Jensen Ackles' 13-Part Crime Series Deserves Better Than Its 35% Rotten Tomatoes Score

Published Oct 4, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT Alexandria is a British-Canadian writer with a passion for network TV. She has a bachelor's degree in computer science from Aston University, Birmingham. After initially working as a software tester, she rekindled a passion for writing and has written for blogs and publications like Hidden Remote, Make a Living Writing, and The Daily Voice. She has interviewed various actors and showrunners, with her most memorably being Tony Shalhoub and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. The summer of 2025 was packed with fun YA stories, intriguing crime dramas, and twisty horror. Then there was Countdown, a 13-episode action thriller that brought multiple agencies together to tackle one big problem. Jensen Ackles starred as Mark Meachum in the series, and with the former Chicago PD showrunner, Derek Haas, at the helm, there was hope that it would be an intense and exciting ride. Unfortunately, the series didn't perform as well as hoped, and Countdown was canceled after just one season. It left multiple storylines on cliffhangers, including the main case. Viewers will forever wonder if the team would figure out where Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho) had been taken and get to her before she was killed by the man they were after. Looking back, the series received a lot of negativity that was unjustified. Sure, it wasn't the best series ever written, but it wasn't as bad as critics made it out to be. It definitely didn't deserve the 35% Rotten Tomatoes score that it ended up gaining. Even audiences agree, as the site's Popcornmeter gives the show 63%. This was a series made for pure entertainment, and that's exactly what everyone got. Fortunately, Ackles has a chance to make up for Countdown's cancellation. Not only does he have Vought Rising coming, but MGM+ has announced its new crime drama, Rules of Prey, crowning Ackles the King of Prime Video Detective Series. This is a series that will need time to develop and build, and hopefully, the Amazon subsidiary will give it that chance. It's No Masterpiece, But Countdown Isn't As Bad As Its RT Score Suggests Countdown's 35% Rotten Tomatoes score suggests that it's one of the worst TV shows Amazon MGM Studios has ever produced. That's the sort of score you'd expect for a series that's filled with plot holes, problematic storylines, and terrible acting. While the crime drama wasn't a masterpiece, it wasn't bad enough to deserve such a terrible score on the review site. Over the course of 13 episodes, viewers got something akin to Chicago PD and Fire Country in terms of quality. It was never designed to win over Emmy voters. From the beginning, it was clear that it was made for entertainment, allowing people to sit down after a long day at work and unwind. There were even some timely topics that came up, whether it was the threat of domestic terrorism and the growth of incel behavior. Countdown also had plenty of entertaining and intriguing arcs. While much of the focus was on Mark Meachum hiding his brain tumor and then eventually getting the medical help he needed, other main characters had backstories that could be further explored. Elliot Knight lived in his father's shadow, but had dreams of his own to rise through the ranks to become the FBI's first Black director. Violett had issues with her sister that deserved more time to explore and understand. Mixed with all that, Countdown delivered multi-episode plots that took time to unravel. It was uneven, with 10 episodes to tell one major threat and then just three episodes for the next. Since Countdown season 2, we've been left with the major cliffhanger at the end of the show's final episode. Nevertheless, it's clear that the series plot was intricately thought out. It had time to breathe, rather than being forced into a rushed episode-of-the-week format. Jensen Ackles Is Getting A Second Chance, But Countdown Isn't Still, Jensen Ackles gets a chance to lead another show. While Prime Video isn't U-turning on canceling Countdown, there is another shot at him bringing a fleshed-out lead detective who has secrets. MGM+'s Rules of Prey offers the opportunity for him to command the screen and a team, while working out the clues of a case. In fact, it offers the opportunity to do something Countdown couldn't manage in its 13-episode run. The new crime drama will have a season-long arc, offering time to develop the case, get to know the team as a whole, understand Lucas Davenport's backstory and current view of the world, and tease the bigger threat. There is something personal going on, with the serial killer purposely setting clues directed to Davenport, adding an extra layer to the overall story and creating an intense personal arc plot that threatens the integrity of the case. Release Date 2025 - 2025-00-00 Network Prime Video Showrunner Derek Haas Cast Jessica Camacho Amber Oliveras Directors Jonathan Brown, Avi Youabian, Lisa Robinson, Chris Grismer, Eric Stoltz, Tess Malone, Nina Lopez-Corrado Creator(s) Derek Haas