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The following contains spoilers from Episode 9 of Countdown, now streaming on Prime Video.

This week on Prime Video’s Countdown, personally extenuating circumstances led LAPD gangs and narcotics officer Lucas Finau to break protocol and exhibit atypically audacious behavior — all during a critical juncture in Hurricane Task Force’s ongoing manhunt.

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Can everyone time-travel except us?!

That’s how we felt after watching the premiere of Outlander‘s prequel, Blood of My Blood, which got underway Friday. The spinoff’s first two episodes introduced us to Jamie’s parents, Ellen and Brian, and Claire’s parents, Julia and Henry. By the end of the first hour, via the wonder of time-travel, all four of them exist in the 18th century. (For details on the how and why, make sure to check out the premiere recap, which covers Episodes 1 and 2.)

More from TVLineCountdown's Uli Latukefu Stands by Finau's Bold, Protocol-Breaking Move: 'It's...

The following contains spoilers for the series finale of Resident Alien!

Patience’s Resident Alien has left the building.

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Friday’s series finale of the Syfy/USA Network dramedy didn’t shy away from emotional goodbyes, and it even turned pages on some brand-new chapters for our favorite Patience residents. A new...

From dramatic dynamos to comedy queens and everyone in between, the television industry would be nothing without the women who bring its stories to life, both on screen and behind the camera.

To that end, Team TVLine is proud to introduce our inaugural Women to Watch awards series, recognizing women doing exciting, inspiring and industry-shaping work in television.

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Selected by the TVLine staff,...

Derek Haas had a plan mapped out for Countdown from the start, with no initial intention of killing off Eric Dane's character. The show's creator aimed to raise the stakes post-survival with a plot involving bombs targeting a character's family. Haas wanted to bring personal stakes to the storyline by involving loved ones in the danger posed by the villain's plan.

We know that Countdown fans are taking a deep sigh of relief this morning after the most recent episode revealed that — despite all odds — Eric Dane’s Blythe was able to survive his nearly fatal stabbing at the hands of Volchek (Bogdan Yasinski) and will return to leading his ragtag team of agents in no time. The Prime Video crime drama had already demonstrated the incredibly high stakes that it was playing with earlier this season when, in episode four, Jonathan Togo’s Officer Damon Drew succumbed to...

The Jensen Ackles-led Countdown has finally overtaken its top genre streaming competition - for now.

Per Collider, Amazon Prime Video's Countdown starring Jensen Ackles has officially overtaken its closest streaming competition, the hit Bosch spinoff series, Ballard. As of the time of writing, Countdown stands firmly in the number two position on the chart of top streaming series on the platform, although both it and Ballard are still far behind the number one show on the list, The Summer I Turned Pretty, which is currently in the middle of its third season.

Created by showrunner Derek Haas, Countdown stars Ackles as LAPD Detective Mark Meachum, one of several highly qualified and specialized agents brought in from numerous law enforcement agencies to form a crack squad in the wake of the assassination of a Department of Homeland Security Officer. The series' ensemble cast includes appearances by Elliot Knight and Violett Beane...

With each new action thriller series, Amazon is no doubt chasing that Reacher dragon. While the latest attempt did not quite reach the same heights as the adventures of Alan Ritchson’s nomadic avenger (and even proved to be deeply divisive among critics and audiences), Prime Video’s newest action hero has a bright future ahead of him, according to the show’s creator.

Derek Haas, the creator and writer behind this year’s Countdown, has declared his hopes and excitement over the future of the action series, which finds Supernatural and The Boys star Jensen Ackles leading the way as a maverick undercover LAPD officer who finds himself at the center of a dark conspiracy. And the clock is ticking.

“I’m feeling good. I haven’t done streaming before, so kind of all of the analytics are new. It’s different from when I was doing network and you knew the next morning,...

Countdownstar Jessica Camacho breaks down the "complicated place" her character is headed towards.

Speaking to TVLine, Camacho opened up about where the series is headed following the shocking episode seven revelation that Jensen Ackles' Detective Mark Meachum is staring down an incurable tumor, potentially leaving him with only weeks or months to live. Camacho noted that "The fact that Meachum decides to confide in [my character, Agent Oliveras] means a lot to her."

"I don’t think that’s something that she takes lightly. Him letting her into his world in that way deepens her desire to show up for him as his partner, as a human… as someone who begins to really, deeply care for this person," Camacho added. She went on to state that the pair are headed towards "an interesting and complicated place" now that the truth of Meachum's diagnosis is out. Unfortunately for fans hoping for some insight into exactly where that might be,...

