It’s a shame Prime Video’s new action thriller Countdown didn’t premiere earlier this month, because it would’ve made a perfect Father’s Day gift.
Strong-jawed and action-packed, Countdown (debuting this Wednesday; I’ve seen the first three episodes) is a throwback to testosterone-heavy ‘80s TV dramas like The A-Team and Miami Vice, with lots of explosions, gunfights and car chases. In other words, it’s pure Dad TV, so it should fit in nicely alongside Reacher, Bosch and The Terminal List in the Prime Video library. The story is nothing groundbreaking, and we can see the screenwriting seams at times — but the action hits so hard that it hardly matters.
Supernatural veteran Jensen Ackles stars as Mark Meachum, an undercover LAPD detective who is recruited to join a top-secret task force after a federal agent is murdered in shocking fashion. (That murder, and the actors involved, let us know right away that this show means business.) Eric Dane plays the stone-faced head of the task force who assembles a dream team of agents to solve the murder… but the trail of clues soon leads them to a much larger danger that threatens pretty much everyone in Los Angeles.
Hailing from #OneChicago showrunner Derek Haas, Countdown feels like a CBS crime drama with a supercharged production budget, unafraid to drop big bucks on eye-popping stunts and large-scale action sequences. With film production fleeing Hollywood in droves these days, it’s also a nice reminder of the benefits of shooting in Los Angeles, with sun-soaked chase scenes through palm tree-lined streets. The rock soundtrack is like another character on the show, too, with the action scenes scored to screeching guitar riffs and pounding drums that match the show’s propulsive energy. (Dads everywhere will be happily head-banging along and playing air guitar.)
When the action stops, though, Countdown loses nearly all of its momentum. (It’s almost a signal for Dad to go grab another beer.) The threat of citywide annihilation is certainly a compelling starting point for a thriller, but the investigation scenes and flashbacks are a little snoozy. Ackles’ character throws out a few wise-ass remarks, but the witty banter is not really all that witty. The team’s path is implausibly easy, too, as they elicit convenient confessions and stumble upon a terrorist’s master plans. Plus, the scripts try to yank on our heartstrings with some maudlin moments that don’t quite land, including a grim twist for one main character that feels tacked on just to add some emotional stakes.
With his gravelly voice and unflappable demeanor, Ackles makes a more than capable action hero. As DEA agent Amber Oliveras, The Flash alum Jessica Camacho is impressively badass, shining above and beyond what’s on the page. Dane, meanwhile, is so deadly serious here as team leader Nathan Blythe, it’s like he’s contractually forbidden from cracking a smile. He looks the part of the no-nonsense boss, though, and Countdown looks the part of a satisfying, if forgettable, action thriller. It doesn’t always hit on all cylinders, but it delivers the fireworks we’re looking for from a show like this. It’s like a battering ram slamming through a screen door: not very subtle, but undeniably effective.
THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: Prime Video’s Countdown is a testosterone-heavy thriller that delivers big action, even when the story doesn’t hold up. Your dad will love it.