Aahana Swrup
Prime Video’s ‘Countdown’ finds all its characters protagonists and antagonists alike on different ticking clocks of their own. In episode 6, titled ‘A Needle or a Bullet,’ this becomes more prominent than ever. Meachum’s cancerous condition continues to grow worse with each passing day. However, despite his stubborn decision to keep it under wraps, someone from the team manages to peek, at least a little past his disguise. Even so, the looming threat of Volchek’s elusive plan poses a threat that is too big to allow for any respite. Thus, Blythe and his team remain steadfast in their dogged investigation into the Belarusian’s plans. Meanwhile, Volchek makes some progress, only to be halted in his steps when he catches a whiff of a traitor among his ranks. SPOILERS AHEAD!
The Belarusian Consul General Tracks Down Volchek
At the headquarters of Blythe’s covert task force, Shepard’s snooping brings them a lead on Gallagher, the possible man behind the name Meachun glimpsed during an earlier infiltration mission. Furthermore, the Consulate, apparently tipped off about the breach in their security measures, ensures that no more data can be leaked out of the data stolen from Belarusian Consul General Iosif Astapov. Consequently, the half-baked thread about Timur’s teenage friend, Shawn Gallagher, remains the team’s only hope of finding Volchek. In the meantime, Iosif, who categorically and falsely denied knowing anything about the man, manages to find him without much hassle. He intercepts the Russian fugitive as he’s exiting a promising deal with American businessmen.
During the confrontation at the parking lot, Iosif suggests it would be best for Volchek to return to the Motherland, where the government might even be willing to work through their past hostility toward him. This is because Iosif and his superiors want no added attention and scrutiny from their American allies, especially not for whatever trouble the shady businessman is brewing for the future. Although Volchek tries to keep his cover, it ultimately remains in vain. Thus, the interaction ends with the Consul General giving the other man a deadline to respond to his offer before he would be forced to take more severe routes. Naturally, this invites the ire of the Belarusian terrorist, who gathers his most intimate circle to declare his intentions of delivering the General to his demise.
Meachum Remains Reckless in His Hunt After Gallagher
Gallagher’s past run-ins with the wrong side of law enforcement make it easy to track him down. Even though his address of residence is deserted, a quick research into his prison visitation roster gives Shepard the name of one of his closest acquaintances. From there, one trip to Mid-Wilshire is all it takes to get a more accurate pin on their target’s whereabouts. However, on their way to the destination, a gas run allows Amber a moment to corner Meachum and grill him about his evident medical complications. Given the nature of their partnership, the DEA Agent has taken notice of his recurring headaches more than any of the other team members. Therefore, in an effort to sustain honesty between them, she opens up about her own past, especially how her undercover work led her down a drug-fueled rabbit hole.
In turn, Amber expects Meachum to share his own problems, an expectation that he partially delivers on. Even though he doesn’t tell her the specifics about his cancer diagnosis, he remains truthful about his growing migraines. Since stronger painkillers are impossible without informing the brass, which would confirm a future for him as a desk jockey, the LAPD cop has decided to power through his situation. Nonetheless, in the following few hours, Amber notices her partner’s rash, reckless behavior in ensuring Gallagher’s capture. For the same reason, she decides to slip him a bottle of stronger, unethically sourced pills. Ultimately, Gallagher’s arrest proves to be a dead end once it becomes evident that Timur’s childhood friend is not the same Gallagher mentioned in Volchek’s hideout. Still, the mission isn’t a complete failure since it strengthens the bond between its two best players.
Volchek Punishes the Mole in His Inner Circle
Volchek keeps his mission, still shrouded in mystery, close to himself. Therefore, his efforts cannot afford the damage that a traitor can inflict. For the same reason, the Belarusian remains on guard ever since his unpredictable confrontation with Iosif. Initially, he orders his men to chart the Consul General’s daily routine down to the last detail. Afterward, he establishes a place, the target’s fairly frequented bakery, where they would attack Iosif and teach him a lesson. However, when the time comes, Iosif somehow manages to skip the bakery on his daily routine. Consequently, Volchek misses his chance to terminate his adversary. Yet, as it turns out, this was a part of his plan all along.
Volchek knows that the only way Iosif could have tracked him down to the parking lot that day was if he had an informant to tip him off. For the same reason, he decided to test his inner circle’s loyalty. Of the various places the Consul General frequented, he gave a different location as the point of attack to each of his closest companions. As such, the person with Bakery on his radar was inevitably revealed as the mole, since it was the one play on his daily routine that Iosif skipped. Thus, Volchek finds his mole, Danill, and lays him to rest without any fanfare. As it turns out, no man is truly irreplaceable to him. This unique glimpse into the Belarusian’s narrative also gives us a clue about his connection to the ever-elusive Gallagher. Apparently, the name doesn’t belong to a person but rather a means of transportation, used to bring in special deliveries.
Read More: Countdown Episode 5 Recap: Blurred Edges
