Designated Survivor follows Tom Kirkman, played by Kiefer Sutherland, after he is rushed into presidency following a catastrophic terrorist attack that killed everyone in the line of succession above him. Although the storyline behind the show can seem cheesy, the show itself is exceptionally interesting and seamless giving people a good look at what happens in Washington when the designated survivor needs to step into action.
The first episode starts off with Kirkman sitting in a hoodie drinking a beer in a secure location watching the president deliver his State of the Union speech, completely unaware that his life is about to change forever. In what seems like less than a minute after the TV cuts out, secret service agents immediately move Kirkman into a safe location where he can be sworn into presidency. Keep in mind he is completely unaware of what is going on and the confusion in the scene lasts up until Kirkman looks out the window and sees the Capital in flames.
Kirkman, who was formerly the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and recently “repositioned” by the president’s chief of staff, is overswept with anxiety. As a result has to get somewhere private and fully take in what has just happened. The execution of the process of Kirkman being rushed into presidency itself is very fast moving, making it reasonably believable considering the stress of the task. Likewise, it is also very interesting and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Kiefer Sutherland makes for a very likeable, honest president that most Americans would love to have and being premiered in this time of the 2016 election, Designated Survivor provides some political comfort even if it is only a TV show.
President Kirkman on the show establishes that he is a “straight shooter” and isn’t like any of the other politicians in Washington. This will make for an interesting season to see if he stays true to what he says he is or if the power of being President will begin to chip away at Kirkman’s integrity. On the other hand the one aspect that the show lacks but probably wouldn’t be achievable on television, is the effect of the killings of everyone in the Capital on the American people. Of course as Americans we would be able to move on but in the show people are already cracking smiles and jokes the very next day, which makes it a little bit more unbelievable that people are already accepting the fact that the former president and half of the Washington politicians are dead. Having said that, some of the show’s characters can be a little stereotypical such as the warmonger General and the racist Governor who’s sending his police out to attack Muslims but they do try to incorporate how different people would react in response to the terrorist attack.
Kirkman’s family are nothing too dynamic just a supporting wife, a rebellious teenage son who wants no responsibilities and a young daughter who doesn’t fully understand what exactly her new life is. This can be a bit overused in some tv shows but hopefully those characters will develop over time. Overall Designated Survivor is definitely a political thriller and family drama that you should consider watching.