Prime Video has a brand new procedural crime drama that begins with a promising opening scene and a shocking cameo by Milo Ventimiglia, who’s promptly killed inside the first couple of minutes of episode one. Sadly, it doesn’t take lengthy for the sequence to make Reacher seem like The Wire. Countdown stars Jensen Ackles as LAPD Detective Mark Meachum, who’s assigned to a covert federal activity pressure following the homicide of Ventimiglia’s character, Homeland Safety Officer Robert Darden. Comprised of people from numerous legislation enforcement companies, the duty pressure’s principal goal is to trace down Darden’s killer.
Nevertheless, they quickly uncover a a lot darker conspiracy at play that threatens the whole metropolis of Los Angeles and the hundreds of thousands of people that reside there. Regardless of its intriguing premise and pretty strong solid, Countdown doesn’t fairly obtain that “must-watch” standing audiences need. When the world is already saturated with so many exhibits and flicks, it’s arduous to justify spending your time on something remotely subpar. That being stated, I’ll watch something with Jensen Ackles.
Sadly, his latest sequence simply isn’t one thing I’m dying to see each week. I’d quite watch The Boys or reruns of Supernatural if I’m being trustworthy. With out Ackles, I might have already skipped Countdown altogether. There are actually moments when the present is entertaining, however it’s the type of sequence you possibly can watch whereas additionally doom-scrolling TikTok. That isn’t essentially dangerous, however it’s form of damning it with faint reward. Regardless of its efforts, the sequence lacks depth and feels extra like one thing you’d see on community tv quite than Prime Video. Plus, the sequence tries too arduous to be cool, which makes one thing as kitschy and over-the-top as Reacher really feel refined.
As A lot As ‘Countdown’ Tries, It Does not Have A lot Depth
It All Feels Tremendous Tacky
Countdown
- Launch Date
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June 25, 2025
- Community
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Prime Video
Countdown actually strives for depth however finally falls brief. The performing within the sequence isn’t the issue. Fairly, it’s the writing. Sadly, the present feels prefer it was written by somebody who doesn’t know something about precise police procedures however in some way loves cop exhibits. There are such a lot of quippy one-liners to go round that it’s tough to take the vast majority of the characters’ conversations severely. Plus, each pep discuss with the duty pressure actually hammers down on the concept that what they’re doing is extremely epic, which made me wish to roll my eyes.
These moments are high quality to have, however they’re inevitably super-cheesy and take away from no matter drama the present strives to attain. When each little bit of dialogue is a critical discuss with nothing however witty responses that clearly wouldn’t be stated in common dialog, the whole lot stays surface-level. The present tries too arduous to be critical, however then undercuts its critical moments with nonsensical dialogue. As such, it’s a lot simpler to detach from the high-stakes drama Countdown tries to create.
When viewers then think about all of the “intestine instincts” littered all through the present that at all times handle to repay, irrespective of how ridiculous the hunch might sound, the procedural cop drama turns right into a magic present. These on the duty pressure are supposed to be a number of the finest, and that is smart for such a sequence, however their hunches really feel compelled, which makes them arduous to consider. Intuition and instinct whereas on the job are one factor, however blatantly diving in headfirst primarily based on a hunch solely highlights the surface-level stakes of the sequence.
‘Countdown’ May Be On Prime Video, however It Feels Like Community Tv
That is Not Inherently Dangerous, But it surely’s Undoubtedly a Completely different Vibe
Some of the interesting features of streaming companies is their potential to create exhibits nonetheless they select. They aren’t beholden to FCC requirements, which implies viewers are in a position to watch one thing arguably extra genuine than what they’d see on community tv. Sadly, Countdown feels extra like a community crime drama than a Prime Video sequence. That isn’t to say such exhibits are inherently dangerous; they simply have a special vibe that’s meant to have a wider attraction.
Oftentimes, cop dramas on ABC, NBC, or CBS are closely polished and clean-cut. They don’t have the type of grit or gore viewers may see with streaming. These qualities don’t essentially make a sequence good, however they actually enable for a degree of authenticity and thrills that community exhibits don’t possess, at the very least not in the identical approach. With a community cop sequence, each piece of proof garners a brand new lead, victims are at all times saved within the nick of time, and everyone seems to be in some way cool and at all times put collectively regardless of the lengthy hours.
Sadly, Countdown follows the blueprint of a community crime drama as an alternative of taking a web page out of Reacher’s e book or just charting its personal path to comply with. If a procedural cop sequence goes to be on Prime Video, there’s an expectation it’ll be one thing adjoining to Reacher and even Jack Ryan. Nevertheless, that’s merely not the case right here. Countdown seems like a community sequence for all of the mistaken causes.
‘Countdown’ Tries Too Arduous to Be Cool
As a lot as Countdown may wish to be like Reacher, it merely can’t measure up as a result of it’s making an attempt too arduous to be cool. Its premise is a critical one, however each time the duty pressure is in pursuit of a possible suspect, the quippy rock music blasting over the scene denotes a special tone. There’s no heart-pounding thrills as a result of there’s no actual stress. That isn’t to say Reacher doesn’t have its intentionally “cool moments.” Nevertheless, that present is aware of what it’s doing and leans in to that nicely with some tongue-in-cheek humor and loads of self-awareness.
Sadly, Countdown thinks it is Reacher when it’s actually one thing like CSI or Prison Minds. Don’t get me mistaken, these exhibits entertain loads of folks, and each present has its place. Nevertheless, when a Prime Video sequence resembles one thing on community tv in all of the mistaken methods, it’s disappointing to say the least. New episodes of Countdown premiere each Wednesday, and the Season 1 finale arrives on September 3, 2025.