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Countdown sadly doesn’t feature Series 91’s potential finalist, Amy Berry, from the popular Channel 4 daytime quiz that’s been running since 1982 and was their first ever programme, but that’s my cross to bear.
Still, in the Port of LA, cop Robert Darden (Milo Ventimiglia) is cornered by some baddies, but when originality and this drama are strange bedfellows, but can he give them the slip? Well, it’s safe to confirm an early mention that he’s been up to no good, getting $200,000 cash from those bad guys.
Also in a bind is DA Special Agent Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho), who’s been chained up by some baddies, but for a woman in today’s man’s, man’s world, it’s not an issue.
Elsewhere, for this team, as well as Amber, they have weird names like Keyonte for a man, and Evan for a woman. I think the writer got the character names from a Scrabble bag.
There’s all macho nonsense between the team, with seemingly more testosterone in Amber than any of the blokes!
Plus, when they go off on a raid, it’s all “Grab me Spellman’s address. Text it to me!” – Never heard of PLEASE?
Meanwhile, these cops argue in front of suspects, as if to slag each other off. It’s the oldest cop movie trope in the book.
It’s also considered okay to fire shotguns in close vicinity of colleagues, justifying it as “Well, I DIDN’T shoot you!”
And some cops have a complicated personal life, but it’s also allowed to go through your colleagues’ personal files and you won’t even get investigated for it, never mind get the sack!
Additionally, car chases have no safety concerns for residents; you just BAM through fences and SLAM into cars. Channel 5’s Motorway Cops would’ve called that off sooner!
Hang on, I gave the writers too much credit with the Scrabble reference. I think this came from typing “All Cop Clichés” into ChatGPT, including how cops don’t wear protective headgear, or any body armour. But then, neither do the baddies.
Oh, and there’s nuclear stuff gone missing, too. Apparently a weapon of mass destruction. Well, that’s got to be false. I doubt Jack Bauer has anything to worry about.
Overall, if you want people shouting at each other for almost an hour each time, knock yourself out. I’ll stick to Channel 4.
Countdown is on Prime Video from today.
It’s not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but if it is in future, it will be listed on the New DVD, Blu-ray, 3D and 4K releases UK page.
Cert: 
Running time: 40-50 minutes per episode (13 episodes)
Release date: June 25th 2025
Studio: Prime Video
Format: 2.39:1
Series Directors: Jonathan Brown, Lisa Robinson, Avi Youabian, Chris Grismer, Rashidi Natara Harper, Nina Lopez-Corrado, Tess Malone, Eric Stoltz
Producer: Mike Ganzman
Writer/Creator: Derek Haas
Music: Tony Morales
Cast:
Mark Meachum: Jensen Ackles
Amber Oliveras: Jessica Camacho
Nathan Blythe: Eric Dane
Borys Volchek: Bogdan Yasinski
Evan Shepherd: Violett Beane
Keyonte Bell: Elliot Knight
Luke Finau: Uli Latukefu
Heather: Rachel Armstrong
DA Grayson Valwell: Merrick McCartha
Andrej: Jonathan von Mering
Damon Drew: Jonathan Togo
Robert Darden: Milo Ventimiglia
Jim Talbott: Chet Grissom
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.