Jensen Ackles is not ready to hang up his badge, and honestly, neither are we. Prime Video has canceled Countdown after just one season. Ackles, who starred as LAPD detective Mark Meachum in the crime drama, reacted in a recent interview with Variety:
I think it was a smart writer choice to kind of wrap up the Season 1 storyline with three episodes to go. It gave Derek an opportunity to start building towards a next big case and a next big sendoff, and it obviously leaves Season 1 ending on a huge cliffhanger.
Ackles says the writers purposely ended Season 1 early to kick off a new mystery and build momentum for Season 2. Now, he’s hoping that Amazon and the fans give it enough love to bring it back, because if not, all that setup will be wasted:
Obviously, it would s*ck if it just ends there!
The show’s Season 1 finale, Your People Are in Danger, left fans dangling over a massive cliffhanger, one that Ackles believes was intentionally created to set up a thrilling Season 2. “It was designed to lead into Season 2,” he says of the narrative twist that introduced a new case involving a deadly sniper targeting the President and California’s Governor, 10 months after Meachum defeated Volchek and underwent a risky brain surgery.
What happened in those 10 missing months? Ackles cheekily jokes, “He probably buried himself in Amazon Prime television.” But beneath the humor, he teases a deeper arc: “He struggled quietly and got back to being capable of doing what he needs to do.” Whether those silent struggles ever make it to the screen now remains a cruel what-if.
Jensen Ackles Reflects on Supernatural, Soldier Boy, and How He Chooses New Roles
Jensen Ackles, who’s spent over 30 years gracing Hollywood’s screens, from soap operas (Days of Our Lives) to sci-fi (Dark Angel), superhero flicks (Smallville), and legendary long-form fantasy (Supernatural), hasn’t slowed down since Dean Winchester took his final ride in the Impala.
When asked how he picks roles post-Supernatural, Ackles says it’s never about chasing a character; it’s about the people behind the scenes. He shared with Variety:
It was more the opportunity to work with people who I admire and trust and know I’m going to have a good time telling a story with, and I’ve been very fortunate so far.
Names like Derek Haas, Eric Kripke, and Elwood Reid top that list, creators who know how to create tension, grit, and heart, often all at once. Still, Supernatural remains the beating heart of his career. He doesn’t shy away from the Dean Winchester legacy. In fact, he leans into it. “I’ve always loved it and embraced it, always,” Ackles adds.
There’s a reason I did it for 15 years… I’m very proud of what we all did on that show.
One of his most jarring departures from Dean’s moral compass was Soldier Boy in The Boys, an anti-hero soaked in violence, sarcasm, and regret. Playing the same character across timelines, from the grizzled vet in The Boys to the prequel’s younger version in Vought Rising, Ackles is peeling back psychological layers fans didn’t know they needed. He explained:
You start to see him before he has necessarily the swagger and the gravitas and the life lived of 75 years of being the top dog.
Still, it was Countdown that brought him back to a more grounded reality, a man racing not only against terrorism, but his own mortality. And it may just be one of his finest performances… cut too short.
Disappointed Jensen Ackles Calls Countdown Cancellation ‘a Bummer’
When Countdown was axed, it wasn’t just a scheduling update; it was a gut punch. After all, Jensen Ackles had been vocal about wanting to return for a second season. His reaction? Simple, and sincere (via Instagram):
As some of you may have seen already, Countdown did not get picked up for another season. Amazon’s gonna let it go. And it’s a bummer, because I had such an amazing time making that show. I had an absolute blast with the cast and the crew.
Here’s a quick recap of what was lost:
Ackles starred as Mark Meachum, backed by an ensemble that included Jessica Camacho, Eric Dane, and Jonathan Togo. The show’s original 13-episode arc wrapped its central terrorist plot early, pivoting in the final three episodes to a political sniper thriller. It was a bold, creative choice and one that was meant to launch Season 2.
Ackles remained gracious. He thanked Amazon, Derek Haas, and especially Vernon Sanders for backing the vision. But he didn’t hide his letdown either: “We’ll see you down the road on something else, I guess.” It’s the kind of heartbreak only those truly invested in their job can convey without bitterness.
And while the screen goes dark on Countdown, Ackles’ calendar doesn’t. He’s locked in for Tracker Season 3 and Vought Rising, ensuring his fans won’t go Ackles-free for long. But can Countdown be revived elsewhere if fan demand soars? Did Countdown deserve a Season 2? Should Amazon have held the line? Sound off in the comments below!
Countdown Season 1 is now streaming on Prime Video.
