There’s something inherently satisfying when a team of ragtag individuals are put together for a high-stakes mission.
Whether it’s Brad Pitt and George Clooney assembling a new group in Ocean’s Eleven, or Tom Cruise setting up his next daring stunt in the Mission: Impossible franchise, teamwork does indeed make the dream work.
And when it comes to Amazon Prime Video’s latest series, Countdown, it is certainly no exception to that rule.
Created by Derek Haas, who is known for shows such as One Chicago and FBI: International, viewers are hailing it as a ‘wildly entertaining’ ride.
Following the murder of a Department of Homeland Security agent, Nathan Blythe (Euphoria star Eric Dane) puts together a task force of agents from various agencies who are each known for their unconventional methods.
The team includes Mark Meachum (The Boys star Jensen Ackles), Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho), Keyonte Bell (Elliot Knight), Evan Shepherd (Violett Beane), and Lucas Finau (Uli Latukefu).
Each of them works to track down the murderer; however, the search starts to reveal a much darker conspiracy that could endanger the lives of Americans.
Described by Collider as ‘wildly entertaining’, the 13-part series has received some mixed reviews after the opening three episodes dropped on the streaming service.
Writing on Rotten Tomatoes, viewer Natalia G said: ‘Really enjoyed the first three episodes. Full of action and thrill. All of the actors are doing an amazing job.
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‘The characters already seem to be well flashed out and I quickly became invested in their stories and what they are going through. Jensen Ackles as a lead is doing an amazing job.
‘Mark Meachum is a complex character that really is going through some dark stuff in his personal life. And Ackles portrayed that struggle beautifully. Can’t wait to see what’s next!’
Jade M added: ‘Loved it. Kept me on the edge of my seat! Am invested in the team, I need to know about them and I already care. Jensen Ackles was so very good but I was expecting him to be. The others were also very good.’
However, TV criticNick Schager from The Daily Beast wrote: ‘Clunky, simplistic, unbelievable, and inert, it’s a show that manages the impressive feat of being generic in absolutely every respect.’
Ross McIndoe from Slant Magazine also argued: ‘The series feels like a cop show from an older, more conservative era of television.’
This comes as viewers are also rushing to binge an ‘excellent’ crime drama on Amazon Prime Video that offers a new perspective on a comic book classic.
Created by Bruno Heller, Gotham follows James ‘Jim’ Gordon’s early days at the Gotham City Police Department.
Based during the period after the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents, the series has received high praise from fans.
Writing on IMDb, where it currently has a 7.8 rating, hgdybecker described it as a ‘different take on the Batman universe – but a very good one’.
Earlier this month, Countdown star Dane broke his silence after receiving a heartbreaking ALS diagnosis in April.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often referred to as one of the most cruel diseases a human can face, and is a progressive neurological disease that is almost always fatal.
Speaking with Good Morning America’s Diane Sawyer, the former Grey’s Anatomy star defiantly vowed ‘I don’t feel like this is the end of me’.
‘I wake up every day and I’m immediately reminded that this is happening,’ he said.
‘I don’t think this is the end of my story. I don’t feel like this is the end of me.’
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