Countdown Season 1 Episode 13 Review: Your People are in Danger

Risks are taken to new heights for the team on Countdown Season 1 Episode 13, “Your People are in Danger.”

Meachum and Oliveras spend the hour ruthlessly pining over one another, the team finally learns how Todd is staying two steps ahead, and there’s a genuine fear factor as a death is subtly teased throughout.

However, in a season finale, there are some key aspects that viewers are looking for. That includes tying up individual storylines, progressing the story forward in a meaningful manner, and still leaving enough for viewers wanting more.

“Your People are in Danger” certainly leaves viewers anticipating what’s to come. However, it fails to provide a fully fleshed-out finale with substantial answers.

What is Todd’s Endgame?

While the season may consist of thirteen episodes, we’ve only been tracking Todd and his actions for three. Beginning his character arc so late in the season has been detrimental to the series’ pacing and is ultimately a key reason why the finale feels lackluster.

Through intense research and teamwork, Meachum and the team finally figure out that he works for the FBI, which is how he has been able to stay off their radar. Instead, though, of continuing to reveal tidbits of his plan throughout the episode, the series stops unveiling any new information.

What are his goals? We know that he has been using his pull and skills as an FBI agent to get the information he needs, using his buddy’s name to stay under the radar, and seemingly has plans to go after the team one by one.

Keeping the audience in the dark can only go on for so long before they begin to tune out, and it’s not a smart move to maintain that secrecy all for dramatic effect when the series is going on at least a year’s hiatus. And that’s assuming it gets renewed for a second season!

There’s a strong possibility that the series won’t get renewed, and then we’ll be left with more questions than answers. It’s an unfortunate end, but not something that wasn’t anticipated based on the pacing as a whole for the season.

Goodbye, Oliveras?

Have we seen the last of Amber Oliveras? That’s seemingly what the series wants us to believe, as the final moments of the episode end with Todd pointing his sniper rifle at her while she flees into a field.

I, however, am hoping that’s not the case because it wouldn’t be a fitting death for her character in the slightest.

Oliveras is a trained agent who has gone undercover in some of the most dangerous scenarios, but does nothing other than run in a straight line from someone trying to shoot her? It feels like sloppy writing for her not to at least attempt to zig-zag and try to avoid being hit.

Plus, Jensen Ackles and Jessica Camacho have magnificent on-screen chemistry, so it would be a shame for that to go away. They would make for a fun television couple, even if the series hasn’t quite figured out how to utilize that aspect of their characters.

Honestly, it’s confusing as to what we would even call their relationship if it did happen because they don’t fit the typical tropes. It currently plays out as a weird love triangle that’s not really a love triangle because nobody is actively fighting for one another.

Unnecessary Character Placement

As much as I love how the series tries to provide meaningful storylines for other characters besides Meachum and Oliveras, Molly’s presence in this outing isn’t needed.

Instead of trying to juggle her drug addiction storyline with everything else, it should have come to an end with Countdown Season 1 Episode 12, “This is His Signature.”

I could understand if the series wanted to continue the storyline in the next season, but only utilizing Molly’s character for mere moments out of the hour to provide additional drama feels ill-placed. Enough is going on with Todd that he should be the sole focus.

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As a whole, “Your People are in Danger” fails to deliver a noteworthy conclusion to what was becoming a fun, fast-paced thriller of a season before an unnecessary time jump and plot switch-up.

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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 Season 1 is available to stream on Prime Video.

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