Did the gunman kill the dog at the end of Countdown Episode 11? Explained

The crime drama series Countdown released its 11th and latest episode, titled Run, on August 20, 2025, exclusively on Prime Video. The series continues to raise the stakes with shocking twists and moral dilemmas. The 11th episode included one of the series’ most haunting moments yet, leaving fans wondering if the gunman really killed the dog. Let’s unpack what happened in this pivotal chapter of the crime drama series.

Who was revealed as the real assassin in Countdown Episode 11?

At first, the task force believed Trevor Kellen Pasternak was the assassin, after evidence tied him to a remote cabin and illegal weapons. However, interrogation revealed that Pasternak wasn’t the mastermind; he had simply rented the cabin and allowed others to use his identity.

The real assassin remains at large, with far more resources and cunning than Pasternak. The unknown assassin previously managed to build a firing range under the cabins and also crafted an elaborate manifesto, while using Pasternak as a pawn to mislead investigators all this time. This revelation has not only made the case complicated but also more mysterious than the Volchek case.

Did Pasternak survive the gunman’s final attack?

Although Pasternak was apprehended by the task force, his survival remains precarious. The assassin’s messages suggested that Pasternak’s arrest was anticipated - even orchestrated. By using him as a bait, the killer managed to keep the task force chasing shadows while protecting his own identity.

By the end of Episode 11, Pasternak was still alive, but his role as a disposable piece in the assassin’s larger game makes his fate uncertain. It’s clear the task force cannot rely on him to expose the true mastermind.

What happened to the dog in the shocking ending of Countdown Episode 11?

The episode’s most disturbing sequence came in a flashback, showing the gunman’s violent tendencies long before the current conspiracy. First, he brutally killed a wounded deer, establishing his cruelty. Later, after discovering his partner’s affair, he kidnapped her dog -  a quiet but terrifying act of control.

The show cuts to black before confirming the dog’s fate. There is no gunshot, no body shown - only unsettling silence. While fans hope the animal survived, the ambiguity serves the story: the gunman thrives on psychological torment, and the threat to the dog illustrates his capacity for calculated, merciless violence.

This choice leaves viewers deeply unsettled. The dog’s uncertain fate mirrors the larger narrative - nothing is safe, and the assassin always has the upper hand.

What is Countdown all about?

The first season of the crime drama series Countdown is set to consist of 13 episodes. Initially, creator Derek Haas had planned for a 10-episode season that would cover one case. But when Amazon ordered 13, Haas decided to surprise viewers by starting a brand-new case in the final stretch of the season, turning Episode 11 into the beginning of what feels like a second season within the first.

The cast for the series includes Jensen Ackles as LAPD Detective Mark Meachum, Jessica Camacho as Special Agent Amber Oliveras, Violett Beane as Special Agent Evan Shepherd, Elliot Knight as FBI Special Agent Keyonte Bell, Uli Latukefu as LAPD Detective Luke Finau, and Eric Dane as FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe. Blending undercover operations, cybercrime, and high-level conspiracies, the series combines procedural tension with serialized storytelling.

The crime drama series streams exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in the United States. The next episode, titled This Is His Signature, drops on August 20, 2025, at midnight PT/3 am ET. With one case resolved and a new, even deadlier conspiracy now underway, Countdown keeps viewers on edge, and many haunting questions still linger.

Stay tuned with us for further updates.