Countdownstar Jensen Ackles opens up about the breakthrough that was Supernatural.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Ackles discussed his early days in Hollywood and finding success with his role as Eric Brady onDays of Our Lives. After years of portraying the soap opera heartthrob, Ackles found his breakthrough role as Dean Winchester on The WB's Supernatural. Ackles described his time leading up to Supernatural as "Just work, work, work, and try to outmaneuver at auditions guys like Josh Jackson and Chris Evans and all those dudes I came up with. It was a fight for every role." Ackles continued, "And then of course, it all solidified with Supernatural when I was like, 'This is where I get the master's degree.'"

Ackles played Dean alongside Jared Padalecki's Sam Winchester on Supernatural across 327 episodes and 15 seasons from 2005 to 2020. The series featured its leading duo as sibling monster hunters who travel...

Despite the high-stakes premise and Jensen Ackles’ undeniable screen presence, Countdown Episode 5 throws a twist that highlights just how underwritten Mark Meachum really is. The series, built on a ticking-clock conspiracy and layered characters, should thrive on emotional nuance and personal stakes. Instead, Meachum (positioned as the emotional core) feels increasingly like a placeholder in his own story.

Episode 5 teases a personal reveal meant to deepen his character, but it lands flat, offering nothing new beyond what we already assumed. Rather than challenging or reshaping his arc, the twist reinforces the sense that Meachum is simply reacting, not evolving. For a show that hinges on moral ambiguity and urgent choices, that’s a letdown, and here’s why.

Meachum’s Tumor Reveal Came Out of Nowhere—And Adds Nothing to the Plot

Countdown Episode 5 throws a dramatic twist at us, but not the kind that sticks. Mark Meachum, played by Jensen Ackles,...

Gather around and join the team behind Prime Video’s latest series, Countdown, as they receive a debriefing from their leader — Eric Dane’s FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe. Today, Collider is excited to share an exclusive sneak peek at this week’s upcoming episode of the streamer’s latest hit. Titled “Blurred Edges,” Wednesday’s release marks the fifth installment of the debut season, which means we’re just about halfway through. Starring Jensen Ackles, Jessica Camacho (Sleepy Hollow), Elliott Knight (Titans), Uli Latukefu (Young Rock) and Violett Beane (Death and Other Details), the production centers on a ragtag group of special agents who have been brought together to assemble a super team to ensure a murderer is brought to justice.

The plot is getting thicker and thicker in our exclusive first look, as Dane’s Special Agent Blythe brings his team together to catch them up on the intel gathered so far.

Amazon may not have found the next Reacher just yet—but that hasn’t stopped Countdown from rocketing to the top of Prime Video’s streaming charts. Despite a dismal 36% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, Countdown, the new action-thriller series from One Chicagocreator Derek Haas, has claimed the #1 spot in Prime Video’s “Top 10 TV Shows” list as of July 3. It even cracked the #2 spot on the platform’s overall ranking, trailing only behind the buzzy teen drama We Were Liars. With a weekly release schedule that kicked off July 1, only three episodes have aired—but that’s all Countdown needed to announce itself as Prime Video’s latest contender in the action space.

And while critics haven’t exactly been kind, audiences seem to be responding differently. The show currently holds a more respectable 72% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, proving once again that streamers sometimes care more about watch time than Tomatometer numbers.

Jensen Ackles' new show continues to make a splash on streaming. Countdown premiered with a three-episode release on June 25 and has been a constant in the charts ever since.

On July 2, Countdown returned with its fourth episode, which was enough to bring subscribers back to the platform. In the days after the premiere, Countdown struggled to hold on to the top positions in the charts, but it returned in full force. Per FlixPatrol, Countdown has now dethroned Prime Video's most recent hit, the thriller adaptation We Were Liars.

We Were Liars is based on the popular 2014 novel of the same name by E. Lockhart, and follows the Sinclairs, an old-money family, where a mysterious accident changes the eldest grandchild's life forever. The series premiered on Prime Video on June 18, and has been a major hit. However, its dominance is being tested by Countdown. The show is currently the number one TV show on Prime Video,...

Amazon seems to have a new Reacher replacement, which is already dominating the streaming charts just one week after its premiere. While the show has yet to match Reacher's critical and commercial success, it seems to have immense potential after its impressive early performance.

