Designated Survivor

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Season 1
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 254 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 162 out of 254
  2. Mixed: 38 out of 254
  3. Negative: 54 out of 254
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User Reviews

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  1. santiagodraco
    Oct 13, 2016
    4
    Just not feeling it.

    So many far fetched and intetionally sensational scenarios that push suspension of disbelief beyond reasonable limits. Generals that talk and act like 2 year olds. Governors that seem to think it's the 60s all over again. Over and over. This show is, unfortunately, getting tiring already.
  2. mbergz
    Nov 15, 2016
    5
    Can they please stop saying, "with all due respect" every 20 minutes? And why isn't the country in total chaos? It makes no sense to be talking about Syrian Refugees at all! And the governors interrogating the president? ahhhh! I think I've given this show enough of my attention. Back to 24 reruns.
  3. Cromm
    Oct 17, 2017
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Oh dear, what has happened? Series one was fun and momentum-fuelled. Series two attempts to ramp up the West Wing / House of Cards pretensions and fails, whilst maintaining the investigative threads as a sideshow and introducing overblown episodic scenarios (the airline hostage situation, for example) that have crass personal connections levered in with no subtlety. The super-baddy is reduced to a whining sociopath within 2 episodes and the scripts need some serious work. Clumsy attempts to generate "will-they-won't-they" in the White House, or the mock-friction between the guys in the investigative team left me laughing rather than intrigued. Oh dear, this series is going down the pan.… Expand
  4. jeremyp
    Nov 18, 2016
    6
    What starts off well all too soon veers into familiar prime time simplistic plot lines and ludicrous scenarios. If Madame Secretary is written for middle schoolers this is for high school frosh. The average voter can follow along and it is condescendingly plot twisty enough to make people think they are being immersed in the world of high brow television, but it's just a meandering taleWhat starts off well all too soon veers into familiar prime time simplistic plot lines and ludicrous scenarios. If Madame Secretary is written for middle schoolers this is for high school frosh. The average voter can follow along and it is condescendingly plot twisty enough to make people think they are being immersed in the world of high brow television, but it's just a meandering tale dressed up to look like Homeland. We all know that Kiefer's POTUS will soon enough morph from mid west joe into Jack Bauer.… Expand
  5. RichardGonci
    Apr 14, 2017
    4
    Geez, just wanna like anything that Kiefer Sutherland stars in (and produces.) But, the writing for this show is so puerile and sophomoric that I want to use it when I teach, as in "How not to do it!" I'm pretty sure some members of this cast could deliver better lines improvisationally! When Kiefer speaks as the President, he is so wooden you would think there was a 2x4 up his sphincter!Geez, just wanna like anything that Kiefer Sutherland stars in (and produces.) But, the writing for this show is so puerile and sophomoric that I want to use it when I teach, as in "How not to do it!" I'm pretty sure some members of this cast could deliver better lines improvisationally! When Kiefer speaks as the President, he is so wooden you would think there was a 2x4 up his sphincter! Kiefer doesn't do "inspirational." He's not his father (the truly great Donald Sutherland.) He does action. I will keep watching because the side plots are engaging, but also stupid, as in unassisted assaults. BTW, I totally agree a with previous reviewer named "robmixalot!" Except he used an accent grave over the word "cliche," instead of the proper accent aigu. But, as an award-winning 3D-HD creative director, I also must agree with his evaluation of the SFX... third-rate junk! But, again, I am a hopeless junkie who will keep watching this show. BTW, the middle-aged Republican leader of the House is hotter than Kiefer's own wife who looks a bit like a "Stepford Wife!"… Expand
  6. kingjay
    Oct 27, 2017
    4
    The show started nicely in season 1 but has become a downwards spiraling trainwreck since. Poison attack! Politician shot! Every episode needs another crisis. And an the other hand some really awful 'humor' with Lyor. It's really, really, really bad.
  7. ShaMana
    Mar 29, 2018
    4
    Started fairly promising, political intrigue, a mystery and a conspiracy which all wen't nowhere! At this point the show is "I love him and she isn't sure" and "AMERICA HELL YEAH" we solve everything with a mediocre motivational speech. I'm out
  8. EPMD
    May 5, 2017
    5
    The original premise for the show was very interesting. They could have blown that out into 10+ episodes of solid TV, but the writers had other ideas. They piled on crisis after crisis, and the writing just hasn't been good enough to pull off that degree of difficulty. The dialogue and twists are cheesy and eyeroll-inducing. The show is guilty of lecturing its audience in a way that WestThe original premise for the show was very interesting. They could have blown that out into 10+ episodes of solid TV, but the writers had other ideas. They piled on crisis after crisis, and the writing just hasn't been good enough to pull off that degree of difficulty. The dialogue and twists are cheesy and eyeroll-inducing. The show is guilty of lecturing its audience in a way that West Wing only sometimes got away with. There aren't enough positive moments. It's just a giant tragedy with way too many music-swelling moments and crappy dialogue.… Expand
  9. trash-46645
    Nov 9, 2017
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The show started off okay but steadily turned worse as you go through the plot. It might have been a good 2h spy-thriller movie if handled a bit differently I guess but it does not work very well as a series. I guess it has to do with the shows premise which sounds good on paper but when you actually see it just turns out dull after a while. But it gets worse. I managed to get to 18th episode and by that time it turned from dull to dumb, which is much worse. I expected to get some interesting conspiracy or perhaps some foreign power that was behind the attack, not a bunch of fascist rednecks. The show completely lost me at that point and I have no interest in watching more.… Expand
  10. DeadPixel81
    Nov 21, 2016
    5
    This show is, at best, average.

