Countdown Season 1 Episode 4 Review: Bite ‘Em Down

A key death lights a raging fire underneath Blythe and the team on Countdown Season 1 Episode 4, “Bite ‘Em Down.”

Picking up where Countdown Season 1 Episode 3, “Happy Birthday Final,” ended, the team rushes Damon to the hospital in an attempt to save his life. However, as was expected, Damon died in combat.

Throughout the 40-minute episode, the team uses Damon’s loss as fuel to make new strides in their case.

Unlike the first few outings of the series, “Bite ‘Em Down” is centered more heavily on the emotional aspects and the toll of losing a loved one, even if a co-worker you’ve known for a mere few weeks.

As they search for new clues, Meachum recalls an essential name that brings them one step closer to closing in on Volchek. Using whoever he sees fit as a pawn in his game, Volchek enlists the help of Mikhail Durko, a restaurant owner who allowed Volchek to use his business as a base of operations.

Despite claiming not to know the extent of Volcheks plans, Durko is adamant about keeping quiet during interrogation. That sentiment reigning true even with an angry Meachum holding him by the throat, demanding answers.

It’s Shepherd’s resemblance to Durko’s secret daughter that ultimately gives the team the upper hand. Rather than staying behind the scenes, Shepherd takes the initiative, interrogating Durko herself.

Shepherd uses the vulnerability of his daughter, who has no idea what her father has gotten himself into. Rather than continuing to think only of himself, he finally caves, giving up Volchek’s name at the request of protection for his daughter.

Not only is Shepherd’s interrogation a key moment of the episode and fun character progression, but it also provides Violett Beane the opportunity to shine.

As her character paints a gruesome picture of what’s to come for Durko’s daughter, Beane brings another side of Shepherd to life with her intensity, emotional depth, and captivating energy, forcing the audience not to look away from their screen.

With characters that aren’t necessarily knee-deep in the hand-to-hand combat each week, it’s hard sometimes to create those instances where an actor gets ample opportunity to showcase their range. Nonetheless, Countdown exceeds in that venture with “Bite ‘Em Down.”

Unfortunately for Blythe and the rest of the team, Durko’s cooperation never guaranteed a capture of Volchek. In the typical format of our heroin’s underestimating the antagonist, their efforts to arrest Volchek are thwarted when they pull the trigger on their sting too early, not realizing a decoy was sent to meet Durko.

Despite their best efforts not getting the results they’d like, the episode ends not with a defeated feeling but with a motivating speech. Cora, Damon’s wife, makes a quick appearance, thanking the team for their service and reminding them of their goal.

Cora: I wanted to look each of you in the eye and tell you that what Damon wanted, what I want, is for you to finish what he started. Please don’t look back at what he sacrificed and think, “I could’ve done more. I could’ve tried harder. I could’ve stopped it from happening.” Because Damon never let anything get in his way when he was trying to keep this country safe.

Damon was a patriot who loved his country wholeheartedly, meaning he’d want nothing more than for them to catch the bad guy.

Grief is a complex emotion to navigate, and it’s likely never fully to subside. That’s why those instances of gratification and validation are critical and much-needed. It’s a reminder that even during the hard times, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

While there are a few issues with pacing and the series’ attempts to reveal the layers of these characters, the story itself is intriguing enough to keep readers coming back.

Other Thoughts:

• It’s likely only me, but I’m so sick of Covid being mentioned in brand-new series premiering after the pandemic. Rather than feeling authentic or relatable, it often comes across as a quick mention to ensure the audience knows the timeline is set in the present day. There are plenty of other ways to achieve that goal.
• Meachum likes to keep a close eye on those around him, meaning it’s only a matter of time before he realizes Oliveras has an issue with drugs despite being a DEA agent.

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Countdown is available to stream on Wednesdays on Prime Video. 

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