Soon after Reacher landed on Prime Video on February 4, 2022, it became a massive global hit, paving the way for several follow-up installments. With each new season, the show only grew from strength to strength and rose in the ranks to find a place among the streamer's most valuable IPs.

Reacher's performance even prompted Prime Video to expand its lore with a spin-off series focusing on Maria Sten's Neagley. Three years after its premiere on Amazon, Reacher reigns supreme as one of the most successful shows on the streaming platform. However, it looks like it might soon have a worthy rival.

Countdown Is Performing Well On...

Amazon’s Countdown is packed with talent, and we’re not just talking about undercover skills. This high-stakes crime drama, created by Chicago Fire mastermind Derek Haas, dropped on Prime Video on June 25, 2025, and stars none other than Jensen Ackles as the cowboy-cool LAPD detective Mark Meachum.

From a Homeland Security murder to a city-wide conspiracy, the series throws Meachum onto a covert task force loaded with big names and even bigger credentials. But off-screen, these stars come with serious resumes. Ackles, of course, is fresh off The Boys and still beloved for Supernatural.

Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy), McSteamy himself, commands the task force as Agent Nathan Blythe. Jessica Camacho (All Rise), Violett Beane (God Friended Me), and Elliot Knight (Titans) round out a stacked federal squad. Add Young Rock’s Uli Latukefu and CSI: Miami alum Jonathan Togo, and the cast reads like a genre fan’s wishlist.

1. Jensen...

Countdown threw us all a huge curveball in Episode 4 – Bite ‘Em Down – when it killed off Officer Damon Drew (played by CSI: Miami alum Jonathan Togo) just as his character was gaining traction.

While fans of the Amazon Prime thriller were still reeling from the loss, Togo himself came out in support of the decision, backing creator Derek Haas’ call to raise the stakes early and separate Countdown from typical, low-risk procedurals. In a report published by TV Insider on July 2, Togo alluded,

“When Derek [Haas] approached me about the project, he told me that it was only going to be four episodes, and he explained that he wanted to have one of the members of the core team die pretty early on in the series so that he could communicate to the audience that the threats and danger that they were facing was real and to make it very immediate.

Jensen Ackles-led Countdowncontinues to dominate the streaming charts.

Per FlixPatrol, the latest crime drama from creator Derek Haas has reached the number two spot on the top streaming chart for Amazon Prime Video for July 3. As of the time of writing, Countdown is only beat out by We Were Liars, while standing well above other hit releases such as The Chosen and The Accountant 2.

Countdown stars Jensen Ackles as Mark Meachum, a Los Angeles Police Department robbery and homicide detective who is called in to join a covert, undercover task force made up of agents from various law enforcement agencies. The series' ensemble cast is rounded out by Jessica Camacho as DEA Special Agent Amber Oliveras, Violett Beane as DEA Special Agent Evan Shepherd, Elliot Knight as FBI Special Agent Keyonte Bell, Eric Dane as FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe, and Uli Latukefu as LAPD Detective Lucas Finau. Countdown...

The following contains spoilers from the July 2 episode of Prime Video’s Countdown.

Task Force Hurricane weathered a big loss this Wednesday.

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Yes, Prime Video’s Countdown last week opened with — and was set in motion by — the murder of a Dhs agent, played by guest star Milo Ventimiglia.

But in Episode...

Countdown is heating up fast, and Episode 4 might’ve just dropped its biggest hint yet: there’s a mole inside the task force. Created by Chicago Fire mastermind Derek Haas, this action-packed Amazon Prime thriller stars Jensen Ackles as Mark Meachum, an LAPD detective thrown into a secret multi-agency task force after a high-profile Dhs officer is murdered in broad daylight.

What starts as a manhunt turns into a pulse-pounding conspiracy with stakes sky-high. The series blends high-octane action with a 24-style ticking clock format, and Episode 4 is where the paranoia really kicks in. And trust, folks? That’s officially running out.

Tick-Tock: Countdown Episode 4 Tightens the Noose on a Traitor

Countdown Episode 4 drops more fuel on the growing suspicion that someone inside the task force is playing both sides. The episode builds the mole theory through subtle missteps: botched missions, rerouted team members, and evasive answers from within. Every lead dies too fast,...

