Aahana Swrup
In ‘Countdown,’ Agent Blythe and his task force face numerous threats that occupy much of their time and attention. However, Agent Evan Shepherd, a whiz at all things research and tech, consistently finds herself juggling the complications of her professional and personal life. This becomes especially true after her sister, Molly, re-enters her life, bringing with her an onslaught of late-night worries and concerns. It’s evident early on that the two sisters couldn’t be more opposite personalities, with Shepherd maintaining an image of a responsible federal agent while her sister runs wild as a party girl. Still, it’s also clear that despite their differences, the two deeply care for one another. For the same reason, it makes for quite the startling surprise when Shepherd receives an unsettling call from the hospital regarding her sister in episode 13 of season 1. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Shepherd Finds Her Sister in a Coma at the End of Season 1
Molly’s character remains an intriguing addition in season 1 of ‘Countdown.’ Unlike other narrative threads, her introduction in the story seems to have no direct connection to the federal investigations that remain at the center of the story. Instead, she’s solely connected to Evan Shepherd’s narrative, adding an emotional arc to her story. The demanding nature of her job compels the federal agent to dedicate most of her time to her job, seldom allowing herself a moment of respite. For the same reason, the news of her sister’s arrival in town presents an unfavorable development. Unlike Shepherd, her sister, Molly, is known for wild nights and subsequent hungover mornings.
There was once a time in Shepherd’s life when she entertained a similar lifestyle. However, it’s evident that she has left those days behind, something her sister seems incapable of doing. As such, the agent remains worried for Molly’s well-being. Still, when the job calls her away to Washington, DC, she has no qualms about leaving her sister unsupervised. During the time the agent stays away from LA, Molly manages to weasel her way into some considerably troubling circles. Shepherd learns about the same once she returns to the city for the task force, and Bell briefs her about the unfavorable company her sister has started keeping in recent days.
Soon enough, it becomes evident that despite her promises otherwise, Molly has no interest in getting sober and bringing her life back on track. Shepherd learns the same after the other woman spends the entire night out on the town, only to return the next day with a shady man on her tail. Naturally, curiosity gets the better of the agent, and she ends up digging into the strange man’s background. Thus, she discovers that her sister has apparently made friends with criminal Rawlston, whose rap sheet suggests he should very well be behind bars by now. Shortly after this revelation, Shepherd receives news that Molly is currently in a hospital after experiencing a severe overdose. Even though the instance doesn’t kill the woman, it still puts her in a coma, leaving her future uncertain.
The Circumstances Behind Molly’s OD Remain Ambiguous
The end of the season finds Shepherd rushing to be by Molly’s side, distressed to find the latter unresponsive and in a coma. However, while the doubt about the woman’s demise is answered, the questions surrounding the events that led to her current state remain in the air. It’s highly possible that Molly’s predicament may be simply a result of her “live fast, die young” lifestyle. Her character is a well-established party girl who has recently started hanging around members of local drug cartels and criminal gangs. In fact, Rawlston, the man who drops her off at Shepherd’s house earlier in the day, seems to be more than capable of sourcing drugs that could result in an unfortunate overdose.
However, the timing of the entire ordeal, given Shepherd’s current involvement in the investigation into Todd the Sniper, suggests a menacing alternative. So far, the narrative has established the sniper’s conniving personality. He orchestrates multiple events to get the attention of Blythe’s task force and then strings them along for an elaborate vengeful plan. Moreover, he takes things one step further and directly targets one of the agents, Oliveras, putting her life at risk. For the same reason, there’s a possibility that Molly’s overdose was an attack or a distraction meant to swerve Shepherd off her path. If this is true, it could mean there’s an added layer of villainy to the sniper’s yet undisclosed plan. Either way, it seems the nature of Molly’s overdose will only be revealed in the event of a potential new season.
Read More: Countdown Episode 12 Recap: This Is His Signature
