Counting down all the reasons to watch Countdown on Prime Video

If you’ve been craving an all-out action series that feels like a classic network procedural but with more grit, Countdown on Prime Video is ready to deliver. Starring Jensen Ackles as a rough-edged LAPD detective and Eric Dane as the head of a new inter-agency task force, the series launches with a dramatic murder, a secret mission and a looming national threat.

With Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, and Jonathan Togo rounding out the high-stakes team, this one’s loaded with drama, dysfunction and danger. Here’s what makes Countdown worth a watch.

A task force built for chaos (and action)

When a Homeland Security agent is murdered, FBI SAIC Nathan Blythe assembles a cross-agency team that includes everyone from an undercover LAPD detective fresh out of prison to a DEA agent who’s just escaped cartel captivity. From shootouts to shaky alliances, every episode throws his crew into messier, more explosive territory.

Personal baggage meets professional danger

This isn’t just about chasing the bad guys. The characters are all carrying secrets — Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) is hiding a terminal diagnosis,Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho) has a complicated history with addiction and Damon Drew (Jonathan Togo)  is mourning the loss of his son. Emotional landmines are everywhere and they collide with the mission in ways that keep the tension high.

The threat? radioactive and very real

As the team investigates, they uncover a plot that’s way bigger than cartel smuggling. Someone is trying to sneak in fissile material to build a radioactive weapon — and it’s up to this mismatched crew to stop it before it’s too late. The stakes? Oh, just the potential destruction of Los Angeles.

If you like your thrillers loud, fast and character-packed. Countdown is an easy pick. It’s packed with secret missions, messy team dynamics, personal demons and plenty of action to keep things moving. Some viewers have noted that it leans into familiar tropes and plays things a little safe plot-wise — but with 13 episodes to go, there’s still plenty of room for the story to surprise us. Besides, who doesn’t love a good doomsday clock to spice by their weekend watchlist?