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Countdown is an action crime drama series created by Derek Haas. The Prime Video series is set in Los Angeles, and it revolves around a group of law enforcement agents from different agencies as they are brought together by FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe to form a task force dedicated to investigating a deadly terror plot. Countdown stars Jensen Ackles, Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Elliot Knight, Uli Latukefu, and Eric Dane. So, if you loved the explosive action, thrilling drama, and compelling characters in Prime Video’s Countdown, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (Prime Video) Credit – Prime Video

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is an action spy thriller drama series co-created by Carlton Cuse and Graham Roland. Based on the Jack Ryan novels by author Tom Clancy, the...

Countdown creator Derek Haas and star Jensen Ackles break down how a surprise cameo from a TV star happened in episode 1 of the thriller series. Debuting its first three episodes on Prime Video on June 25, the series follows Mark Meachum (Ackles), an LAPD detective who is recruited to join a covert task force with the intention of catching a murderer. Things escalate as the team has to prevent a major disaster. The Countdown cast includes Jessica Camacho as Amber Oliveras, Eric Dane as Nathan Blythe, Violett Beane as Evan Shepherd, Uli Latukefu as Lucas Finau, and Elliot Knight as Keyonte Bell.

In an interview with EW, Haas and Ackles detail how Milo Ventimiglia joined Contdown for a cameo appearance. Ventimiglia was intentionally kept out of the marketing material to make it a surprise to viewers. Despite never meeting him before, Haas reached out to Ventimiglia, and assumed he would not take the small role.

Prime Video is building a reputation for action thrillers. Some of the streamers' most popular titles follow a hero and a team around them as they fight various injustices. One of the most prominent examples is Reacher, which remains constantly viewed. At the time of writing, Reacher has remained in the Top 10 most viewed shows on Prime Video for 1,187 days. Given its continued popularity, it's no surprise that Prime Video would want to produce more shows for that audience. Reacher season 4 is currently in production.

The streamer is also home to other popular action-oriented shows. Cross felt like a direct response to Reacher with a similar tone. Prime Video was so confident in the show, Cross season 2 was renewed before the season 1 premiere. One of the other action-oriented shows that helped define Prime Video is The Boys, which also shares a lot of the same audience as Reacher. Now, one...

Jensen Ackles' new show Countdown is already a hit. Just a day after its June 25 premiere, the crime drama is close to being the No. 1 show on Prime Video.

Per FlixPatrol, Countdown has landed in the No. 2 spot on Prime Video's Top 10 Overall and Top 10 TV Shows lists in the United States, with the psychological thriller series We Were Liars keeping it from the top spot on both. When looking at Prime Video's Top 10 TV Shows worldwide, Countdown slips to No. 3, with The Better Sister sneaking past the Ackles-led crime drama. Countdown landing in the Top 3 after only one day on Prime Video is a huge win for the series, with its streaming success likely to only improve as more subscribers have the time to press play over the weekend.

Created by Derek Haas, who also serves as showrunner, Countdown stars Ackles as LAPD detective Mark Meachum, who is...

“Countdown” is primed and ready to be your next binge.

The series follows an LAPD officer played by “The Boys” and “Supernatural” alum Jensen Ackles, who is recruited to join a new task force after a Dhs agent is killed in broad daylight.

Here’s everything you need to know about where and when to tune in for the first season of Prime Video’s “Countdown.”

When did “Countdown” Season 1 come out?

“Countdown” Season 1 premiered on Wednesday, June 25.

How can I watch it?

“Countdown” is available to stream on Prime Video beginning on Wednesday, June 25.

What’s the Full “Countdown” Season 1 Episode Release Schedule?

New episodes drop weekly after an initial 3-episode drop. The season is 13 episodes long. Here’s the full release rundown:

Episode 1 – June 25 Episode 2 – June 25 Episode 3 – June 25 Episode 4 – July 2 Episode 5 – July 9 Episode 6 – July 16 Episode 7 – July 23 Episode 8 – July 30 Episode 9 – Aug. 6 Episode 10 – Aug. 13 Episode 11 – Aug. 20 Episode 12 – Aug. 27 Episode 13 – Sept.

[This story contains spoilers from the three-episode premiere of Countdown.]

By Hollywood (or, really any) standards, actor Jensen Ackles has been a busy man. He’s voiced Batman in several animated Justice League films and recently co-starred on some of the hottest TV series, including as Justin Hartley’s brother, Russell Shaw, on network’s No. 1 series Tracker and as the deadly Soldier Boy on Amazon Prime’s streaming sensation The Boys.

