‘Countdown’ Creator Derek Haas Says Meachum and Oliveras Shippers Will Be Satisfied With “Exciting” Final 3 Episodes: “Those Two Actors, They’re Magic”
Countdown creator Derek Haas knows that the fans are living for the relationship between Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) and Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho).
At the end of Episode 10, Oliveras has left the special ops team founded by Nathan Blythe (Eric Dane) after the group infiltrated a terrorist plot that would have wiped out half of Los Angeles. While most shows would have ended the season at that point, Haas’ Prime Video original is continuing on with three more episodes, putting the remaining team members — including Evan Shepherd (Violett Beane), Keyonte Bell (Elliott Knight), and Luke Finau (Uli Latukefu) — on another case and testing their limits.
🎬 Get Free Netflix Logins
Claim your free working Netflix accounts for streaming in HD! Limited slots available for active users only.
- No subscription required
- Works on mobile, PC & smart TV
- Updated login details daily
While the series creator remained tight-lipped on exact details of the final three episodes, he did tell DECIDER that there is still a lot ahead for both the team and for Oliveras and Meachum, who fans have latched onto as a ship. One viewer on TikTok even posted a fancam of the pair writing, “they’re so fine, I need them both.”
Haas knows a Meachiveras (or should we call them Olichum?!) relationship is what the fans want, and he’s promising — or at the very least, teasing — that the fans will be served up a meal when it comes to these two fan-favorite characters.
“The final three, it’s going to be very exciting,” Haas explained. “I will say that at the end of 10, Oliveras has not rejoined the team, but you are going to see more Meachum-Oliveras scenes. Because those two actors, they’re magic and chemistry was so awesome that it was really fun to watch it come to life and so you’re gonna see more of that.”
As for whether or not he has plans for a Season 2, what TV shows and movies inspired him in the creation of Countdown, and why only Ackles could play the John McClane-esque character, keep reading for DECIDER’s full interview.
DECIDER: I have to start with a hardball, we’ve only seen the first 10 episodes. What’s in the finale three, Derek? Why can’t we watch?
DEREK HAAS: The final three, it’s going to be very exciting. I will say that at the end of 10, Oliveras has not rejoined the team, but you are going to see more Meacham-Oliveras scenes because those two actors, they’re magic and chemistry was so awesome that it was really fun to watch it come to life and so you’re gonna see more of that.
I talked to Jensen last week for a little bit and he talked about coming on to this project and how you guys had gone out to lunch and you kind of talked through it. What was it about him that made you so sure he would be perfect for the role?
Well, I wanted to write a show that was more upbeat, fun, even though the danger is real and the stakes are humongous. I still think if you talk to law enforcement people, most of them do love their jobs and have a bounce in their step. And too often, I think television right now in this genre, it’s very cynical and it’s a very dark. Well, the great thing if you meet Jensen, as you did, he’s just got such a sense of humor and such an outgoing personality that within, you know, a minute of hanging out with him, you want to spend the next 30 years with him. So to me, it was the perfect sort of throwback to the Die Hards and Lethal Weapons of the world that I could see Jensen fitting right in.
As you just mentioned, you can feel the Die Hard and Lethal Weapon inspirations in here. How did you find that balance between the drama and the cop comedy feeling?
Well, I love those movies, going back to Raiders of the Lost Ark, even Crimson Tide, all those like, just cool 80s action vibe movies that I feel like they just don’t exist anymore. So that was what I was going for. And Jensen and I talked about that in that lunch when we first met. I just got very fortunate that I had such an amazing cast to bring this to life because it’s not just Jensen, it’s Jessica, Eric, and Uli, and Elliot and Violet, they’re just a really incredible team. And to watch their chemistry go from offset onto the camera was really rewarding.
When you started looking for other people and started kind of filling out the roles, what were you looking for? Were there any key characteristics in actors or were you trying to just keep it as open as possible?
Well, you’re kind of looking for actors who imbue the spirit of the character that you had written in the pilot. And then, as happens in any television show that keeps going, as opposed to a movie, the actors’ personalities end up becoming so immersed into the characters themselves. And you, as a writer, have to take advantage of that as it goes. And then you do auditions like you do on anything, and then you try to find the ones that you think are gonna be right for it. As the show continues, you realize,”Oh, that’s magic, that magic. I’m gonna keep writing towards that.”
Last question: Season 2, where are we at with it? Is it happening? Are you down for it?
I mean, I would love nothing more than to do a Season 2. I got it all right up here, but I will leave that up to the audience. Hopefully, as long as the audience comes, we’ll keep making them.
How To Watch Countdown
The first six episodes of Countdown are now streaming on Prime Video. New episodes release on Wednesdays.
Let’s be honest—no matter how stressful the day gets, a good viral video can instantly lift your mood. Whether it’s a funny pet doing something silly, a heartwarming moment between strangers, or a wild dance challenge, viral videos are what keep the internet fun and alive.