    I'm not a big drama person, but I acquiesce on that front so my wife and I can watch a show together. This show was at the top of our list. Unfortunately it has fallen to the bottom of my list after 4 episodes. Why do I want to watch a show where nothing ever goes right? You can literally take a look at any event that occurs in the show, imagine the worst    This show is, at best, average.

    I'm not a big drama person, but I acquiesce on that front so my wife and I can watch a show together. This show was at the top of our list. Unfortunately it has fallen to the bottom of my list after 4 episodes. Why do I want to watch a show where nothing ever goes right? You can literally take a look at any event that occurs in the show, imagine the worst possible outcome and you will have predicted what happens. No matter how far fetched the disastrous outcome seems, it will happen. Unless you like watching depressing content structured in a way to shove Liberal Thinking down your throat, avoid this.    … Expand
  11. Qldgamer
    Sep 24, 2016
    5
    This is a poor version of West Wing. It is a bit dull and the characters are mono-dimensional. The plot seems to struggle with actually getting some tension from the big event.
  12. Othrandur
    Oct 24, 2018
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have enjoyed Kiefer Sutherland in many of his roles, but in "Designated Survivor", he falls flat. Since he has been good elsewhere, I can only assume that this is due to bad writing and direction. And the writing and direction are horrendous! The dialogue feels like it was written by someone who wasn't good enough to write for a daytime soap opera and the directors render it in much the same way as a soap opera would, with exaggerated facial expressions and ostentatious dramatic pauses that foretell an impending commercial.

    The plots are naive to the point of stupidity, such as when government lawyers figure out a "clever" way to get around the Posse Comitatus Act at the last minute by having the FBI perform an action instead of the army. Doh! John Goodman was once in a comedy, "King Ralph", where he became the king of England because the royal family got electrocuted while taking a family photo. That comedy had a more solid plot than "Designated Survivor".

    Given the subject and setting, it's hard not to make comparisons with "The West Wing" and "Designated Survivor" loses spectacularly in every possible aspect. Where "The West Wing" trusted the viewers to be intelligent, "Designated Survivor" is written with the expectation that the viewers are complete morons.

    Character development and portrayal is on the same, low level as the writing and direction. The Tom Kirkman character is downright boring, especially when he opens his mouth. His attempts at motivation are reason enough for people to want to shoot him. The ineptitude of the writers make him sound illiterate, despite their failed attempts at making him seem eloquent. Kal Penn, who is very capable, clearly tries to make something positive from the pathetic lines he's given, but can't overcome the mediocrity of the writing staff. At least, he delivers the platitudes well. Maggie Q has moments where you can see that she has talent, but the writers and directors do a good job to bury that and turn her Hannah Wells character into an incoherent mess of clichés.

