Designated Survivor delivered on its hype during its premiere, and the second episode proved that writers David Guggenheim and John Harmon Feldman do not plan to stop.
The show centers on America’s nightmare, when a bomb kills the president and all Cabinet members attending the State of the Union address. Suddenly, Thomas “Tom” Kirkman, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the designated survivor, becomes the president of the United States overnight.
Such a situation would likely disorient even the most experienced politician, but this unfortunate event only serves as an initial trigger to a myriad of problems that follow. As government and military officials scramble to figure out what to do, they send assistants and secretaries to gather information about their new president, virtually a nobody at the time, and what they find creates an immediate rift in trust.
But unlike most political distrust, Kirkman’s does not stem from a morally wrong past. Instead, it stems from Kirkman’s alarmingly limited political experience and the fact that he was asked to resign just that morning.
This original story arc makes the situation so much more compelling to watch. Viewers will consider Kirkman a relatable and convincing character. So as Kirkman attempts to win the people and other government officials over, his lack of expertise makes for much more satisfying drop-the-mic moments when addressing other politicians.
Stepping aside from the political side for a moment, the show also adds family crises to the chaotic nature of the whole situation. The show introduced the Kirkman family, consisting of Tom, Romeo and Juliet‘s Natascha McElhone as his wife Alex Kirkman and their two kids, in the very first scene, displaying a tight closeness among the four of them. Despite his occasional self-oriented tendencies and questionable judgment, even Leo, Kirkman’s 17-year-old son, displays a protective affection for his much younger sister, Penny, portrayed by Independence Day: Resurgence‘s Mckenna Grace. This can make Girl Meets World‘s Tanner Buchanan‘s young character seem a bit cliché, but in the midst of such a unique show, one can overlook it.
24’s Kiefer Sutherland does an incredible job of portraying Kirkman. He delivers a strong, convincing performance that captures the nature of Kirkman’s caring and headstrong character. Kal Penn, House actor and real-life civil servant, also does an excellent job making his character, Seth Wright, seem more authentic. As Kirkman’s speechwriter, Wright quickly transitioned from doubtful associate to one of Kirkman’s most faithful advisors. Penn’s background certainly translates quite nicely, as his character gently guides Kirkman with his own experience as the previous president’s speechwriter.
For viewers, only one concern regarding these moments may arise: repetitiveness. In the first two episodes, Kirkman spent much of his time fending off other politicians and military officials who criticized his every move. Each time, he proves them wrong in the end. Hopefully, the writers will diverge some more in the storylines. So far, though, they have thrown some curve balls to divert the audience’s attention to other more important issues, making the repetition dismissible for now.
Overall, Designated Survivor makes for a fantastic show with a lot of potential. Viewers can definitely expect enjoyable and gut-wrenching twists and turns as they, along with Kirkman, learn the ropes of the presidential role.
The Hilights
Show: Designated Survivor
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, Natascha McElhone, Kal Penn and Maggie Q
Genre: Political drama
Channel: ABC
Airs: Wednesdays at 10 p.m.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Click here for a review on Sully, and here for a review on the drama department’s production of the Improv Show.