Yet the in-demand actor, who broke out on The CW’s fantasy drama Supernatural (2005–2020), still hadn’t found that leading role that would make him want to press pause on everything else. That is, not until Countdown came along.

Set in Los Angeles, the new action-filled Prime Video series from “One Chicago” franchise co-creator and former showrunner Derek Haas follows Ackles’ character, LAPD Detective Mark Meachum, and five other law enforcement professionals who are hand-picked from the LAPD, FBI, DEA and Secret Service and brought together by FBI...

This post contains spoilers from Countdown season 1 episode 1 from this point forward.

Your new favorite action-packed summer series has arrived! Prime Video debuted the first three episodes of Jensen Ackles' new show Countdown on June 25, and the first episode drops us right into the action to introduce us to the story's setup and the task force. But before we meet any of the characters we'll be spending the most time with, a surprise cameo sets the tone.

The first episode, "Teeth in the Bone," opens a Department of Homeland Security agent, played by This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia, conducting an investigation at the Port of Los Angeles. He then walks through a park and calls his wife to promise he'll try to make their son's performance. Unfortunately, his mission leads to an altercation and chase that results in him being shot and killed in the street. The gunman kills him at close range,...

As audiences await several more years for Robert Pattinson to return as the Caped Crusader in Matt Reeves' The Batman, the Dcu will soon introduce a brand-new version of the iconic superhero. James Gunn has been adamant that a new actor will join his rebooted universe in Brave and the Bold, and while an actor has not been chosen, Reacher star Alan Ritchson has been a fan-favorite choice. However, another recent Amazon action hero has joined the conversation, and he has a history of playing Batman-related DC characters.

During an interview with Collider, Countdown star Jensen Ackles talked about possibly joining the Dcu to take on the iconic mantle of Batman. He puts his hat in the casting ring, stating that he would attempt to bring something "truly unique" to his version of the character, which has received numerous live-action interpretations in the past few decades. Ackles previously voiced Jason Todd...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for Countdown Season 1 Episodes 1 “Teeth in the Bone,” 2 “Dead Lots of Times,” and 3 “Happy Birthday Final.”] Prime Video’s new series, Countdown, starring Jensen Ackles and Eric Dane, gets off to a shocking start with one of the task force’s own shot at the end of the third episode. The unit led by Blythe (Dane) — Meachum (Ackles), Oliveras (Jessica Camacho), Finau (Uli Latukefu), Bell (Elliot Knight), and Shepherd (Violett Beane) — comes together following the murder of a Homeland Security agent, Darden (played by Milo Ventimiglia in a surprise cameo!). And over the first three episodes, we learn that one of the task force has a terminal diagnosis and another might be hiding a major secret, plus there’s that aforementioned shocking ending to Episode 3. Below, creator Derek Haas and stars Jensen Ackles, Eric Dane, Jessica Camacho, Uli Latukefu, Elliot Knight, and Violett Beane ...

The new show Countdown features a huge surprise in its opening moments.

In the opening few moments of the Prime Video thriller’s series premiere, there’s an unexpected appearance from a big star.

Here’s a plot summary for the TV show: “When an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum, portrayed by Jensen Ackles, 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.”

Eric Dane, Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Elliot Knight, and Uli Latukefu all star in the show, which opens with a special guest.

Keep reading to find out more…

And the agent, Robert Darden, is played by…Milo Ventimiglia!

Before the streaming era, if you wanted a popcorn movie, you saw it on the big screen. With television series getting budgets rivaling some theatrical films, you do not need to leave your couch to check out gunfights, car chases, and explosions galore. Premiering on Prime Video, the new series Countdown brings the formula of police procedurals mixed with action to your screens with a massive three-episode premiere. Think of The A-Team meets 24, and you have a good idea of what is in store.

Countdown follows a task force of experts from various agencies, including the Los Angeles Police and the DEA. Under the leadership of Nathan Blythe (Eric Dane), the task force must take down a threat of a hidden conspiracy that could spell disaster for Los Angeles and the entire country. The team includes LAPD officers Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) and Lucas Finau (Uli Latukefu), DEA agent Amber Oliveras...

The following contains spoilers from the Countdown series premiere, now streaming on Prime Video.

The Countdown is now on, with Wednesday’s three-episode premiere of Prime Video’s new thriller from #OneChicago vet Derek Haas.

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But as viewers learned from the very first episode, multiple “countdowns” are at play.

Yes, Task Force...

The following contains spoilers from the opening minutes of the Countdown series premiere, now streaming on Prime Video.

