Designated Survivor - Review

(ABC/Bob D’Amico)

President Kirkman is back. And thank goodness he is, we sure did miss him. Or, more accurately I missed him. I had forgotten what it was like to have an empathetic and thoughtful leader in the White House. But alas, I digress.

Season 2 picks up with a rebuilt Capitol building and an ever complaining press pool. President Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) is one year into the role of most powerful man in the free world. And well, let's just say the year was not without it's issues.

In case you missed the freshman year of "Designated Survivor" here is what you need to know. The entire American government is killed off in an attack on the Capitol while the President is giving his state of the union speech. Tom Kirkman, a low level cabinet member, is shoved into the presidency as he is the 'designated survivor' (side note: this is one of the more engaging pilots to hit air in recent seasons).

Fast forward twelve months past Kirkman's VP being murdered, an assassination attempt, and an ever hungry press pool, the President finds himself in somewhat calmer waters. That is for about 6 minutes. For that is when hijackers take over a plane with Americans on board forcing diplomacy from the Commander in Chief.

Getting a new White House badge this season is newly appointed White House Political Director Lyor Boone, played by Paulo Costanzo. Very little is known about the new addition except that he is brought on by Chief of Staff Emily Rhodes (Italia Ricci).

Boone is another voice in the Oval and has the task of taking a still novice President and making him more digestible. So far, he does a great job. He is perfectly nuanced in his quirkiness, yet decisive and unwavering (even when it comes to the water he drinks).

group DS

Paulo

Paulo1

(ABC/Ben Mark Holzberg)

His direction is a bit of a change from year one Kirkman. He was a little too passive in the first season. But, that was part of his charm. However, after seeing the first 3 episodes rest assured that President Kirkman has more of a bite in his second year.

Still at the Presidents side are White House Press Secretary Seth Wright, played by Kal Penn (who may be looking for corporate work?), Secret Service Agent Mike Ritter (LaMonica Garrett), and FBI agent Hannah Wells (veteran kickass actress Maggie Q).

Kal Pen

LAMONICA GARRETT

Maggie Q

(ABC/Bob D’Amico)

The fictitious world now knows who is responsible for the attack on the government and they are hot on his heels. Agent Wells and a new MI6 agent (an uber hot one at that) team up and track the culprit down. Look to see that come to a resolution at the end of the second episode, but not a complete resolution.

The show has definitely found it's pacing and rhythm. The formula for "Designated Survivor" isn't groundbreaking. Afterall, at its core it is a drama on a network and if that has taught us anything it's that if it aint broke, don't fix it. Nevertheless, the show does a solid job of exhibiting the dynamic of humans who just happen to work at the White House in addition to enticing some anxiety on a weekly basis.

Does the make believe world hit a little too close to home? You bet. In fact, according to Maggie Q at a Q&A for Tribecca TV, a reshoot was necessary of the season finale because it was eerily similar to recent news headlines. That however is part of the charm of the show. Afterall, Kal Penn was in fact part of the Obama administration as part of the Arts and Humanity Council and would lead to a consulting credit on the show. He would later resign under the Trump administration.

(Facebook.com/kalpennofficial/)

So, what will the season hold for President Tom Kirkman, the designated survivor? Well if the first few episodes are any indication then it will be more of what we saw in season one, only improved.

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