Countdown Review: Action Series Tries to be Engaging But…

Countdown Review: In this Prime Video series, when a Department of Homeland Security officer gets murdered in broad daylight, the FBI creates a task force comprising the best and brightest in law enforcement. What starts as a complicated case becomes deadly too soon as the group realises that there is a very dangerous game afoot that might kill hundreds.

The series has 10 episodes, each with a runtime of around 50 minutes.

Countdown Review

Derek Haas’s Countdown is an ambitious series. With 10 VERY long episodes, it navigates the world of crime and tracks the burning urge to get revenge and make a mark all too well. Starring Jensen Ackles, who is well-known for his role in Supernatural as Dean Winchester, we track a shocking crime and the background of each and every character in the mix, including the antagonist, in a bid to have a memorable and immersive experience.

The series nails that more often than not, and gives us several situations of mystery and intrigue. However, I must say that it doesn’t do anything particularly new or breathtaking, so much so that you will be a bit bored throughout this 10-episode runtime. It’s the typical bad guy trying to blow up a big American city for one reason or another, and this motley crew of misfits, who are nothing short of amazing, have to band together to save humanity. It’s an age-old story, filled with action and impressive booms, but nothing too extraordinary.

To be very honest, I often found myself zoning out and had to force myself to pay attention as one thing led to another. The series keeps uncovering clue after clue, and after a while, you want it to come to an end. I get it, this is a huge crime ring with many complications, but just… let’s bring it all to a close, you know?

I also felt like the smallest of details were talked about for too long. Jumping from one clue to the next felt like a chore, and interestingly enough, you’d be able to see the pattern with the action-discovery-drama loop after a while. There are some interesting revelations, but nothing you won’t be able to figure out in a timely fashion yourself. I feel like the series, despite its big cast of characters and ambitious storyline, fails to be impactful for the most part. I found it a bit too predictable for it to be a nail-biter.

The characters are mostly interesting and have a fun chemistry. I liked Mark and Amber’s bickering and their character arc over the episodes. It’s quite organic. I liked the others as well, although most were a bit forgotten. I enjoyed everyone’s performance, and the action sequences were a win for me. They were smooth and felt real. Some moments were a bit silly or forgettable, but overall, it was a fine experience for me.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Countdown is too long. The storyline is predictable and, spanning over so many episodes, it tends to get stretched thin. If you enjoy action-thrillers, this one might be enjoyable. Just maybe don’t binge it in one sitting.

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