For weeks, TVLine’s Countdown preview coverage has been telling you that the Prime Video thriller is set in motion when an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight.

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By a Crock Pot.

Countdown series creator Derek Haas shares a new update about a potential season 2. Countdown premiered its first three episodes on Prime Video on June 25. The debut season follows Supernatural star Jensen Ackles as Mark Meachum, an LAPD detective who joins a covert task force comprising agents from various agencies. Originally brought together to hunt down a murderer, the team then has to prevent a major catastrophe. The Countdown cast includes Jessica Camacho as Amber Oliveras, Eric Dane as Nathan Blythe, Violett Beane as Evan Shepherd, Uli Latukefu as Lucas Finau, and Elliot Knight as Keyonte Bell.

In an interview with ScreenRant's Ash Crossan, Haas discusses the future of Countdown. He reveals that he has been thinking about a second installment, but is cautious about moving ahead too quickly, as sometimes "the real world rears its head." While the update has a positive tone, Haas is trying not to get ahead of himself.

“Chicago Fire” and “Chicago Pd” creator Derek Haas has partnered with Prime Video for his latest crime drama. “Countdown” follows an elite task force formed to track down a murderer after a beloved Department of Homeland Security officer is killed in broad daylight. Helmed by FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe (Eric Dane), the team is comprised of various law enforcement agents, including LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles), DEA Special Agent Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho), Dhs Office Damon Drew (Jonathan Togo), FBI Special Agent Keyonte Bell (Elliot Knight), FBI Special Agent Evan Shepard (Violett Beane) and LAPD Detective Lucas Finau (Uli Latukefu). What begins as an intriguing adventure to find one culprit unveils a much bigger, years-long global conspiracy. Unfortunately, though the show has all of the fundamentals needed for an engaging action series, “Countdown” grows duller by the episode.

The 13-episode first season (critics received 10 for review) opens with a bang — literally.

[Warning: The following story contains spoilers about the first three episodes of Countdown.]

It may be hard to believe, but Jensen Ackles can be called a TV veteran since he has been entertaining TV viewers for nearly 30 years. He first grabbed viewers' attention in 1997 as teen Eric Brady on NBC daytime soap Days of Our Lives before chasing demons alongside Jared Padalecki on The CW's Supernatural for 15 years. Since then, he's appeared on ABC's Big Sky, CBS' Tracker, and as superhero Soldier Boy on The Boys (a role he'll reprise for the Prime Video show's fifth and final season). He also found time behind the camera by directing six Supernatural episodes, an episode of Padalecki's Walker, as well as executive-produce and narrate the short-lived Supernatural spin-off The Winchesters.

Now, Ackles stays on the right side of the law as sardonic Det. Mark Meachum in the action drama Countdown, which drops its first three installments on Wednesday (the rest of the 13-episode series rolls out weekly). On the series,...

The 10th and last episode of Countdown that Amazon sent to critics is head-scratchingly bad — a cavalcade of anticlimaxes and improbable choices so tone-deaf on every level that I was convinced the show was about to unleash a doozy of a twist as part of what I assumed to be its season finale.

Were the characters in this mediocre 24 knockoff that might have run on TNT circa 2007 actually going to turn out to be ghosts? Or aliens? Or poorly programmed artificial intelligence navigating a politically denuded simulacrum of 21st century Los Angeles? Would the twist be that this race-against-the-clock drama without any clocks to race against was taking place in the mind of a small child with no nuanced understanding of human behavior? Or perhaps in the mind of a large manatee with no understanding of human behavior?

Alas, no.

The twist of the 10th episode of Countdown turned out...

Whether you know him as Dean Winchester or Soldier Boy, Jensen Ackles has been a staple on the small screen for 20 years and counting. Since breaking through as one of the two leads of The WB/The CW's hit series Supernatural, he's been a beloved talent that fans follow from project to project. Thankfully, Ackles has a brand new show hitting Prime Video this summer.

This time around, he's not hunting demons or battling it out as a superhero, but in the action-crime drama series Countdown from creator Derek Haas, he's kind of bringing the best of both worlds. Ackles plays a detective who joins a task force to find an undercover agent's killer and protect the city from a conspiracy. If that teaser has you hooked, find out when to start watching!

When new episodes of Countdown are released on Prime Video

Countdown premieres on Wednesday, June 25 at 3 a.

