. It offers him a way of price to have that versus simply crawling in mattress and declining. There’s a battle that exists inside him no matter what his situation is. And he’s going to proceed to battle.”
Is Oliveras a drug addict?
Within the first episode, the query of whether or not or not Oliveras, a DEA agent, is a drug addict; Blythe is instructed of credible stories that she is and she or he discovered find out how to beat the random assessments. Within the second episode, she takes a brick of the medicine they get, and within the third episode, it seems like she’s tempted to make use of as she stares at it in her dwelling.
“What I’ll say is that she’s been within the discipline for a very long time, type of adhering to her personal set of ethical pointers, following her personal ethical compass in an effort to keep alive and survive in conditions wherein she has to persuade those that she belongs in that world, that she’s of that factor. And I feel the fact is typically you’re going to should do issues that go exterior of what you because the individual, the being that you’re, would wish to do in an effort to sustain the id that you simply’re presenting in an effort to keep alive, actually,” says Camacho. “I feel she’s haunted by a number of the issues which have occurred, and I feel they’ve left an enduring mark. And a number of the issues that occurred to regulation enforcement officers should not simple to shake off. They’re very actual. We positively see her grappling with a few of that.”
It doesn’t sound like Blythe is just too apprehensive about her. “Oliveras is an absolute skilled,” says Dane, however provides, “I query the drug addict a part of it. That story factor is there.”
Elizabeth Morris/Prime
Which member of the duty pressure is Blythe most apprehensive about?
There’s Meachum along with his cowboy perspective, and that warning Blythe receives about Oliveras, however he’s not apprehensive about both. Slightly, he’s most involved about Bell. “I journey [him] a little bit bit,” Dane admits.
In the case of Meachum, “I do know he’s only a process grasp and a bulldog,” Dane says. The 2 have historical past, having labored collectively on a process pressure earlier than.
“I act as if I’m calling the pictures and working the performs, and also you’re fairly compliant,” Dane says to Ackles of their characters’ dynamic.
Ackles agrees: “It’s a coach and quarterback type of factor. And I there’s [butting heads], however on the finish of the day, the partnership performs out in what they do in a approach that I feel is of mutual respect for one another. And I feel that that in tandem is simpler than some other type of weapon.”
Why is Drew the one who was shot?
Within the third episode, in the course of the course of the investigation — Meachum has gone undercover as an inmate to get intel from somebody who may be capable of cause them to the individual concentrating on LA — the duty pressure turns into concerned in a shootout. And simply as Finau thinks he’s about to be shot, as a substitute, it’s Drew (Jonathan Togo) who takes a bullet — and it’s not wanting good because the episode ends!
“I wished to remind the viewers who — I really feel like folks have watched lots of tv at this level on this planet, and lots of instances exhibits simply reset. An episode ends, they roll out, there’s hazard, after which the hazard isn’t actual, proper? And particularly just like the third episode, you assume, okay, premiere or finale of a season, that’s when the shock goes to return, or they’re going to attempt to shock me. I would like the viewers on the perimeters of their seats the entire approach via, and [to think] that at any second, this hazard might be actual,” explains Haas.
“And I do wish to shock the viewers. And in order that episode was written deliberately the place there’s kind of this premonition hanging over a special character [Finau] that, oh, we’ve launched his household, it’s his birthday, there’s even a message on his cake that could be prophetic,” he continues. “And then you definitely change it. And to me, surprises are what make for good tv.”
How does Finau actually really feel about Meachum’s undercover actions?
The undercover operation of Episode 3 sees Oliveras and Finau posing as correctional officers transporting Meachum and an inmate — and the duty pressure manufacturing the occasions to permit for his or her “escape.” Within the course of, Meachum fires a shotgun fairly near Finau’s head.
“Look, Meachum is the type of man that will push the boundaries to promote the gag and that’s the place that comes from. It’s one thing that Finau may be very accustomed to with Meachum,” says Latukefu. “There’s a sure level the place Finau tells Oliveras, ‘Hey, why don’t you examine his historical past?’ As a result of off the soar, Meachum comes throughout as a really type of filled with bravado and cavalier and doesn’t actually care about anybody, is filled with jokes. However deep down inside, he’ll do no matter it takes to resolve the issue. And he’s a really standup character. In order that they have a extremely nice historical past of working collectively, which I feel you might have a glimpse into all through the present. However, I imply, that bullet got here very, very shut.”
Is Bell probably the most bold member of the duty pressure?
Whereas Blythe and the DA (Merrick McCartha) conflict from the soar, Bell makes certain to introduce himself to the latter (and point out he knew his father) when he crosses paths. Already in these first episodes, Bell comes throughout as probably the most bold member of the duty pressure, and Knight agrees. Bell’s additionally third-generation Fed and refuses to let anybody name him a legacy rent prefer it’s one thing to be ashamed of.
“I feel he needs to be probably the most bold and he in all probability has probably the most to show probably and is dedicated to that,” he provides. “I feel he needs to make his personal identify for himself in addition to proceed the identify that precedes him within the bureau.”
How does Shepherd really feel about being within the discipline?
Shepherd’s experience is in computer systems, however she’s the one which Blythe has be part of him when he goes to see Darden’s widow within the first episode.
“She loves” the opposite components of the job, in accordance with Beane. “I feel she would like to be out within the discipline. She’s simply such a precious asset behind a pc. However I feel because the present goes on, we’ll see much more completely different sides of Shepherd.”
How torn will Finau be between his job and his household?
The third episode affords a glimpse of Finau at dwelling along with his household and battling agreeing to a dinner reservation along with his work on the case.
We’ll see him torn between his work and his household “fairly a bit” this season, previews Latukefu. “There’s a little bit of stress there the place Finau will get some intel about what’s occurring… However the battle for him is clearly the protection of his household and the approaching risk that’s occurring within the metropolis and the hazard that brings him and his household.”
What did you consider the primary three episodes? Tell us within the feedback part beneath.
Countdown, Wednesdays, Prime Video