“Todd” was always a step ahead of everyone on the task force, and that shows in the Countdown season 1 finale. It leaves a life on the line as the season wraps up.
Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for the Countdown season 1 finale.
We finally get to know a little more about “Todd,” but not enough to really hope that the task force can take him down. However, Blythe’s boss finally sees that Blythe was right about the threat to the governor and POTUS, and while the gala isn’t going to be postponed, there are plans in place to keep them protected.
As for now, the task force needs to neutralize the threat. Just as it gets to the end, it looks like they’ve managed it.
‘Todd’ was always ahead of the task force in Countdown
Did we really think that the task force would be able to track down “Todd,” though? One of the big issues is that they’ve not accepted that they’re dealing with someone who is ready for their every move. They keep saying that they’re dealing with someone in law enforcement, and never once have they really taken that seriously.
So, when Shepherd finally finds a name that connects to a truck that has been burned out—leaving “Todd’s” calling card—it looks like they’re able to save the day. Yet, they don’t even think that Oliveras could be in trouble when she doesn’t turn up for work.
Okay, Meachum is worried, but nobody else is. Yet, they all know that “Todd” took photos of Oliveras. They know he’s likely law enforcement. Here they are not even thinking that “Todd” may have tracked her down and abducted her? It doesn’t make sense considering how many smart people are in that room.
When they get to the house of the woman we’ve seen in the flashbacks, we didn’t really think that “Todd” would be there, right? It’s not surprising to find out that it’s his friend who is in the shower. He’s the one being arrested for everyone, but something doesn’t feel right to Meachum, and it shouldn’t. This has all been planned out, and for it to go back to this guy so easily makes it clear that it’s all a setup.
‘Todd’ is in law enforcement after all
What we do learn with the guy’s arrest is that the idea of him being in law enforcement was right. They are both cops of some sort, but the Countdown season 1 finale doesn’t go into many details. It doesn’t need to.
The focus is on Oliveras at the very end of the episode. “Todd” has managed to capture her, using a chemical in her car to paralyze her so that he can take her somewhere else easily. This is all in broad daylight when everyone seems to be leaving for work. How does nobody see this happening? While I’m not overly close to my neighbors, I’d notice something like this.
But here we are, at the end of the episode. Todd has driven Oliveras out to the same field he took the poor dog—who we can assume was shot—and she’s told to run. Maybe someone should remind her of Game of Thrones and tell her to zig-zag, because running in a straight line is never a good idea when you’ve got a hunter ready to shoot!
The Countdown season 1 finale doesn’t wrap up the case, leaving us with the need for a second season to find out what will happen to Oliveras. Will it end up with Meachum finally realizing that something is off and both him and Julio losing her before she could figure out what she really wants?
Other bits and bobs in the Countdown season 1 finale
With so much focus on the ending of the episode, we need to cover a couple of other storylines. The first is the radio talk show host, who spouted all the fringe ideas. Well, it turns out that it’s all an act. He used to give financial advice, and that radio show tanked. We get a real look at the state of the world. Anger sells, as much as we hate it, and can we really blame someone for utilizing that? The problem is it rallies together some of the most dangerous people in the world.
Shepherd got a call from the hospital while the rest of the team went to arrest the wrong “Todd.” Her sister is there after a drug overdose, and I’m not sure I even care about this storyline at all. It feels like it’s been shoehorned in just to give Shepherd a bit more depth after underutilizing her all season.
Countdown is available to stream on Prime Video.
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