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If you are looking forward to Jensen Ackles‘ upcoming action crime thriller series Countdown, then we have got the complete release schedule for the Prime Video series below for you. Created by Derek Haas, Countdown feels like Amazon’s attempt at making weekly network television for its streaming service, and while the show is relatively entertaining, it doesn’t feel like it belongs on Prime Video.

Countdown is set in Los Angeles and it revolves around a group of agents from various law enforcement agencies brought together to form a task force, which is assigned to investigate the murder of a Homeland Security agent in broad daylight. Their investigation soon leads them to a terrorist threat that could destroy the whole city.

Countdown – Episode Guide (When Will the New Episodes Come Out?) Credit – Prime Video

Countdown consists of thirteen episodes in total.

Monday night on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jensen Ackles made his Tonight Show debut to promote his new action-packed series, Countdown. During his appearance, he assured everybody that the show is a bit of a throwback. His new series is designed to give you the same nostalgic feel of movies and TV shows like Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, and The A-Team. Here’s what you need to know about the Days of Our Lives alum’s Prime Video thriller.

The Countdown is Up

Here’s what you need to know about Prime Video’s Countdown:

Synopsis

When an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum, portrayed by Ackles, 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,...

Jensen Ackles will be soon back on screens as Soldier Boy in both The Boys and its prequel series, Vought Rising, but before that he will be playing a very different role in Countdown, the Prime Video crime drama debuting on June 25, 2025. Ahead of its release, critics have been having their say on the show, which it turns out is as divided as it possibly could be.

Ackles has become incredibly popular from his roles in Supernatural and The Boys among other things, and his fans are always happy to welcome a new project led by the star. While viewers may be pleased with Countdown when it arrives on Prime Video on Wednesday, of the six critics to have reviewed the series, there is a 50/50 split in opinion over whether it is worth a watch or not. First up, the synopsis of the series reads:

“When an officer with the...

Plot: 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.

Review: There are many action and legal procedural series, ranging from Law & Order and NCIS to CSI and every other acronym you can think of. These series follow a prescriptive formula with the good guys chasing the villain and saving the day, usually in an episodic format. Kiefer Sutherland upended that formula with Fox’s long-running 24, which turned the action procedural into a serial narrative that had audiences glued for chapter after weekly chapter. Derek Haas, co-creator of NBC’s Chicago franchise of shows,...

Countdown is the latest attempt to marry the winning formula of the network police procedural with a more serialized prestige streaming format. While many have tried and failed to combine the two over the years, last year’s Cross comes to mind, the combination of a unique premise and a charming lead in Supernatural alum Jensen Ackles seemed to indicate that Countdown would be the one to finally get it right.

Did they get it right? Unfortunately, the short answer is no. No, they did not. The longer answer is that Countdown is the most agonizingly dull TV show I’ve watched this year. For the longest answer, you’ll have to keep reading. Though please bear in mind that this only applies to the first ten episodes, as that was what was made available to me at the time of writing.

Countdown plot Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) and Nathan...

Amazon’s Countdown suggests a cop show from the early 2000s. After a cold open featuring the murder of a Homeland Security officer by a group of somewhat incompetent assassins, Special Agent Nathan Blythe (Eric Dane) is tasked with amassing a team to bring the killers to justice. The series then barrels straight into an old-fashioned getting-the-gang-together montage as Blythe draws from different law enforcement agencies seeking out the best cops that L.A. has to offer—or at least the most archetypal.

Among them is L.A.P.D. officer Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles), who doesn’t follow orders, but, damn it, he gets results. Meachum immediately butts heads with the D.E.A.’s Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho), whose straight-talking style doesn’t gel with his glib attitude. Then there’s Evan Shepherd (Violett Beane), the obligatory computer dork, and her F.B.I. cohort Keyonte Bell (Elliot Knight), who rarely makes it through...

In Countdown, when an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) is recruited to a secret task force, alongside undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement, to investigate.

However, 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.

Earlier this week, we sat down with Countdown showrunner Derek Haas and stars Jensen Ackles (The Boys), Eric Dane (Euphoria), Jessica Camacho (Watchmen), Violett Beane (The Flash), Elliot Knight (The Boys), and Uli Latukefu (Young Rock).

In our latest interview, we catch up with Jessica and Violett to learn more about their roles as Amber Oliveras and Evan Shepherd. Both are pivotal parts of this task force, with Oliveras in the field and Shepherd providing tech support.

Of course, Countdown...

