Fans were stunned when Prime Video pulled the plug on Countdown, Jensen Ackles’ hit crime thriller, just a few months after its debut. The show had all the makings of a success: an action-packed story and a strong lead, yet the streamer decided to end it early. Here’s a look at why Countdown won’t be back for Season 2.

Why Prime Video canceled Jensen Ackles’ Countdown Season 2

Countdown premiered on Prime Video in June 2025 and immediately grabbed viewers’ attention. The series followed Jensen Ackles as LAPD detective and former Army Ranger Mark Meachum, who joins a secret task force to investigate the murder of a Homeland Security officer.

What starts as a routine case quickly turns into a high-stakes race to stop a terrorist attack after the team uncovers a dangerous conspiracy. Countdown was meant to feel like a throwback to classic action dramas.

Ackles described the show to The Hollywood Reporter as “It was everything I grew up loving about entertainment. There was action and salty characters — there was the ‘will they or won’t they,’ are they going to make it? Are they going to save everyone and catch the bad guys? It was a bit of a throwback, and I gravitated to it.”

At first, the show looked like a clear hit. It spent weeks in Prime Video’s Top 10 and even appeared on Nielsen’s streaming charts. But just two months after its premiere, Amazon unexpectedly announced its cancellation in October 2025.

According to Deadline, the main reason for the show’s cancelation was its poor global viewership. Although it performed well in the U.S., it failed to attract enough international viewers to justify another season. Despite strong performances and action, it earned only 35% on Rotten Tomatoes, and interest dropped after the first few episodes.

Lead actor Jensen Ackles expressed his disappointment in a heartfelt Instagram video, thanking the cast, crew, and Prime Video. Fans were equally upset, especially since the final season ended on a major cliffhanger with Agent Amber – a moment that now will remain unresolved for the fans.