“Chicago Fire” and “Chicago PD” creator Derek Haas has partnered with Prime Video for his latest crime drama. “Countdown” follows an elite task force formed to track down a murderer after a beloved Department of Homeland Security officer is killed in broad daylight. Helmed by FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe (Eric Dane), the team is comprised of various law enforcement agents, including LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles), DEA Special Agent Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho), DHS Office Damon Drew (Jonathan Togo), FBI Special Agent Keyonte Bell (Elliot Knight), FBI Special Agent Evan Shepard (Violett Beane) and LAPD Detective Lucas Finau (Uli Latukefu). What begins as an intriguing adventure to find one culprit unveils a much bigger, years-long global conspiracy. Unfortunately, though the show has all of the fundamentals needed for an engaging action series, “Countdown” grows duller by the episode.
The 13-episode first season (critics received 10 for review) opens with a bang — literally. Robert Dardin (Milo Ventimiglia), a customs agent for the Department of Homeland Security, is accessing the docks at the Port of Los Angeles. However, it quickly becomes apparent that this isn’t a typical day for Dardin. Sometime later, stripped of his DHS jacket and wearing plain clothes, he heads to a meeting where his cover is immediately blown. Sensing imminent danger, Dardin makes a run for it. However, he’s fatally shot before he’s able to get away. Determined to find Dardin’s killer, Blythe forms his new underground operation, Task Force Hurricane, and the team starts digging into the dead customs agent’s finances and history, leading them down an ever-winding and rather bumpy road.
The special ops unit chases every lead possible, from bribes to Mexican drug cartels, a meddlesome L.A. District Attorney (Merrick McCartha) and corruption in the government of Belarus. Moreover, as the season progresses, aspects of the agents’ and detectives’ personal lives are gradually revealed, providing their new colleagues (and the audience) with a deeper understanding of who they are, as well as their personal baggage and professional expertise. Yet, none of it is that intriguing. Not one individual on the force is truly compelling or distinct. Backstories that should have added color to the main plot only weigh down the extremely thin storyline.
The main flaw of “Countdown” is that the task force’s mission is a snooze fest. Once Blythe, Henson and the team identify the big bad, the series spends a number of episodes unpacking the villain’s origin story at a snail’s pace. While Season 1 is meant to dive into a massive international conspiracy, the more information the audience receives, the less interesting the story becomes. Shortening the season by at least four episodes would have been a stronger choice, allowing the show’s pacing to match the genre. Additionally, although each member of the crew has their own particular skillset, the time spent on individual characters is uneven, and a smaller cast would have likely made things more effective.
After the season opener, “Countdown” squeaks along until Episode 10, “The Muzzle Pile.” Following the conclusion of Task Force Hurricane’s first assignment, the show flashes forward in time nearly a year, and a new mission is unveiled, one that is wholly more enticing than anything previously showcased in the series. Regrettably, critics were only given the first 10 out of 13 episodes for review, so it’s unclear whether this new assignment will make up for the less engaging one, which dominates the majority of the season.
In the end, despite its large cast and grandiose themes, “Countdown” ultimately falters due to its monotonous nature. Series centering on task forces are a dime a dozen across network and streaming platforms, and typically work best when they move at either a breakneck pace or are episodic. Additionally, each person on Team Hurricane from Meachum onward is someone viewers have already seen before. Without compelling storylines or characters, the show fails to make a significant impression.
The first three episodes of “Countdown” premiere June 25 on Prime Video with new episodes dropping weekly on Wednesdays.