Countdown is Prime Video’s latest adrenaline-fueled crime thriller for 2025, blending high-stakes procedural drama with looming existential threats. Created and written by Derek Haas (One Chicago), it stars Jensen Ackles and Eric Dane leading a covert task force to unravel a conspiracy that could upend Los Angeles. The series pits fast-paced investigation against ticking-clock suspense, offering a gripping narrative filled with twists, political intrigue, and moral gray zones. Dive below for the full breakdown: plot, cast, episode schedule, streaming details, and more.

Plot Overview:

When a Department of Homeland Security officer is murdered in plain sight, LAPD Detective Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) is drafted onto an elite, multi-agency task force led by Special Agent Nathan Blythe (Eric Dane). Their mission: track the killer—and soon, they discover a sprawling conspiracy threatening millions in Los Angeles. As layers peel back, the team must contend with experimental tech, shadowy government secrets, and impossible ethical choices.

More than 13 years after co-creating Chicago Fire and thus helping sire the popular #OneChicago Universe, Derek Haas was looking to break free of the broadcast procedural formula, with Prime Video’s Countdown.

Luke Finau (Uli Latukefu), Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles), Keyonte Bell (Elliot Knight) and Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho) Courtesy of Prime Video

Created by Haas, Countdown is set in motion when an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight. Special Agent in Charge Blythe (played by Euphoria’s Eric Dane) in turn heads up task force “Hurricane,” comprised of LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Supernatural...

Jensen Ackles has made a name for himself as a massive television star. He gained recognition on the Jessica Alba cult-classic Dark Angel and in Smallville season 4 as a series regular. However, Ackles' most prominent role was as Dean Winchester on the series Supernatural for a staggering 15 seasons, running from 2005-2020. He would reprise his role as Dean on the short-lived The Winchesters where he also served as an executive producer.

Ackles has remained a mainstay on television, appearing in The Boys and its spinoff Gen V as Soldier Boy. He will return in The Boys season 5, where he will be reunited with his Supernatural co-star Jared Padalecki. Coming to Prime Video on June 25, Ackles is starring in a new thriller series that he compares to one of the greatest action movies of all time.

Ackles Compares Countdown To A Classic Bruce Willis Movie The Series Could Be Another Hit...

Jensen Ackles is stepping into a new kind of role, leaving behind the supernatural and comic book worlds he’s long been known for. In the upcoming Prime Video series Countdown, Ackles plays LAPD detective Mark Meachum — a character rooted firmly in the real world.

Unlike his past roles in Supernatural and The Boys, this time there are no demons, ghosts, or superpowers involved. Speaking with Collider’s Aidan Kelley, Ackles pointed out what makes this role different. “Well, he’s not having to chase ghosts or fight vampires or deal with demons,” he said. “He’s not having to deal with superhero powers. So, we’ve taken all the genre out of the stuff that I’m normally doing.”

This grounded approach gave Ackles the rare chance to do hands-on preparation. Instead of imagining fictional battles, he got to talk with real-life professionals to build his character. “I’ve met with some FBI agents,...

Jensen Ackles is back on screen, but this time he’s stepping away from the ghosts, demons, and superheroes. In his latest role, he plays a regular guy in a very real world. Ackles stars in the upcoming Prime Video series Countdown, where he takes on the role of LAPD detective Mark Meachum.

Speaking with Aidan Kelley from Collider at the show’s premiere, Ackles explained why this character feels different from anything he’s done before.

“Well, he’s not having to chase ghosts or fight vampires or deal with demons,” he said. “He’s not having to deal with superhero powers. So, we’ve taken all the genre out of the stuff that I’m normally doing.”

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Ackles, known for his roles in Supernatural and The Boys, said working on Countdown gave him a...

Jensen Ackles has held down a lot of character roles in his life, but his latest casting in Prime Video’s Countdown allows him to tap into something completely different. In his own words, the actor said his turn as LAPD detective Mark Meachum gave him the chance to get “into the real world.” While speaking with Collider’s Aidan Kelley on the red carpet ahead of Countdown’s premiere, the actor broke down what sets this character apart from, say, Supernatural’s Dean Winchester or The Boys’ Soldier Boy.

“Well, he’s not having to chase ghosts or fight vampires or deal with demons. He’s not having to deal with superhero powers. So, we’ve taken all the genre out of the stuff that I’m normally doing.”

Although he’ll always have a soft spot for portraying characters from a fantastical universe, Ackles said that Countdown allowed...