“Drew’s dead, and here we are chasing our fucking tales, not one inch closer to finding Volcheck,” Meachum says in Countdown Season 1 Episode 6.
These words summarize everything that has been going on with Countdown, where it feels like the team is doing everything apart from finding Volchek and recovering the fissile material.
The episode is another balanced exploration of the two sides of the story as the task force clings to any minor leads they have.
Meanwhile, Volchek continues his quest to achieve a mysterious plan he has been working on.
The episode begins with him signing documents with an American company, where he purchases something worth approximately $400,000.
It’s unclear what he buys, but given the ensuing conversation with his right-hand man, it will be instrumental in his plan.
Like the task force, Volchek finds himself dealing with his side quests after he’s paid a visit by the Belarusian ambassador.
That forces him to abandon his main plan to deal with the ambassador, who makes it clear that he is very interested in whatever Volcheck is up to.
The Side Quests Continue
This is not beneficial for the show because it exploits the main weakness in the narrative, where nothing feels urgent.
Somehow, everyone is supposed to be working on something huge, but they have all the time in the world to sit and move around Los Angeles.
Speaking of, the task force spends yet another episode doing more of the same inconsequential work.
Left with nothing to do, they circle back to the clue Meachum found in that basement. The name Gallagher was written on a note on the board, and given its placement, Meachum figured it must have been important.
Some digging by Shepherd unearths a connection between a particular individual and Timur Novokov.
And if that sounds ridiculous, that’s because it is. If you dig deep enough, you’ll find a connection between two unrelated people, things, or events. But having nothing else to work with, the team goes after the guy.
The search for Gallagher takes the team to some very unusual places, where they encounter some equally unusual people.
From a parole officer flirting with Oliveras to a nosy neighbor, it’s too many talkative people for anyone to meet on a single day.
The episode focuses a lot on Oliveras and Meachum’s relationship, and I’m just ready to call it now. They’re being paired romantically.
I already have words if that happens, but we reserve judgment until we see the endgame.
More Talking; Less Progress
The duo’s connection is strengthened as they open up about some of the biggest struggles in their lives. Oliveras reveals the first time she took hard drugs and what struggle she has been going through for years.
Meachum reveals that he’s had recurring migraines but refuses to explain to what extent. While I do get that they’re trying to pace the story well, these half-truths and revelations are disappointing.
Every episode now features one of these scenes where they discuss something, but the overall impact is minimal.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team keeps getting sidelined, and they’re further moving away from us.
The only character who feels like they’re being developed is Keyonte, whose ambition enters the room before him.
He is unnecessarily hard on himself as a result of growing up in a police family, and this has led him to develop huge ambitions.
But this ambition can sometimes work against him. As an overachiever, any small hurdle throws him off his game. When the Gallagher lead doesn’t pan out, he nearly loses it.
Everyone has thus far been careful to adhere to the rules when it comes to work relationships. However, Keyonte’s slight misstep doesn’t go unnoticed, and Blythe is quick to get him back in line.
This development spells trouble for the team because someone has been trying to infiltrate their mission, and Valwell might use Keyonte as a mole.
“A Needle or a Bullet” doesn’t do much to get the team closer to completing their mission, but that’s a recurring theme on Countdown.
I’m curious about what the show has in store for the remaining seven episodes, as we can’t keep doing the same thing over and over again.
The final minutes hint at an acceleration of the narrative, at least on Volchek’s side, as he receives his shipment.
It turns out Gallagher was never a person but a company. What they delivered is anyone’s guess.
It was impressive how they made that reveal, further highlighting the team’s ineffectiveness. They’re too focused on bursting doors and knocking heads that they miss the bigger picture.
Over to you, Countdown Fanatics. What did you think of the episode?
What do you think was being delivered by Gallagher trucks?
Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.
Say something in the comments, share if you’re moved to, and keep reading. Independent voices need readers like you.
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