Warning: Includes SPOILERS for Countdown episode 1!
Countdown’sopening sequence features a major actor cameo and a shocking plot twist, prompting immediate questions.Countdownis the latest crime thriller to joinAmazon Prime Video’s TV library, followingthe assembly of a mismatched task force as they investigate a murder and uncover a broader conspiracy, with a “Chernobyl-level event” threatening Los Angeles. The show pulls no punches in its fast-paced, action-packed introduction, setting the tone for the premiere episode, which introduces several characters and a complex, high-stakes situation.
Countdown’scastis led by television veterans Jensen Ackles (Supernatural,The Boys), Jessica Camacho (The Flash), and Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy), with Derek Haas, the creator of theChicagofranchise, running the show. Haas has proven his ability to create massively entertaining law enforcement TV with hundreds of episodes onChicago P.D.and his more recent experience as the showrunner ofFBI: International. The new series is potentially his most daring project yet, venturing into the world of streaming services for a more episodic, sequential series with a single central narrative, butCountdown’sreviewssuggest it will pay off.
HSI Agent Robert Darden Was Killed For Investigating A Mysterious Cartel Shipment
Darden Stood Up Against A Conspiracy Within His Ranks - And Was Killed For It
As mentioned,Countdown’sseason 1 premiere jumps straight into the action asHomeland Security Agent Robert Darden (Milo Ventimiglia) arrives at the Los Angeles port to investigate a curious situation. Darden examines shipment crates as the sun rises, with the camera angles suggesting he’s being watched. He then drives off before parking elsewhere and prepares his gun before heading to an overlook to call his wife while watching an unknown figure on a nearby roof. The ensuing events see a shootout and chase sequence, with Darden eventually being shot dead in the street.
This isCountdown’sinciting incident, establishing the Task Force’s creation immediately after to investigate the murder. However,more critical than the murder itself is the investigation of what Robert Darden was looking into, which is the merchandise that the Cartel was importing into Los Angeles. The natural first instinct would be to assume it was drugs, but the stakes ofCountdownare significantly higher than that, and the plot of season 1 will be uncovering the details.
Another agent, Maurice Spellman (Leith M. Burke), was trying to pin the situation on Darden, giving him up to the cartel and making it appear as though he had been bought out.
It’s not until later in episode 1 that more information is revealed about Darden’s mission and ultimate fate. A conspiracy is unraveled throughout the episode abouta foreign party trying to pay off Department of Homeland Security agents, hoping to avoid the discovery of a massive quantity of missing nuclear materials. Another agent, Maurice Spellman (Leith M. Burke), was trying to pin the situation on Darden, giving him up to the cartel and making it appear as though he had been bought out.
Heroes & This Is Us Star Milo Ventimiglia Cameos As Robert Darden
TV Fans Might Have Noticed This Familiar Face
Milo Ventimiglia is a name that may stand out to TV fans, due to the actor’slong-running roles on shows likeThis is Us,Heroes, andGilmore Girls. He’s a three-time Emmy nominee who also appeared in the filmsRocky BalboaandCreed II. Given thatThis is Usaired on NBC throughout its run, it’s no surprise that Ventimiglia had a relationship withCountdownshowrunner Derek Haas, whoseChicagoshows are among NBC’s most prominent titles, and was willing to lend his talent for a brief appearance in the show’s premiere.
Ventimiglia may just be inCountdownas a cameo appearance, but his role is crucial for the series. Casting a recognizable TV actor for the opening sequence almosttricks the viewer into thinking he’s going to be the lead law enforcement character, when suddenly matters take a turn for the worse, and he’s gunned down in the street. Not only does this establish the show’s mystery and overarching narrative, but it also establishes the potential stakes, where anyone can be killed. No one is safe inCountdown, even the lead characters.
