“Countdown” Review: A Thrilling, High-Stakes Crime Drama With Massive Highs… & Lows

We all love a good crime thriller series – one that’s sure to get the blood pumping and make us binge the next episode. If this is what whets your appetite, then “Countdown” might be for you.

Set in the modern day, this crime drama follows a team of officers who are brought together to investigate the sudden and brutal execution of a Department of Homeland Security agent in broad daylight. Little do they know, they have instead uncovered a sinister plot that’s meant to bring the United States to heel. Created and written by Derek Haas, this gripping series sees our heroes, Jensen Ackles, Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Elliot Knight, Uli Latukefu, and Eric Dane, in a race against time in preventing a catastrophic event.

This team is made up of effective specialists from various fields who use their extensive knowledge to apprehend their perp. And they are up against a person who will pull out all the stops to set his plan into motion. It’s a case of the proverbial “unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.”

The series primarily centres on Los Angeles, as the antagonist’s reach is as far as it is deeply rooted in plain sight. For 13 episodes, we are left on the edge of our seats as we are bombarded with a series of near misses and close calls that only serve to raise the stakes as our heroes slowly close in on their target. From covert operations to full-on assaults, this show has all the makings of an excellent crime fiction series.

We reel at every setback and rejoice at every success, something that’s only possible thanks to the excellent performance and synergy of the cast, lead by Jensen Ackles and Jessica Camacho. Unfortunately, it’s right here that we see one of the biggest weaknesses of the series — it only focuses on these two characters. Though there are largely six main characters, the series only zooms in on these two and their growing dynamic. It’s a nice touch, as it showcases the deepening bond between two teammates, but it does come at the expense of the rest of the cast.

It’s quite unfortunate, because although we love these actors, it’s actually a breath of fresh air when we see anyone else from the team working together to solve the crime. The series does try various combinations of the team to work, but it happens so late in the game that it feels too awkward, like the series itself is shipping these characters together for us. When you begin to go in-depth and dissect the series for what it is, you’ll notice that Ackles’ Mark Meachum is the only one to have some sort of character development in the entire show, as if the story is solely about him, while the rest are either to help him reach this development or are just there to move the plot forward when it’s convenient. It’s also extremely unfortunate that the series makes no effort in hiding that fact.

Though they have been reduced to nothing more than just get-out-of-jail-free cards, Beane, Knight, Latukefu, and Dane deliver amazing performances and are an enjoyable bunch whenever they are on screen. Each of them has their own stakes and reasons for being there, and seeing them all come together is actually quite enjoyable. 

Despite the fact that they aren’t the lead cast, each of these characters is put into dire straits that are meant to test their character, resolve, and principles. Whether it comes to physically demanding challenges and tasks or a dilemma that asks them to compromise their principles, the situations are always thought-provoking and nerve-racking. If there were to be a season two, our only request is that we see more development and focus on the rest of the cast and not just the leads.

Overall, “Countdown” is an enticing crime thriller that has the makings of a future cult classic. Packed with a star-studded cast, the show deliveres a lot of powerful and exciting moments that leaves us wanting more. Unfortunately, the series also hyper-focuses on one character, while leaving the rest as convenient tools to advance the plot. Despite that, if you’re simply looking for an easy-to-binge series to keep you occupied or to satisfy your crime drama needs, then this show is for you.

“Countdown” can now be streamed on Prime Video.