Teeth in the Bone

The episode opens with Customs Agent Robert Darden (Milo Ventimiglia) getting killed

His death gives veteran FBI Agent Nathan Blythe (Eric Dane) an excuse to assemble a special task force. There was an indication that Darden was dirty but there could be more to it.

Maverick detective Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) has worked with Blyth before. He was undercover in a prison but that assignment has been cut short. He also has a tumour.

DEA Agent Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho) is also undercover and she is also a maverick.

They are just two of the members of the task force but Amber really dislikes Mark.

The opener did not have much in the way of a race against clock. The main characters were all stereotypes and it was not that well written.

Blythe tells his newly assembled team to come up with an action plan in an hour. Instead of sitting around and formulating something, Amber tells Mark that she is the friend of the woman he ditched and her sister.

So much for the urgency then!

I really enjoyed being able to really get to know the characters in depth in this first episode, while knowing we still had a few more more episodes to figure out more about why the task force was created.

Also I wasn't expecting the music to be so incredible as well!

By the way can we talk about how great Eric Dane looks in a tailored suit? He sure commands a room!

Each of these characters are badass, badass, badass!

It's what I want & expect from these actors and the writer/creator Derek Haas. The helicopter arrival of Blythe had my heart racing just getting excited to see what unfolds. Filming on the streets of L. A. was also incredible.

The first three episodes of Countdown are a must-see. The series is beautiful and action-packed, but not only that: the cast is spectacular. Jensen gave a brilliant performance, but his co-stars also made these first three episodes intense.

The characters are certainly tough, but they have weaknesses that make them human. They aren't your typical action movie superheroes; you can identify with them and their imperfections.

The case isn't solved in one episode and provides the opportunity to get to know the characters better.

Excellent work by Derek Haas, who didn't disappoint.

A great choice to split the release to give fans time to speculate on what to expect.

Omg the writing is so so bad. And the acting is so so bad. Unbelievable. And now I have to add in a few more words because my review is too short. So okay, I think Jensen Ackles should have turned down this job. Or he should have read the script before he signed the contract.

And my review is still not long enough. So, to sum up, script writing bad bad bad, just awful. Acting, bad all around. And who really cares about directing or lighting, but, it was broad daylight and the guy was still in shadow because they shot the actors face from two foot from the ground with the sun behind him! Director: Fired!

I really wanted to like this show, I truly did. Unfortunately that did not happen. I actually had to force myself to finish the episode. Just so so dry and boring to me. The writing could definitely be better and some of the acting choices definitely leave a lot to be desired. I had such high hopes for Jensen here, but he failed to deliver something different than what he's done before. One could just about guess what Mark is gonna say before he says it. I will say the music choices were awesome. Metallica, heck yes! That's why the two stars. I don't know if I'll continue, but my attention wasn't caught.