Amazon Prime is releasing a new show for the summer! Countdown starring Jensen Ackles, Eric Dane, Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Elliot Knight, and Uli Latukefu began airing on June 25th this year through Amazon Prime Video. The first season is going to have 13 episodes total, with three initial episodes releasing during its first week. Each following episode is going to be released and streamed through Amazon Prime on Wednesdays. The description for Countdown for Amazon Prime states: “When an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum is recruited to a secret task force, alongside undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement, to investigate. But the hunt for the killer soon uncovers a plot far more sinister than anyone could have imagined, kicking off a race against time to save a city of millions”.

To this author, so far Countdown reminds me of shows and movies like Jack Reacher (as well as the Prime show, Reacher), Jack Ryan, Extraction, Safehouse, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, and The Gray Man. We can expect thriller moments, action scenes, maybe some satirical comedy on the side, and a whole lot of running.

Who, What, When, Where, and Why?

Countdown was created and written by Derek Hass, a writer and producer who is previously known for his work on The Double, Chicago P.D., and FBI: International. Based on Haas’ background, I think it’s safe to say that we can expect Countdown to follow some similar themes—sinister plots, suspicious characters, breaking the law—all the good stuff we like in crime thrillers. Jensen Ackles plays Mark Meachum, our main character in Countdown. A LOT of us know Ackles from his work on Supernatural playing the iconic Dean Winchester. In his youth, Ackles was also a featured character on Dawson’s Creek and Days of Our Lives, and more recently, is known for playing Soldier Boy on The Boys and appearing in a few episodes of Tracker as Russell Shaw.

Countdown is set, and was filmed, in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles is its own character in the show, as the plot unravels and we discover that LA is being threatened by a menacing force. Filming here was a purposeful choice for Haas, as the setting hits close to home when it comes to his previous works. He makes an effort to show the parts of LA that we don’t normally see on television. Haas chose to move away from the glitz, glamour, and overstimulation audiences have come to expect in LA settings, and instead, focuses on the gritty, gutsy, and unknown parts of the city. It creates the setting and forms the atmosphere for Countdown.

Jensen Ackles is familiar with the action scene, too. Much of his work has consisted of difficult action sequences and choreography; it’s safe to say that a character like Mark Meachum is right up his alley. Recently, Ackles made his first appearance on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to talk all about Countdown, The Boys, and some old modeling memories.

As someone who has forever been a Jensen Ackles fan since the very beginning of Supernatural, I’m thrilled that he continues to get recognition for his talents, hard work, and dedication. I’m personally very excited to see what Countdown brings us.

Car Chases, Suits, and Punches

The trailer for Countdown shows that, as a viewer, we can certainly predict a heavy action-packed show.

It looks like the team is going to have to work together to stop “a weapon of mass destruction” that poses a huge threat to people, society, and maybe even the world at large. This is all emphasized by an underlaid tempo of a ticking clock that backtracks the trailer entirely. Alongside the soundtrack, which provides its own intensity to the adrenaline-fueled and fast-paced interactions on the screen, this small sound bit adds needed severity and cadence to amp up what the characters are doing—despite the audience only knowing the barebones of the plot.

From the little viewers do see, the exchanges between our characters so far are promising. Ardent as needed, and lighthearted to counter the intensity. When you’re watching something as real, heroic, and tough as a crime/thriller, sometimes it’s nice to have a bit of humor on the side. While a joke might not land as laugh-out-land funny, the gesture is needed to break up those moments of fierce intensity. That’s where the common use of irony and satirical humor come in—it’s especially typical to use humor this way because it reflects how real people in these situations would act, and TV is all about being relatable.

Countdown will be delivering on the action forefront as well. The trailer shows shootouts, car chases, hand-to-hand fighting, and all the basic staples of a crime show. In terms of what qualifies a show to be an adventure/action/crime fighter, I think Countdown‘s got it.

If you’re looking for an exciting summer full of twists and turns, look no further. Countdown is where to find your adrenaline.

Countdown is available on Amazon Prime, and will be releasing episodes every Wednesday until September 3, 2025.