Premiering on June 25, 2025, exclusively on Prime Video, Countdown is a slick action-packed TV series from creator Derek Haas (Chicago Fire, FBI: International). Starring Jensen Ackles, Eric Dane, Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Elliot Knight, and Uli Latukefu, this 13-episode first season follows a covert interagency task force in Los Angeles racing to uncover a deadly conspiracy after the public execution of a Department of Homeland Security agent. Directed by a rotating team of genre veterans and scored with hard-hitting rock, Countdown positions itself as a throwback to high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled procedurals. Promising a race-against-time drama full of action, tech intrigue, and layered betrayal, this new 2025 TV series aims to fit snugly into Prime Video’s growing lineup of dad-friendly thrillers alongside Reacher and The Terminal List. But does it live up to the hype?
Classic Setup, Familiar Faces
From its opening moments, Countdown wastes no time: a Homeland Security agent is gunned down in broad daylight, and the ripples of that murder launch the story into motion. Enter Nathan Blythe (Eric Dane), a hardened task force leader who assembles an elite team to investigate the killing and uncover the wider threat it points toward. The team includes:
- Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles), an undercover LAPD officer with a mysterious past.
- Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho), a fierce DEA agent haunted by past operations.
- Keyonte Bell (Elliot Knight), an FBI counterterrorism expert.
- Evan Shepherd (Violett Beane), a tech-savvy FBI cyber analyst.
- Lucas Finau (Uli Latukefu), a stoic LAPD narcotics officer.
It’s a team built from familiar archetypes, but the chemistry between the actors, especially Ackles and Camacho, gives the group some much-needed spark.
A Procedural in Streaming Clothes
At its core, Countdown is a procedural dressed up with streaming gloss. Each episode introduces a new lead, a new setting, or a new wrinkle in the conspiracy—ranging from corrupt officials and cartel operatives to foreign espionage and nuclear threats. It’s the kind of TV show that revels in chases through gritty alleys, shootouts at sun-drenched ports, and high-stakes data retrieval missions in foreign consulates.
Visually, the show leans into its Los Angeles setting with chyrons labeling each neighborhood visited, giving the show a sense of geographical urgency. But unlike true ticking-clock thrillers, Countdown rarely delivers real narrative propulsion. The stakes are big on paper—potential mass destruction—but without a clear “when,” the countdown loses its punch.
Jensen Ackles and Jessica Camacho Shine in the Ensemble
Jensen Ackles steps easily into the lead role, channeling his Supernatural charisma into a grizzled but magnetic performance. His character, Meachum, may feel like a compilation of cop-show clichés—damaged past, internal struggle, too good at his job—but Ackles sells it. He delivers wisecracks with a smirk, takes beatings with stoicism, and even pulls off some emotional moments without falling into melodrama.
Jessica Camacho, as DEA agent Amber Oliveras, is one of the show’s strongest assets. Her no-nonsense intensity, emotional backstory, and natural chemistry with Ackles bring some much-needed grounding to the team. Unfortunately, while these two leads are given arcs and screentime, other characters fade into the background. Beane, Knight, and Latukefu are capable performers, but their characters feel one-note and underserved.
A Plot Full of Twists, But Lacking Urgency
The plot of Countdown is stuffed with twists—some exciting, others convoluted. The team chases threads ranging from smuggled uranium to foreign assassins and corrupt politicians, all while trying to track a shadowy Belarusian villain with a bone to pick with the U.S. These elements have the makings of a satisfying action conspiracy, but they’re not always woven with finesse.
The pacing is uneven. While the first few episodes build intrigue, the midseason stretch begins to sag. Too many scenes are padded with exposition, flashbacks, and filler subplots—like a birthday surprise for one of the agents during a supposed national crisis—that deflate tension rather than build it.
And for a show called Countdown, the absence of a clear ticking-clock structure is a major flaw. There’s nuclear danger on the horizon, but without temporal constraints or clear milestones, the series lacks the nail-biting urgency its premise promises.
Action Sequences Are a Highlight
What Countdown lacks in narrative originality, it makes up for—at times—with sheer action. The Prime Video budget is evident in its stunt work: car chases through L.A. streets, foot races in packed markets, shootouts at docks and safe houses. There’s a welcome physicality to the series that keeps things from getting too bogged down in talk.
The rock-heavy soundtrack amps up the intensity. Needle drops from Metallica, Wolfmother, and Motörhead punctuate most action beats, giving the series a Miami Vice-meets-Reacher energy. For viewers craving popcorn entertainment, this TV series delivers a fair share of explosions and fisticuffs.
Writing Falls Short of the Genre’s Best
While the action is often solid, the writing drags the show down. Dialogue tends toward the generic: expositional, on-the-nose, and light on character nuance. Attempts at emotional depth—especially regarding personal backstories or internal conflicts—feel rushed or surface-level. Character motivations shift for the sake of plot mechanics, not personal logic.
Additionally, the central conspiracy never feels cohesive. There’s too much table-setting and too little payoff. When reveals come, they feel either overly telegraphed or underwhelming. The villain, introduced as a high-level threat, never achieves the gravitas required to be memorable.
A TV Show That Feels Like It Missed Its Moment
There’s a distinct retro quality to Countdown. Its earnest portrayal of law enforcement, its reluctance to engage critically with authority, and its procedural DNA all harken back to early-2000s network TV. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing—comfort TV has its place—but in the crowded landscape of TV series reviews, Countdown struggles to stand out.
Shows like 24 or Homeland managed to bring tension, urgency, and character complexity to similar premises. Countdown hits many of the same beats, but with less flair and insight. It’s not unwatchable—far from it—but it often feels like it’s playing a nostalgic tune rather than pushing the genre forward.
Final Verdict – Entertaining, But Ultimately Forgettable
Countdown – Season 1 isn’t a total misfire. Fans of classic procedurals and Jensen Ackles’ charm will find things to enjoy. There are bursts of solid action, a handful of strong performances, and a formula that’s watchable even when it stumbles. But with 13 episodes, the show stretches its material thin, lacking the narrative economy and emotional depth that define standout thrillers.
If you’re looking for a 2025 TV series to stream while waiting for the next season of Reacher or Bosch, this might scratch the itch. But if you want a truly gripping conspiracy thriller, Countdown is more background noise than a must-watch.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5)