Countdown Season 1 Episode 9 Review: 10-33

The playing field is flipped upside down on Countdown Season 1 Episode 9, “10-33,” when Volchek conducts one of his final moves.

Countdown continues to get more intriguing and exciting with each passing week, and it feels like it can’t get much better than this recent outing. From beginning to end, it’s thrilling, informative, and provides the audience with a jaw-dropping moment in the final moments.

“10-33” has minimal to no issues with managing everything happening in the story. It allows for adequate time spent with Finau and his family, delves a little deeper into Oliveras’ past, and illustrates how Meachum’s sanity deteriorates as his migraines worsen.

All of that while maintaining a focus on Volchek and the new developments in his plan.

Retribution and Self-Sacrifice

After spending the entire season up to this point trying to uncover the intentions of Volchek’s actions, we finally know his end goal.

His plan to detonate the bombs and allow for the country of Belarus to take the downfall isn’t something far-fetched. After being disowned by his home country and having every opportunity for growth stifled in America, it makes sense that his goal is to throw Belarus under the bus.

Volchek: We are men discarded by our homeland, stepped on by America. And now, Los Angeles will be synonymous with Hiroshima and Chernobyl. And our country will be condemned, shamed throughout the world. But the two of us? Our names will be remembered forever. The last image I would like to see is destruction, and the last sounds I would like to hear are the cries of the damned.” 

The lingering question now is what will happen once Volchek realizes his plan isn’t unfolding as he intends. Instead of vacating the area to get a healthy distance away from the blast radius, he instead opts for reveling in the chaos surrounding him.

It’s a decision he’ll likely come to regret, as just moments before the credits begin to roll, Meachum and he make direct eye contact. And even without the two exchanging any words, their acknowledgment of one another is excitement enough to keep you waiting for more.

The series teases an explosive ending, but it’s not likely that Volchek will succeed in triggering the bomb remotely. After all, with four episodes remaining, we can’t have both protagonists and antagonist blown to pieces.

Unraveling Minute by Minute

With Meachum’s terminal cancer progressing rapidly, he’s going downhill at a staggering rate. His migraines are becoming more and more prominent, his ability to focus is now a growing chore, and he is literally passing out on the job.

Meachum’s saving grace is the simple fact that Finau is near him when he loses consciousness. It’s an alarming moment, prompting me to wonder why nobody else on the team is pressing Meachum harder for answers.

In a routine work setting, it might be normal to avoid confrontation or asking questions that could cause tension amongst staff. But this isn’t a typical job.

A single bad day for Meachum can be the defining moment that results in the team never making it home alive. His actions affect not only him but the entire city of Los Angeles.

Even with the potential to be sidelined, Meachum needs to be transparent with Blythe and let him know about his struggles. The silence could end in one of his teammates’ deaths.

Family Over Everything

One of my favorite moments of the hour is Finau finding his daughters at the poetry reading and immediately locking in on getting them to safety. Not only does it indicate the type of man he is, but it also hones in on the importance of family.

My only issue with the dynamics of Finau and Amina’s interactions is the frustration with their communication skills.

Being in law enforcement is no easy task. Communication is vital when a loved one works in deadly situations. What makes it so irritating is that Amina can’t read between the lines of what Finau is telling her.

Without coming outright and providing exact details, he is stern in his approach, cutting Amina off and suggesting once again that she and the girls should get out of town.

At first, it seems as if Amina can read through the lines and understand the shift in his tone. However, rather than listening, she opts for joining her girls on their school field trip instead.

It’s a decision that feels forced and only implemented to provide a hero moment for Finau. One of my grievances with the situation is the missed opportunity to highlight the unity the two hold.

Finau has been with the LAPD Gang and Narcotics division for nearly two decades, so portraying Amina as a clueless wife feels off track. Over the years, they must have had tough talks about how serious his job is and how it can bleed into his personal life.

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Stray Thoughts:

• Could we be seeing the beginnings of a potential relationship between Shepherd and Bell? The two have been giving slight inklings toward the notion recently, but Bell’s actions on this episode take it up a notch.
• Another episode without anything noteworthy from Eric Dane. I’m slowly giving up hope of getting anything from Blythe other than him barking orders at others.
• As much as I love learning more about Oliveras, I’m not a huge fan of love triangles and hope Julio doesn’t become a potential love interest for her. I need her and Meachum to admit they have feelings for one another before the end of the season.

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What did you think of this episode of Countdown? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!

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Countdown is available to stream on Wednesdays on Prime Video.

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