Countdown Episode 9 recap: The beginning of the end might be here

Countdown Episode 9, titled "10-33," opened today with a heavily injured Nathan Blythe, struggling to call for help (after getting stabbed by Volchek). On the other hand, Mark Meachum also has his own struggles with the tumor, but when it comes to the task force, he places everything else before himself.

However, much to our relief, the big boss makes it to safety, but our Belarusian antagonist has already set up his ground. Following one lead after another in Countdown Episode 9, the task force finds themselves amidst a potential nuclear strike at the Vine.

The cliffhanger closing sequence reveals a cold face-off between Volchek and Meachum as the former holds the trigger (ready to go off) in his hand. Follow this article to learn more about Countdown Episode 9.

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Blythe is safe in Countdown Episode 9, but LA does not seem to be

Thanks to Nathan Blythe's grit, he can pick up his car's walkie-talkie and report a "10-33" (the code for emergency assistance) right on time and save himself. Moreover, the fact that Countdown Episode 9 has the same title is to signify that LA is also under a state of emergency.

Something unspeakable will happen anytime soon, and with the clock ticking faster than ever, the task force has the sole responsibility to save the city. Mark, despite his tumor getting worse, rushes along with his team to Dignity Medical, where Blythe was admitted.

Thanks to Oliveras' connections at the hospital (an old friend named Julio was a doctor there), they get to know that Blythe is under surgery at the moment. Thinking of utilizing their time, Mark, Oliveras, and Finau visit the crime scene where they fool the local officers into taking key documents from Iosif Astapov's car (who got murdered by Volchek in Countdown Episode 8).

The dossier retrieved by the team brings them across a new name and lead: Sergei Belyaev. He seemingly had connections to both the Consulate General as well as Volchek (helped him fake his identity and get illegal passports). By courtesy of Detective Shepherd's investigative skills, the task force learns about his operating location, Reseda.

Following the crack in the case, Mark leads a raid in his office in Reseda along with Oliveras and Finau, where our protagonist is once again seen struggling with his brain condition. But his colleagues help him (though Finau was not aware of his whole situation), and they can nab Sergei, the forger.

The cunning double agent does not break easily, even inside the interrogation room. Much to his surprise, as a part of a deal to reduce his federal charges, Sergei agrees to open up about every alias that Volchek has used.

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Countdown Episode 9 hits the emotional note once again with moments of drama

Mark is seen suffering way more than before due to his brain tumor. So, Oliveras steps up and talks to Julio (who is a neuro-oncologist) to help Meachum recover from his apparent terminal illness. Moreover, Oliveras also looks worried that Mark never took a second opinion.

Countdown Episode 9 builds up on the emotional note as we see Mark losing his mind and kicking things away inside the washroom while Oliveras intervenes to calm him down. The two so far have had great on-screen chemistry, and with their bittersweet bond, it just keeps getting better.

On the other hand, Detective Evan Shepherd faces emotional turmoil with her sister Molly calling her again and again. But when comforted by Agent Bell for the good work she is doing (despite it being mostly a desk job), the young officer is seen getting back to her usual self.

While all this happens, Finau, the family man, calls up his wife, Amina, and asks her to get out of LA for security reasons. Amina is persistent about their children attending a school program at The Vine (a place of interest in Countdown Episode 9), but then realizes the gravity of the situation. But when the schoolteacher pleads, Amina is not able to refuse, but who knows she'd be only inviting danger to her kids unknowingly.

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The showdown at The Vine

The task force starts narrowing down the aliases used by Volchek, and one name catches Mark's keen attention: Kestrel. On further digging, it is learned that Kestrel Productions is a registered film company. Consequently, the team gets the address of the Hollywood office, but it leads to a dead end.

As they try to figure out the missing piece of the puzzle, the word "trucks" comes out of Meachum's mouth, and it definitely means something. On the other hand, Nathan Blythe, being his arrogant self, comes out of recovery a day prior and forces himself into the headquarters.

He seems to be hell-bent on ending this once and for all. After getting briefed about the latest developments in the case, Nathan Blythe asks Agent Shepherd to check whether any filming permits have been granted to Kestrel Productions in recent times. And as we see in Countdown Episode 9, the permit date is the present day.

Without wasting a second, the task force rushes out, but Volchek and his associate have already left the two trucks stuffed with nuclear explosives, ready to blow up Los Angeles. Mark and his team reach the crowded spot and luckily can spot the trucks. Detective Bell and Shepherd show much courage to go inside and figure out ways to disarm the weapon before the Bomb Squad arrives.

But as it appears, it is a classic move by Volchek where the whole device is being operated using radio signals from some distance away. On the other hand, Finau goes out of his mind when he sees his daughters at the same location reciting poetry for their school event. He blank-points his gun to clear the area and take his wife and kids to safety.

Mark and Oliveras keep looking around for Volchek or anyone suspicious. It is at this point that we see Mark coming across our Belarusian antagonist from a distance as the latter is seen holding a controlling device in his hand. We had earlier seen in Countdown Episode 9 that the bomb has already been armed, and now it's just a matter of time.

With people running here and there and total chaos in the background, Mark faces off against Volchek, but they are seen standing feet apart from each other. Mark's facial expression shows his inner turmoil and fear while Volchek, with a sly little smile, presses the 'Ignition' button.

Do Agent Shepherd and Bell make it in time to disarm the bomb? Or is doomsday upon us already? It all remains to be seen as the beginning of the end sets in, and Countdown Episode 9 ends with a cliffhanger.

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