Countdown on Prime Video: Does Jensen Ackles' character have terminal illness in the latest crime drama? Explored

Prime Video's newest crime drama entry, Countdown, is now the talk of the town, and viewers are already comparing it to big franchises like Alan Ritchson's Reacher. The show is set in Los Angeles and has an overall gray tone with pockets of comic relief.

Though Countdown's numbers on RT do not reflect a good critical review so far, the show has managed to maintain a good streak in terms of streaming success. The star-studded cast of Countdown is led by Supernatural icon Jensen Ackles, whose character has been portrayed as an LAPD officer with undercover experience.

But sadly, Ackles' character Mark Meachum is seen suffering from a serious brain condition, which has already added a sad layer to his character arc. Let's find out more about what might lie in the future for Officer Mark.

Does Mark Meachum have a terminal brain tumor in Countdown? Here's what we know

The story of Countdown unfolds in the city of Los Angeles, where a Homeland Security officer's unnatural death sparks tension among the FBI. As a result, FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe assembles a unique task force to investigate the matter with the assistance of Senior Agent Damon Drew. And Officer Mark Meachum also comes on board after having spent his time in prison as an undercover cop.

As further drama unfolds, it turns out that the sudden death of the federal officer is a part of a larger conspiracy involving an ex-Belarusian army official named Borys Vusovich, aka Volchek. Volchek has dangerous plans in place to blow up the whole of LA, and his terrorist plot is apparently an act of revenge.

Consequently, Mark and his team, led by Agent Blythe, directly get involved with the operation to stop Volchek. But sadly, our hero, Jensen Ackles' Mark Meachum, does not bring good news for us. And it is kind of surprising how Countdown brings his sad revelation too early in the show.

After a number of fights and chess in Countdown Episode 1 titled "Teeth in the Bone," Mark is seen visiting his doctor to get his frequent headaches checked. It is at this point that we learn he is suffering from a disease called glioblastoma multiforme, which is also commonly known as a brain tumor.

Moreover, his MRI scan on the doctor's computer screen reveals that the tumor has progressed a lot, and as it appears, Jensen Ackles' Mark Meachum does not have a lot of time left. While this revelation comes out of the blue for the viewers, it seems that our protagonist, Mark, has been battling it all by himself for a long time now.

That's why we often see him rubbing his head - showing signs of uneasiness. However, he doesn't reveal this sad news to anyone on the team (until later, when he only tells Detective Oliveras about the tumor). As we witness all throughout Countdown, Mark is a character who is hell-bent on getting to the root of the case and preventing Volchek from inflicting an irreversible blow on his country. Apparently, even a terminal illness does not seem to break or lessen his determination.

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