Critic Reviews

Countdown isn't quite original enough in its premise to completely feel like a breath of fresh air. Still, it capably makes use of compelling characters, strong performers, and an evolving situation with dangerous implications.

Regardless of some of my problems with the show's narrative, Countdown does largely succeed thanks to its stylish and effective action. Whether it's a fast-paced foot pursuit through crowded LA markets, tense shootouts or car chases having a mix of hand-to-hand combat and vehicular action, Haas and his creative team deliver plenty of exciting setpieces that keep things moving.

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 Prime Video formula has zapped the concept of everything that made those shows [CSI, NCIS] work. What’s left is an overly mechanical, largely lifeless run-through of a law enforcement team-up, without enough texture to make it all that unique or memorable.

Unfortunately, though the show has all of the fundamentals needed for an engaging action series, “Countdown” grows duller by the episode.

Countdown starts to run out of steam around the seventh of its 10 episodes. That leads to a couple of hours of wheel-spinning followed by a finale so bafflingly anti-climactic that you’d need a team of whip-smart detectives to figure out how things went so badly wrong.

Clunky, simplistic, unbelievable, and inert, it’s a show that manages the impressive feat of being generic in absolutely every respect.

While I’m sure a twist could have spackled over the abrupt unraveling, I’m doubtful it would have made Countdown good. Where things concluded after the tenth episode was not a place I’m interested in going.

Countdown pretty much uses every action procedural cliche to piece together a plot and cast of characters that are neither exciting or interesting.

The show is very bad, to be clear. It’s bad at being suspenseful, it’s bad at providing emotional investment and it’s bad at being memorable. It feels cynical and uninterested in itself. It provides the bare minimum of every element, digs no further, then loudly insists it’s providing a service.