Countdown Season 1, Episode 5 Review: I'm Really Starting To Fear For Jensen Ackles' Mark Meachum As His Disease Worsens

Warning! This review contains SPOILERS for Countdown season 1, episode 5.Countdown’s new episode is a step up from last week’s. While I did not think the previous hour was bad, it certainly did not live up to the show’s three-episode premiere in terms of action and reveals. I’m glad to say that episode 5 puts the show back on track in that regard, as the new hour explores a key character.

That would be the elusive Volchek, who managed to escape the trap set up by the team at the end ofCountdownepisode 4. Since it was so early in the season, it was always clear that Volchek would not be captured just yet. To my surprise, episode 5 once again touches on that possibility, but does so in the past.

I’m enjoying the show’s flashbacks, as they allow us to slowly piece together how Volchek turned into the calculating villain he is in the present day. As for the task force, episode 5 continues to develop Jensen Ackles' Mark Meachum. As the lead, he is the one with the biggest depth so far, and we learn more about Meachum this week.

That said, it is high timeCountdownstarted focusing more on the ensemble cast. Sure, Ackles' Meachum is the main player of the show, but the series' true strength comes from the moments the characters really start to bond and work as a team. More depth to the other players is needed to make the most of it.

Volchek’s Backstory Includes Another Major Death

Episode 5 Shows How The Villain Turned Into The Evil Character We Have Known

Volchek’s backstory was the main event of episode 5. We learn about how he had a wife and tried to secure a deal by any means necessary. With his wife, Volchek seemed much lighter than he is in the present, and that intrigued me. By the end of the hour, the reason he changed so much would be made clear.

It lets us know exactly what kind of man Volchek really is.

I expected many things from Volchek going into the episode. However,I did not anticipate thatCountdownwould reveal that he had killed his wife to fake his death. He then used a body double as the plane exploded and before he was arrested for embezzlement. It lets us know exactly what kind of man Volchek really is.

It makes him feel even more dangerous in the present. That backstory, along with the fact that Volchek was searching for Meachum’s real identity, made for an intense episode, even if not exactly action-packed. I was glad to know that Shepherd had protected the team’s identities as soon as she joined the task force — a smart move by the show.

One of the elements I liked in episode 5 is how the team and Volchek are simultaneously investigating one another. While the villain seemed to have the upper hand in previous episodes, the task force now has his real identity, while Volchek hit a dead end with Meachum. I’m interested in how that dynamic evolves in the next episodes.

Mark Meachum’s Disease Starts To Get Worse

The Task Force Comes Together To Steal Vital Intel On Volchek

While the Volchek story was the most interesting part ofCountdownepisode 5, the task force had to get answers that the Belarusian consulate was hiding. As such, they had to infiltrate a party and get them by force. I thought it was an interesting set piece that allowed us to see the team working together, and it was quite exciting.

I have to say that I’m still somewhat mixed on the shaky cam being used in action scenes.

I need more of that. The action came from Ackles' Meachum, who had to fight a couple of security guards so that the plan could go smoothly. I have to say that I’m still somewhat mixed on the shaky cam being used in action scenes. While it adds a sense of urgency, it’s hard to focus on what is going on.

Still, the action was effective, and the team got what it needed to, later identifying Volchek’s real name and past. Speaking about the latter, I enjoyed howCountdowngave us more information about Meachum’s backstory. So far, the two characters with the most depth are him and Jessica Camacho’s Amber Oliveras. Their conversations have been a highlight of the show.

It explains a lot about why Ackles' character is so reckless despite being really good at his job.

It is precisely through one of them that we learn about how Meachum was a “desert rat” and how his dad forced him into a military career to correct his behavior. It explains a lot about why Ackles' character is so reckless despite being really good at his job. As for Oliveras, Meachum pressed her about whether she was using drugs.

It was nice to take a peak behind the curtain as she opened up about how a gun to the head and cocaine can go hand in hand. It seems clear that she still has to work through issues from her past, and with Meachum’s headaches getting worse — he even fell down the stairs — they could help each other if they opened up. Hopefully, that is where their relationship is headed inCountdown’s future episodes.

Finally, I was surprised by how Blythe managed to seemingly get Valwell out of the way by calling in an old friend with the power to do it. Where that particular thread could lead the show remains quite interesting.