    To summarize, this show is like a daytime soap opera that is written by people who master neither politics nor the English language. I'm generous to give this show a 4.    … Expand
  13. MeritCoba
    Jan 7, 2017
    5
    When, during the State of the Union, almost every important politician is killed by a massive explosive that level the Capitol, Tom Kirkman, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development is propelled to the job of leader of the free world. It is up to him to deal with the 9/11 scenario and dissent within the country and within the white house staff.
    Kiefer Sutherland does his best to    When, during the State of the Union, almost every important politician is killed by a massive explosive that level the Capitol, Tom Kirkman, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development is propelled to the job of leader of the free world. It is up to him to deal with the 9/11 scenario and dissent within the country and within the white house staff.
    Kiefer Sutherland does his best to make the most of this uneven character and the cliche ridden story that requires some serious suspension of disbelief and makes everybody dumb so the key persons can look smart.
    Two episodes in and one could see it coming. Maggie Q plays an FBI agent who comes to the conclusion that there is something rotten in the state of Denmark when an unexploded bomb is found in the rubble of the Capitol which, upon investigation, seems to point to an obscure Muslim terrorist group. She does this by thinking hard, looking anguished and hanging around in a tent while other people do the hard work.. But wait a moment. What nutcase will even believe that IEDs have been used to blowup a building so big as the Capitol? You know how many of those devices you need for that? Think truckloads. It either is so obvious a plant that it was on purposely put there to fail as a plant or the writers just have no clue about explosives.
    Nobody else comes to the conclusion that there is something fishy going on. Yeah only smart people like Maggie Q do.
    Cliche upon cliche is served one after the other. The warmongering general who actually schemes to overthrow the president. The rebellious governor who gives free reign to police brutality(no doubt a Republican).
    The Republican senator Hookstraten, the only other survivor, who is obvious going to play Brutus with the president.The loner president who apparently has no friends. The irresponsible troubled teen age son who is into soft drugs. The bickering advisors who never seem to be able to give the president any sound advice.
    The president himself is like a wind vane in a hurricane: one moment he makes strong decisions, the next moment he looks around in panic and throws up.
    All in all, the show has an interesting premise, but even Kiefer Sutherland isn't able to save the cliche ridden story. It gets a five because of the acting, it loses five for the badly written story.    … Expand
  14. BioTofu
    May 8, 2018
    4
    I honestly thought the first half of the season was pretty good with much promises. some of those politicians openly rebelled against the central government didnt make much sense to me... but then it went full 24 with conspiracies mode with spies in every level of the government... jack bauer took over the show basically.
  15. AxeT
    May 11, 2017
    6
    Downgraded from an 8 rating. Whereas "House of Cards" is entertainment for adults, this is for 10 year olds. ABC/Disney now place diversity as their top priority over good story-telling, and this is the cartoon junk that results. Still, what a great premise! Unfortunately it's been blown coming to the end of the season by regurgitated Left wing headlines substituting for creativity.Downgraded from an 8 rating. Whereas "House of Cards" is entertainment for adults, this is for 10 year olds. ABC/Disney now place diversity as their top priority over good story-telling, and this is the cartoon junk that results. Still, what a great premise! Unfortunately it's been blown coming to the end of the season by regurgitated Left wing headlines substituting for creativity. Weak writers.

    The pilot for this series is off the charts great, and the high concept itself is a clear home run. It beats all the similar stupid White House disaster feature films out in recent years. Unfortunately it immediately devolves into a Leftist social agenda by the second episode with the same old cliché wrap up end ballad montage from former rock song formula. Still the writing is good and the story ratchets up the tension constantly with new wrinkles and developments which is what is best in any drama series. So far anyway...    … Expand
  16. YoloSwag4Doge
    Nov 25, 2016
    6
    I liked the show at first, but the plot seems way to oversimplified and doesn't always make a lot of sense. I was hoping for more of an apocalyptic, anarchy outcome, but instead it's basically a show about politics, conspiracies and every day relationship challenges.

