Jensen Ackles Leads ‘Countdown’—But Is It Worth the Time?
I just finished watching the first three episodes of Countdown , the new Prime Video action series starring Jensen Ackles, and I’ve got to say—I really wanted to like it. With Ackles on board and the creator of the Chicago franchise, Derek Haas, at the helm, I expected a high-octane thriller packed with heart-pounding moments, tight storytelling, and layered characters. But instead, what I got was a bland, run-of-the-mill police procedural that seems more suited for broadcast TV than a streaming platform known for taking bold creative swings.
The show kicks off with a surprising twist: a cameo from Milo Ventimiglia, who appears in a dynamic, fast-paced opening scene that ends in his shocking death. It’s a great hook—unexpected and well-executed. But sadly, the momentum fizzles out from there. Jensen Ackles plays Mark Meachum, an LAPD detective with a mysterious ailment and a chip on his shoulder. He’s pulled into a high-level task force investigating the murder of a DHS officer. From there, things spiral into a supposed "race-against-time" plot to prevent a catastrophic event in Los Angeles.
On paper, that premise sounds exciting. But the reality? Not so much. Despite efforts to inject adrenaline with chase scenes and heavy stakes—there’s talk of a Chernobyl-level threat—the execution falls flat. The pacing is weirdly sluggish, the action feels awkwardly staged, and worst of all, the characters are painfully one-dimensional. Ackles does what he can with the material—he’s always compelling on screen—but even his gritty charm can’t elevate dialogue that’s this clunky.
The show tries to present itself as something cinematic and intense, but what it really feels like is a network drama stretched into a 13-episode arc, complete with exposition dumps, predictable beats, and endless talking scenes that go nowhere. Every episode ends with a "big" moment—clearly designed to be cliffhangers—but instead of pulling me in, they just made me check how much runtime was left.
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It’s frustrating, honestly. Ackles is a great actor with proven action chops ( Supernatural , The Boys ), and this could have been a standout role. But Countdown doesn’t give him enough to work with. It's trying to be 24 , but ends up feeling like NCIS: LA without the fun.
If you’re a diehard Jensen Ackles fan, you might still find a few reasons to stick around—there are flashes of that old Dean Winchester charisma. But for most viewers? It’s hard to recommend. Countdown isn’t the thrill ride it promised to be; it’s a countdown to disappointment. And unless it drastically turns things around in future episodes, I’m probably out.
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