Aahana Swrup
In Prime Video’s ‘Countdown,’ the new national threat presented by the mysterious sniper continues to grow dangerously. Previously, Blythe and his team unraveled crucial evidence that might just help them decode their target’s cryptic manifesto. However, the ground-breaking revelation is overshadowed by the realization that the task force is simply following intentional breadcrumbs that their sniper has left behind. Consequently, when episode 12, titled ‘This Is His Signature,’ brings the assassination of someone close to Governor Shelby, the air surrounding the case becomes even more tense. Consequently, when a thread brings Meachum and the other agents to a promising lead, the team has no choice but to walk into potentially treacherous waters. SPOILERS AHEAD!
An Assassination Takes Place at a Gas Station
The task force’s previous efforts brought them the cipher needed to decode at least parts of the manifesto belonging to the sniper, nicknamed “Todd.” However, while the team tries to crack the written code, a different development takes place elsewhere. In Kern County, Hope, Governor Shelby’s press secretary stops at a gas station on her way to an important press conference. While she loads up on gas, a hidden enemy, hidden in the woods nearby, shoots her, leading to her death on the spot. In the aftermath, Meachum, Oliveras, Bell, and Finau arrive on the scene. Simultaneously, Blythe and Fitz head on over to the victim, Hope’s office, to get an idea of a possible motive.
While the latter garner relatively little from their visit, Meachum and the others deduce that the elusive sniper is behind the kill, given the nature of the crime scene. Even though the team fortunately manages to get their hands on CCTV footage, the low-quality recording gives no real leads about the perpetrator. Intriguingly enough, a different avenue is opened to them. The footage, which shows the killer checking up on the victim after the kill, showcases him tampering with the car. Thus, the team realizes the sniper must have taken something out of the vehicle, compelling them to evaluate a new angle.
Special Agent Blythe Finds Himself in Hot Water
Once Blythe and Fitz realize Hope’s office in Kern County is a dead end, they head out ot Sacremento, where they’re also booked for a meeting with the Governor. During the meeting, the former makes his feelings clear regarding Shelby’s upcoming fundraiser event, which will be attended by the President himself. Blythe thinks the event is too dangerous with such a skilled sniper on the loose. For the same reason, he suggests the event be cancelled. Nonetheless, things aren’t as simple as they seem. The fundraiser is set to be a launching pad for the Governor, who is hoping to get a direct endorsement from the President. Additionally, there are other angles to take into consideration, particularly the cost of determining that the President isn’t safe in his own country.
As a result, once Blythe is back in his home turf, he receives a jarring visit from his superior. The latter makes it clear that the special agents’ attempts to control matters of such national importance aren’t appreciated. Thus, Blythe has to now deal with the brass alongside an impossible investigation. Luckily, his agents make some progress on the latter. Bell receives a tip from a local cop, who claims to have some information about the shooting, which he is only willing to divulge in his own home. On the other hand, Oliveras deduces that whoever the sniper is, he must have either been a law enforcement agent or was working with one. Although this creates some tension for Bell’s home visit, things eventually work out. In the end, the tip helps the team realize that the sniper had put something in Hope’s car instead of putting something in. Once the note is extracted, a new opportunity opens up.
The Task Force Pays a Visit to Raising Bane
From the crime scene, Finau extracts a small note containing the sniper’s coded signature. However, the note seems to be scribbled on the back of a torn-off flyer. Thanks to some advanced technology, Shepherd and Fitz are able to discover that the flyer belongs to a biker bar called Raising Bane. From there, Oliveras uses her connections to get an in at the bar for her and Bell, who are undercover drug suppliers. Nonetheless, the mission doesn’t go as smoothly as expected. Off-the-bat, the bar owners suspect the agents of being law enforcement, which creates some dangerous friction. Furthermore, Oliveras makes a startling discovery about the sniper.
As the owner reveals, a strange man had left behind an envelope at the bar with the instructions to hand it over to any agents who came asking for him. This suggests that the target has somehow been one step ahead of the team this whole time. Additionally, Meachum also realizes that a hooded figure is taking photos of Oliveras and Bell in the crowded bar. Thus, he realizes that the entire thing has been a setup orchestrated to identify the agents connected to the case. Ultimately, the mission devolves into a chaotic shootout and a chase, which ends with the sniper escaping. As a result, the task force is once again left behind with the knowledge that they’re simply playing over a game their opponent has already rigged.
Read More: Where is Countdown Filmed? Shooting Locations of the Prime Video Show