    As an example of the plot not making a whole lot of sense, at one point a prisoner gives up the name of a terrorist. They    I liked the show at first, but the plot seems way to oversimplified and doesn't always make a lot of sense. I was hoping for more of an apocalyptic, anarchy outcome, but instead it's basically a show about politics, conspiracies and every day relationship challenges.

    As an example of the plot not making a whole lot of sense, at one point a prisoner gives up the name of a terrorist. They search the name in their database and don't find a match. At first they wonder if the prisoner was lying, which makes complete sense, but instead jump on the idea that it's a CIA conspiracy. They don't even touch upon two other more likely possibilities. One being that the terrorist simply isn't in a database, because the US doesn't know about every single terrorist in the world. Or, and I believe this is the most likely, the terrorist simply gave him a fake alias on the spot. I mean, why the **** would he give anyone that he's working with the exact same alias he's been using for years. Sure enough, a CIA informant gives up his file which comes complete with not just his alias, but his real name. For being an extremely dangerous terrorist, the guy isn't very good at hiding his identity.    … Expand
  17. copperroof1
    Dec 14, 2016
    4
    I looked forward to seeing Sutherland in another series after 24 but the unforgiving pace of conversation is too fast and constant, and the muttering and whispering too frequent. I had to watch episodes two or three times to understand all conversations. The pace should have been slowed down a bit to allow reflection. I am disappointed in the production when I compare it to 24.
  18. NIGHTOWL50
    Dec 27, 2016
    6
    Loved the premise of the show, but it's a bit far-fetched even for ABC. So the FBI agent can't call anyone about the attempted assassination or anything else that she's found? She has to go from place to place on her own? And the FBI and police can't find her, but the bad guys follow her everywhere? I mean, come on...the President is already suspicious of the senator/VP...any type of infoLoved the premise of the show, but it's a bit far-fetched even for ABC. So the FBI agent can't call anyone about the attempted assassination or anything else that she's found? She has to go from place to place on her own? And the FBI and police can't find her, but the bad guys follow her everywhere? I mean, come on...the President is already suspicious of the senator/VP...any type of info on him from the FBI gal would not go unheard. One phone call to the White House, FBI, or Secret Service and they'd be in on what she's chasing in a minute. ABC has a tendency to do this with all of their dramas...remember Revenge? Quantico? They start out well, and then always go downhill with ridiculous story lines. I understand it's fictional television, but at least have some credibility with your viewers. This is pure making-it-up-as-I-go stuff. I watched the first half of season one, and I think I'm done. At least Chicago P.D., NCIS, and other dramas - while a bit out there - are at least in the ballpark of reality with their story lines.… Expand
  19. Maxx71
    Jul 29, 2019
    4
    An interesting idea supported by stiff acting and sub-par dialogue. The characters are obvious and one dimensional.
  20. wy1Kk1r7sUKl
    Dec 2, 2018
    6
    It's a decent show. But every episode tries to wrap in the issues du jour. And it deals with most of them in the most cursory of ways. It's bad writing. Also, at times Keifer Sutherland's voice gets on my nerves.

Awards & Rankings

78
#78 Best TV Season of 2016
11
#11 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016
49
#49 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Dorothy Rabinowitz
    Sep 22, 2016
    50
    The problem comes in the second episode, along with a suddenly increased capacity to resist everything about Designated Survivor. Here we come up against the show’s message, or more precisely its gross political tendentiousness. ... Mr. Sutherland may not have been the best choice for the role of a virtuous milquetoast concealing a heart of steel--the milquetoast part dominates even when the steel is flashed.
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  2. Los Angeles Daily News
    Reviewed by: Rob Lowman
    Sep 21, 2016
    80
    It looks like Sutherland has another winner on his hands.
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  3. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Jen Chaney
    Sep 21, 2016
    80
    It’s smartly made, but it also doesn’t linger terribly long on details, including character development. ... If nothing else, there is something satisfying about seeing Sutherland as our president.
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