Instagram/@jensenackles
Jensen Ackles has made it clear that he is no longer going to be a part of ‘Countdown,’ the Amazon series which was the actor’s great project, coming to an end suddenly. The artist revealed the news through his social media account saying that he was thankful for the opportunity given, though he would rather have it done differently, i.e., not ending so abruptly. He also extended his gratitude to the rest of the cast and crew as well as to Amazon for the support and expressed his disillusionment at the same time with the fact that the ultimate decision was not in their hands.
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Social media users and actor’s co-workers supported him heavily, showing their grief over the cancellation of the series with Jensen Ackles being the protagonist and the plot being left in the air. ‘Countdown’ was the part of the scenario creator Derek Haas and the Amazon executive Vernon Sanders, the two people whom he especially thanked. “There are times when you might be working your hardest and going through your checklist,” Ackles contemplated, “but then it turns out that it’s not even totally in your hands.” His caption was more concise than his words, “Thanks. everyone who watched and supported. #countdown RIP.”
Mainly due to the show’s cliffhanger ending, the announcement turned out to be very difficult for the audience who had become attached to the show. One user expressed the common feeling of the fans very well: “NOOOOOO, I need to know, this shows deserved a finally.” The cancellation leaves many storylines unresolved and this has been a cause of frustration to the fans, which was the case with many commenters.
The first to publicly support the show was Jared Padalecki, Ackles’s ‘Supernatural’ co-star, who remarked, “Their loss brother. You were amazing in it. Which is no surprise to ANYBODY. I’ll still be re-watching. And I can’t wait to see what you do next.” Quickly, Padalecki’s comment became the center of attention, one user responding enthusiastically with, “Time for more Supernatural,” while another simply stated, “jared speaking facts.”
news regarding the cancellation of ‘Countdown’ led to a debate about the decision-making process of streaming services. One user asked the question, “why do all the good shows get cancelled,” and a lively discussion followed full of agreeing and criticizing. Some responses showed a cynical view of the situation, claiming that the companies were “money hungry,” while others shared the names of their recent cancellations like ‘The Resident’ and ‘9-1-1: Lone Star,’ which they did not appreciate. A more practical viewpoint was offered by another user: “Because people are finished tossing money at big brands like Amazon for entertainment.”
Even international fans managed to convey their support without even having the same language. A few comments from people who speak Portuguese were added, and one user jokingly wrote, “I didn’t understand anything but I agree with you love of my life,” and another wrote, “I don’t know what you said, but it’s true. I love you bbzão.” These comments don’t go unnoticed. The bilingual followers are quick to provide translations that help everyone understand the cancellation news.
A lot of the fans were more focused on Ackles’s future opportunities instead of lingering upon the disappointment. “Jensen, thank you for giving us Mark Meachum but I believe you can have better opportunities,” an optimistic fan wrote. A learning eye kept commenting, “You were so good there. This is definitely their loss, as season 1 was a masterpiece. Will definitely see what you do next.” It was almost a universal feeling—while ‘Countdown’ was upsetting, the fans kept the excitement about the upcoming Ackles’s move.
There were some comments that proposed an active step. “STAWPPP how could they not add another season, Countdown was acc such a fire show, time to start a petition,” one viewer with strong determination said. Another commentor directly tagged Amazon Prime and wrote, “Ow come on @amazonprime !!! Really?? Lov U Jensen!”
The personal cost that made Jensen Ackles’s victory was not lost to his fans. “We are all very disappointed it did not get picked up and feel bad for you and the whole cast,” one follower wrote. “We could tell how much you all got along. Sending a big hug to you and the whole cast. Jensen, we WILL see you down the road, we are always in the road with you so far.”
Even people from the industry expressed their disappointment. The writer Andie Winlocke wrote, “Jensen I am so sorry I LOVED it so much. Who knows maybe the book I’m writing will get sold as a movie—your inspiration—but here’s hoping you have a new one soon.”
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The series ‘Countdown’ has opened the door to another walk in the corridors of television that is full of sudden changes, where even well-received shows with loyal followers might disappear overnight. For Jensen Ackles, it marks the time to say goodbye to a character he had fun with, however, as both he and his fans confirm—the road of the career full of excitement and fan loyalty is just a little bit delayed. The massive reaction indicates that wherever Ackles goes, his audience will be there waiting for him. Fans had previously been excited when Jensen Ackles teased a new episode of Countdown.