There’s a new crime thriller available to watch, and it’s perfect for Supernatural and Chicago PD fans. It’s all about Countdown on Prime Video.
This series certainly gives us a look at what Dean Winchester could have been like had he not been raised as a hunter. It also gives us a look at why multiple agencies should work together if they want to bring down the biggest threats in the world, as each member of Nathan Blythe’s (Eric Dane) task force has an important role to play.
We have a series that focuses on a major conspiracy, which all starts with the murder of a Homeland Security officer in broad daylight. The team needs to get to the bottom of a major nuclear threat, but can they find the man who is behind it all?
Countdown age rating: This is something for the older teens and up
This is one of those shows that older teens could certainly appreciate. There’s a lot of action, and a great plot that has to be worked out as the episodes develop. Just as the task force thinks they have an answer, there’s another curveball thrown their way. However, there are some heavy topics, and you’ll want to be aware of them going in.
Sex & nudity: There isn’t any of this in the first few episodes, and I don’t suspect we’ll see too much of it as Countdown continues. There is one scene where a character is in bed, but he’s being woken up by his daughters, and he’s fully clothed.
Violence & gore: Countdown is heavy on the violence and the gore throughout the first three episodes. In fact, one character is shot, and you can visibly see the wound as the blood spreads out. There are also multiple scenes with hand-to-hand combat as well as gunfights, and the characters tend to have wounds and bruises after their incidents.
There is also a character who takes his own life during an episode. This is shown graphically on the screen, pulling us into the backstory for another character. On top of this, you’ll see that scene pop up in photos in a later episode.
This is sure to get worse as the series goes on. By being on Prime Video rather than a broadcast network, Derek Haas, the creator of Countdown, has been able to get far grittier than he did with Chicago Fire and FBI: International.
Language: There are a couple of F-bombs dropped now and then, but the language isn’t as heavy as you would expect for a crime thriller. The S-word, B-words, and words like “hell” and “damn” are the most common ones uttered.
Alcohol & drugs: The characters are adults, and there are a couple of scenes with drinking. However, it’s the drugs that are the bigger part of the story, as the task force needs to transport drugs over the border while undercover to help start their investigation. One of the main characters is a suspected drug addict, and that character keeps a block of drugs, which comes up in later episodes.
Overall verdict: Who is Countdown appropriate for?
This series is mostly made for adults, and there are a lot of heavy topics that include grief and revenge. However, the series could work for some older teens, especially those who love the likes of Chicago PD and Reacher. There are plenty of action scenes, and there’s a great conspiracy for them to work out.
I wouldn’t put the series on with younger children wandering around. While they won’t be interested in the story, some of the violent scenes could give them nightmares, even if they just see those scenes in passing.
Countdown airs on Wednesdays on Prime Video.