Countdown Season 1 Episode 6 Review: A Needle or a Bullet

On Countdown Season 1 Episode 6, “A Needle or a Bullet,” the team pursues new leads in their relentless hunt for Volchek.

Meanwhile, Volchek is forced to take an impromptu break from his quest to inflict pain on the United States, as Astapov quickly becomes a pressing issue.

Being the head of a rogue team of mercenaries planning to set off a nuclear device, Volchek isn’t in the mindset of taking orders from anyone. So, when Astapov shows up threatening him and telling him to return to Minsk, all sense of rationality flies out the window.

It’s intriguing to witness Volchek’s unexpected shift in focus, as he veers off course and targets someone outside of Meachum and the team for an episode.

This unpredictability not only provides the team with an additional opportunity to uncover Volchek’s plans but also adds a thrilling moment of conflict between the series’ antagonist and his minions.

After being randomly discovered by Astapov, with no previous connection to the area, Volchek is alerted to the possibility of a mole in his group. This discovery prompts him to devise and execute a secret plan, using Astapov to uncover the traitor.

The scenario between Volchek and his men, while seemingly insignificant to the direct storyline, serves as a stark reminder of the danger he poses. It signifies that nobody is safe when they cross paths with him.

Outside of the minuscule details provided in the end with the semi trucks, “A Needle or a Bullet” certainly feels more like a filler episode than anything else.

Under the impression that the name Gallagher belongs to a person, the team spends all hour tracking down who they believe to be Volchek’s accomplice.

It provides noteworthy moments of intense action, featuring Meachum’s daring climb on top of a moving vehicle, his subsequent jump onto another, and his skillful distraction of their target long enough for the team to subdue him.

However, in the end, their actions prove to be a complete waste of time, as Volchek’s accomplice is revealed to be Gallagher Freight, a trucking company.

In an episode where adrenaline is pumping erratically between all parties, it’s the quiet moments between Meachum and Oliveras that stand out.

Oliveras: Get your head better because out in the desert, you were acting like you had a death wish. And I need you.

During a moment of complete transparency, she reveals the origin story of her drug use to Meachum. It’s meant to be a bonding experience between partners, with Oliveras breaking down the exterior defensive walls she has constructed around herself. However, Meachum fails to reciprocate the generosity, as he is not entirely open about his diagnosis.

Rather than being truthful about the tumor actively killing him, Meachum resorts to blaming it all on his migraines. Unaware of his lies, Oliveras accepts the excuse, and instead of taking note and moving on, uses her weight in the drug world to get him prescription pills that work effectively.

As we sit at the halfway point of the season, I’m convinced we will see the two explore the feelings they hold for one another before the finale.

The lingering question moving forward is what exactly Volchek has planned. We know he wants to hit the United States hard, but are his goals to target an area near Los Angeles, or is there a specific someone in his sights, perhaps a high-profile figure or a key government official?

As each week passes, it increasingly feels as if we won’t learn Volchek’s true intentions until the last moment.

Other Thoughts:

• If there’s one thing the series does exceptionally well, it’s getting Jensen Ackles to get his hands dirty and keeping him in dangerous situations.
• What was once genuine excitement for Eric Dane’s character is now slowly giving way to disinterest. It’s time we see him in a different light, outside of being the team’s leader, and are given a glimpse into his personal life.

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Countdown is available to stream on Wednesdays on Prime Video.

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