Amazon may not have found the nextReacherjust yet—but that hasn’t stoppedCountdownfrom 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 fromOne ChicagocreatorDerek 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 dramaWe Were Liars. With a weekly release schedule that kicked off July 1, only three episodes have aired—but that’s allCountdownneeded 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. TheReachercomparisons were inevitable. Since debuting in 2022,Reacherhas become one of Amazon’s biggest hits, spawning multiple seasons and even laying the groundwork for a planned spin-off centered on fan-favourite character Neagley (played byMaria Sten).Reacherhelped establish Prime Video as a destination for “dad TV” — punchy, no-nonsense action dramas starring gravel-voiced men with past trauma and excellent aim and giant hands.
EnterCountdown.The show starsJensen Acklesas LAPD detective Mark Meachum, who assembles a team of agents from various law enforcement agencies to solve the murder of a DHS officer. What begins as your classic murder mystery slowly turns into something more sinister, as a sprawling conspiracy begins to take shape. The cast also includesJessica Camacho,Eric Dane,Violett Beane,Elliot Knight, andUli Latukefu, giving the show a fast-paced procedural energy with a hint of espionage edge.
Is ‘Countdown’ Any Good?
Critics weren’t sold.Countdowndebuted with a 50% criticsscore before slipping to 36% as more reviews trickled in. As of now, the 36% score is based on just 14 reviews—meaning it could still shift. Still, the early consensus is that whileCountdownhas energy and star power, it hasn’t found the tight focus or character depth that elevatedReacherfrom pulp to prestige-adjacent.
That said, audiences don’t seem to mind. Viewers have praised the chemistry between Ackles and Camacho, the tight pacing, and the episodic cliffhangers. And let’s face it—sometimes a good crime thriller just needs a handsome lead, some tactical vests, and a high body count.
