Countdown Season 1 Episode 8 Review: The Nail In the Chair

My biggest problem with Countdown is how a lot seems to be happening, but at the same time, nothing is happening.

At this rate, I’ve given up trying to anticipate what I want from an episode and will be enjoying the ride.

The story is one of the messiest and mediocre I’ve seen in a long time, but the technical aspects are great. The format works like the formula of a joke at a stand-up show: setups and punchlines. And that’s enough for now.

Countdown Season 1 Episode 8 does nothing different from its predecessors. We still have our team that continues their hunt for Volcheck, but in a laissez-faire manner. For some reason, it feels like they are all in the same five-mile radius, yet Volcheck slips through.

If this team is given another season, they need to be retrained by their respective agencies, as this is no way to conduct this kind of work. And maybe it’s because network procedurals have spoiled me.

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With shows like FBI, you know exactly what you want and what you’re going to get. The case is introduced at the beginning of the episode, and by the end, resolution is achieved.

This makes it emotionally satisfying to sit through it for an hour, but Countdown robs us of this payoff because it goes on and on and on … you get the idea.

This episode has some good treats if we ignore the general story and the deafening music that scared the living hell out of me at some point.

Volcheck’s Depravity Continues

I’m unsure what Volcheck can do to scare me, given his latest stunt. The sight of a charred human body makes my skin crawl, whether it happened from a fire or being blown up.

In an ideal situation, let’s not kill anyone, okay? But if it will happen, why not do it in the least painful way possible? I hope that those Belarusians passed quickly because that’s a painful way to die slowly.

Here comes the irony: I hope Volcheck dies a slow, painful death. That’s the only way all the suffering he’s caused by blowing up people can be justified. Seriously, what’s with this guy’s obsession with turning humans into smitherins?

So far, he’s blown up at least five people, and that’s five too many.

The latest attack from Volcheck once again finds the team uncovering more about their nemesis. They learn that he has made enemies and he’s operating as a lone wolf, contrary to what they thought.

Whenever I watch a new show, the question of its longevity comes to mind. I thought tying Volcheck to an international conspiracy would make for a more gripping narrative past the first season.

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But given everything I’m seeing about Countdown, I doubt Season 2 is in the cards.

Making him a lone wolf robs the story of an opportunity to expand and possibly go international. However, I shouldn’t be surprised. Countdown loves LA, and I doubt it will leave the city in potential future seasons.

I may be wrong, but what’s the reason behind Volcheck trying to blow something up?

Indeed, he doesn’t need a reason other than to cause terror, but so far, we know he doesn’t blow things up for fun. The show hasn’t done a good job explaining his qualms with the target.

We get closer in this episode, yet I don’t feel totally sold. Who stole his company’s money? Who tried to play dirty? Who killed his wife by blowing her up? Who is responsible for his brother’s death? If anything, Volcheck should blow himself up, and that would solve everything.

Circling Back to Our Team

The search continues when Meachum brings new evidence to the team.

I’ve been trying very hard to like Meachum because I know how difficult it is to watch and review a show where someone dislikes the lead, whether justifiably so or due to a misunderstanding.

But for the life of me, I dislike characters who pretend to be cowboys, especially when working as a team. It’s not cute when Bode from Fire Country does it, and it’s not cute when Meachum does it.

Blythe might have the charisma of a dried-up fig tree, but he knows how to keep his team in line or motivated, and I love him for it. It was so gratifying to hear him calling out Meachum when he wanted to play hero on a scene with potentially explosive material.

For a guy on death’s door, Meachum sure is annoying.

It thus begs the question: why can’t Oliveras see it? She is smitten with him, and the sexual tension is off the charts. Wanna crash on my couch? Oh my god, just kiss already; it doesn’t have to be that complicated.

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However, be aware that engaging in intimate relationships can ruin everything, especially among coworkers. I dislike it when shows pair coworkers romantically, as it’s lazy at best.

Anyway, Meachum is dying, so it doesn’t really matter at this point, now does it?

Among the charms of Countdown is its ability to build suspense, and the scene at the federal building was one such instance.

I’m all for heroes, but there are some jobs that I would never sign up for — for example, Jerry’s.

An unscheduled phone call gives me anxiety, so a truck that could go boom at any moment would make me pass out. It was a bit anticlimactic when the truck was empty, but I’ve gotten used to it now.

“The Nail in the Seat” is typical of Countdown; fun to watch, but not particularly stimulating narratively.

It ends on a gripping cliffhanger, another thing the show is good at. Is Blythe dead?

Let’s see what the next has to offer.

Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.
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