Dead Lots of Times

Countdown Ep 2 is a proper rollercoaster that keeps the thrills coming but trips over its own feet at times.

Jensen Ackles as LAPD rebel Mark Meachum is still the show's beating heart, dishing out grit and charm like nobody's business. This episode dives deeper into the task force's hunt for the conspiracy behind that daylight murder, and blimey, the tension ramps up as clues point to a bigger, shadier plot.

The action's top-notch... think breathless foot chases and a cracking shootout that's pure Hollywood polish. Jessica Camacho's Amber Oliveras brings the fire, her personal stakes starting to peek through, while Eric Dane's Nathan Blythe keeps things cool but cryptic. The pacing's relentless, pulling you along like a runaway train.

But here's the rub: the dialogue leans hard into cheesy one-liners, and some plot twists feel nicked straight from a CSI reject pile. The team's dynamic is fun but needs more meat... right now, it's a bit "seen it before."

What's got me hooked? Meachum's rogue streak is teasing a proper backstory, and Oliveras' edge hints at trouble brewing. It's not groundbreaking telly, and the predictable beats are a tad naff, but the energy keeps you invested.

I'm still all in for this 13-episode ride. If you're after high-octane drama, Countdown delivers, even if it wobbles.

7/10.

Jensen Ackles is on fire in Countdown!

"Jensen Ackles Shines in a Must-Watch Action Thriller!" Countdown is exactly what fans have been craving - a gripping, high-stakes action drama that puts Jensen Ackles front and center where he belongs. From the very first episode, the show hooks you with a brutal mystery and never lets up. Explosions, shootouts, conspiracies - this series delivers on every level.

Ackles absolutely owns the role of Detective Mark Meachum. He's intense, sharp, sarcastic, and totally believable as a seasoned cop with a haunted past. You can feel the weight he carries in every scene, and somehow, he still finds those golden moments of humor and heart that remind you why he's such a beloved actor. His chemistry with the rest of the team - especially Jessica Camacho and Eric Dane - adds so much depth to the story.

The show feels cinematic in the best way. Each episode moves like a movie: slick visuals, tightly choreographed action, and a killer soundtrack that builds the tension. And the story? It's a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat ride with just enough twists to keep you guessing but never confused. The stakes keep getting higher, and the countdown theme gives it this nonstop adrenaline rush.

Countdown also isn't afraid to go deeper - it explores loyalty, grief, and trust in ways that elevate it beyond your typical procedural. And of course, Ackles brings a level of raw emotion and intensity that pulls you right in.

Whether you're a longtime Supernatural fan or totally new to Jensen Ackles, this is the show to watch. It's action-packed, smart, emotional, and just plain cool. Prime Video hit the mark with this one. Here's hoping for many more seasons!

Highly recommend - 10/10!

The first three episodes were released together, giving viewers the opportunity to begin to get to know the characters and understand the story. It piqued their curiosity and made them want to watch the next episodes.

The week-long wait is long enough to allow viewers to speculate on what will happen in the next episode. It's a good choice, as is releasing the first three episodes together.

The story is developing, and with the second episode, we've begun to understand who our "heroes" are, what their strengths are, and we're starting to glimpse their weaknesses.

They're very human, and you can easily identify with them.

There are two timelines in this episode. One os in 2008 set in Belarus. That seems to be about the nuclear material and how it might eventually find its way to the USA.

In the present day. The special task force need to find out how the nuclear fissile material got through the Port of Los Angeles.

The answer might lie with the Mexican mafia gangs.

Luckily Amber worked undercover with these type of gangs. She and Meachum get a job to smuggle drugs into the USA. Going through the border is not that easy.

The second episode has some cheesy dialogue. The plot is hokum. The action scenes are fine.

It still feels like a third rate 24 type thriller.

I would like to give this episode an 8 except for something so blatant that a 3 year old farm kid would realize that PETA would be justified in calling in John Law. Any moron would know that you can not transport live animal in an enclosed trailer. But to do so in Mexico on a hot summer day is beyond inhumane. However if the pork has already been processed then why isn't it in a refrigerated trailer? So you had to set up a scenario to let the truck go uninspected and make the border patrol look incompetent ignoring all of the red flags. All you had to do was do a little research on successful smuggling operations and write a believable scene. With that I will go back and finish the episode and hope that you have done a better job on the rest of the story.