“Magic is that no one is safe”

[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for Episode 10 of Countdown.]

The working group in the premium video series Countdown turned out to succeed in high pressure situations. When you bring together a flight / homicide division detective (Jensen Ackles), DEA agent (Jessica Camacho), Specialist in FBI Cyber ​​Crimes (Violett Beane), FBI special agent specializing in terrorist threats (Elliot Knight), and the detective of the division of gangs and narcotics LAPD (Uli Latukefu), all under the direction of the special agent of the FBI Nathan Blythe (Eric Dane), then you have all the tools and expertise necessary to prevent a disaster. After preventing a Chernobyl level disaster in Los Angeles, it is 10 months later and they hunt an expert sniper with a very clear and meticulous plan who likes to leave messages coded behind.

During this interview with Collider, the Co-Stars Latukefu and Knight discussed the chemistry of distribution, their need for a musical episode, their training and their preparation, the family dynamic of finuu, the way Bell enjoyed the opportunity to withdraw Da Valwell, the friendship between Finau and Bell, and working on a series where none of the characters is safe.

The “countdown” distribution had so much fun working together

“It’s a big group of adorable people who are super in what they do.”

Collider: This is a team made up of people who all hide things or hold back each other, and yet they find themselves confidence in each other. After doing this season this season, what did you appreciate the most to be part of this team and understand how your character fits into all of this?

Elliot Knight: We, as people and as an actor, really appreciated and do this work together. It is a large group of adorable people who are excellent in what they do and who are very favorable and welcoming. It’s just the best working environment, which was so charming.

Uli Latukefu: You bind through tragedy and bind in difficult circumstances. This is what happened with the characters, as well as us. We have not crossed any tragedy, but we simply live the experiences through the characters. When you know that your life is at stake and you share this with someone, there is a connective tissue there that is inevitable. On a personal level, we had so much pleasure in making this show. We played chess and sang songs on the set just before, “Action!” And sometimes during: “Action!” Jensen [Ackles]In particular, is a great improviser, and it gave us permission to go.

So what you say is that we need another season so that you can have a musical number?

Knight: We talked about it on the set and we had some different opinions. I would say this, if there was never a musical episode, [Uli] Would crush it. He would not be next season because he would not be making films and gone.

Your characters have the impression of being a little more by the book with regard to rules and procedures. Have you done a specific training or preparation that has really helped to inform this side of your characters for you?

Latukefu: I wanted, but because Finau is in the gang unit, I didn’t think I could take a look. I don’t think it’s on the agenda.

Knight: I looked at fitness training. I was very enthusiastic about the action and the physical element of this work, so I wanted to see what would be the necessary requirements as an agent of the FBI and meet them. However, there is a chance that I decided to forget to meet them closer to work because I did not have enough time. I couldn’t do enough. I’m quite fast, so it was useful.

Uli Latukefu can relate to the family side of his reverse character

“He does what any father would do and put his family first.”

Image via Prime video

Uli, I found your character particularly interesting because he is a father and he finds himself in the position of his family directly threatened by the case he works on. How does this aspect of his life shape him? What does it mean to understand this family dynamic for him?

Latukefu: Luke Finau is very similar to myself. I have my own children. But with regard to the way it influences it with his work, there is an understanding that the risk is greater, and that if I go, it is not only me. My wife ends up with two children to raise alone. So there is this awareness of what is involved, but I don’t think it creates fear in him. I think it refines its mission. When this threat becomes apparent, I think he does what all father would do and put his family first.

It seems that Meachum and Oliveas barely keep their work, but your character becomes a sergeant in episode 10. What does that mean for Finau, who really respects work?

Latukefu: It was really a special shooting of this scene. Finau is to continue the work. He is not looking for promotions. He just wants to do a good job. And so, when it comes, it’s a bit of a surprise, but it is also part of the gang unit for many years. It was a very moving period when he opened the door and his wife was there and the children. Those who count for him the most are able to celebrate with him at that time. It is a really comforting situation.

Elliot, your character is the one who can eliminate Da Valwell in episode 10. What do you think it was for him? Do you think it was difficult for him to do, or something like it gets easier when someone goes against the law and does something wrong?

Knight: I think there was savored. I think he loved this moment. The turmoil to understand what to do and how to do it happened to this point, and that gave Bell a beautiful trip and a conflict to dance with. When this happens to this point, and he is at the bottom of the steps and he sees it, he is there on a mission and he knows. Bell is only determined in his cause And it was just a very beautiful punctuation point in his own conduct trip to obtain justice and provoke this in the world. I think he loved it.

I was happy that he had his moment to tell Da Valwell what he thought of him.

Knight: It was fun to do, especially because you don’t see so much personal life or Bell’s house, or really anything. And so, in terms of the Arc of the season, it was the space for its additional professional energy to go. He is still in the world of work and in the world of the case, but there is personal participation and he can really lead this power.

Because Bell is someone we don’t learn much to know, what do you still want to learn about him? Does he have a secret family life that we don’t know about?

Knight: That’s what I say. I think it’s really interesting and intelligent, and I appreciate the observation that just because you don’t see something or you don’t hear about something, that doesn’t mean that something is not there. Finau has his wife and children at home. I don’t necessarily assume that Bell has no one at home Or what it means. I don’t know what he is doing when he’s not at work. I found very intriguing that, as the scripts arrived, we continued not to know more about Bell’s life outside of that, which makes me even more intrigued as to reason. Why not? What will be there if we can discover this? I want to know. I hope it is something interesting. He’s at home with a pot of noodles, doing nothing.

Latukefu: We have launched that we are in fact brothers in the series.

Knight: Finau has an additional place in the house, and you open it and it’s just me.

Latukefu: I don’t need to be the psychotic.

Knight: I wouldn’t be locked up in the basement. I would live in the house with you, fortunately with your family.

Latukefu: You think Finau is a healthy guy.

Knight: But he has a bell attached to the basement.

On “countdown”, no character is sure with such cases with high issues

“It seemed to be dead.”

This show starts with the murder of a cop, then you have a character like Drew Die early, and Blythe is stabbed. Have you started wondering what could happen to your own character before the end of the season?

Latukefu: I thought it was an envelope. It seemed like I died when I read it, but I did not do it. I was convinced that it was my end.

Knight: I had a moment like that too. I go to a house to talk to someone and it’s very suspect. Everything was saying: “Bell died. Bye.” I said to myself: “Oh, no, I have not yet obtained the next script. What’s going on?” But it looks like the energy of the show. Magic is that no one is safe. I know it’s important for (creator) Derek [Haas] For really feeling by viewers. We understand how a television show works and what we can expect, most of the time. You cannot expect everything that is happening in this show, and it’s by design. We don’t necessarily control that, so who knows? (In Uli) I will be sad to see you go ahead of me.

Latukefu: Damn of shit.

Countdown

Release date

June 25, 2025

Network

Video premium

Showrunner

hare

Directors

Jonathan Brown, Avi Youabian, Lisa Robinson, Chris Grismer, Eric Stoltz, Tess Malone, Nina Lopez-Corrado

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  Jensen Ackles

  Mark Meachum

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  Jessica Camacho

  Ambré olive

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