Designated Survivor

[dclpluto]

I to was really surprised of what happened last episode. someone we think is a good person is actually bad.

 

[dclpluto]

OK, I haven't really watched much, but I have episodes available on demand and have been watching a few episodes including the pilot.

One detail kind of bugs me, although I guess it makes sense as a plot point. In the pilot, Kirkland is assigned Mike as a Secret Service agent, and his family seems to know him well like he's part of his regular protective detail. As Secretary of HUD, he wouldn't have been assigned a Secret Service detail. Most cabinet secretaries are protected by their own department's law enforcement, although it looks like HUD pays Homeland Security for a detail by the Federal Protective Service, but not the Secret Service.

I suppose it advances the plot as bringing in a familiar person who can be part of his Presidential protective detail.

In real life the designated survivor does have secret service protection during the time he or she is the designated survivor. Once it's done they no longer have secret service protection.

 

[Claudia1]

Don't want to reveal too much but who do you think is the person in charge of the conspiracy? The VP's wife referenced them more than once and it sounded like they had declared an allegiance to him/her/an organization.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Don't want to reveal too much but who do you think is the person in charge of the conspiracy? The VP's wife referenced them more than once and it sounded like they had declared an allegiance to him/her/an organization.

I don't know. DH and I were wondering too!

 

[bcla]

In real life the designated survivor does have secret service protection during the time he or she is the designated survivor. Once it's done they no longer have secret service protection.

The familiarity of family members with Mike seemed to be too convenient though. No Secret Service agent with a one-day assignment is going to be recognizable to his protectee's kids.

However, the whole thing about being familiar with investigations makes sense. Anti counterfeiting and electronic crimes are the bulk what the Secret Service does. A field agent spends a lot of time doing that, although I've heard that they get tasked with visit preparations or investigating local threats to a protectee.

 

[Poohforyou]

Shocking and totally unexpected!!! This show is far and away our favorite of everything that premiered this fall. I'm wondering now though, with that turn of events - where can we go from here? That was a pretty final resolution of a story line that could have dragged on for several seasons. Has Designated Survivor been cancelled?

Did I miss something in that episode? It didn't seem clear to me who the mastermind is. I have some theories though

 

[Claudia1]

I don't think it was clear who the mastermind is but it is apparent that there is a powerful one. I wonder if it is somebody we don't know yet..... just wondering.

 

[Claudia1]

I hope its not aliens from outer space. Seriously, that seems to be the popular timeline in shows these days.

 

[cabanafrau]

Shocking and totally unexpected!!! This show is far and away our favorite of everything that premiered this fall. I'm wondering now though, with that turn of events - where can we go from here? That was a pretty final resolution of a story line that could have dragged on for several seasons. Has Designated Survivor been cancelled?

I don't think there's been any word yet on the show going on to next season, but the writers clearly demarcated a change by titling the episode, "The End of the Beginning".

I am out there in the weeds with the plot at this point. I actually thought something strange was up when at first Kirkland was shot but okay because it was a through and through, and then suddenly there were fragments that had to be removed surgically. His lead female doc gave me bad vibes, yet he apparently came through it all just fine.

 

[iZon]

I've really enjoyed Designated Survivor up until the last two episodes. Then somebody hijacked the show. It's now an odd hybrid of thriller and politics. A two-episode arc on a gun bill? It has no bearing on previous events, all of which have seemingly been forgotten. They didn't even relate it to Kirkman being shot. And Kirkman sends Agent Wells off to find the masterminds behind the attack, almost making her story a completely separate show. And he carrys on as if everything is normal.

Does anyone wonder why the bombers wanted to make Kirkman the President? He is even being pressured to pass certain legislation? Is anyone looking into MacLeish and his wife? What about the general that Kirkman fired then left standing in the situation room after his offer to help? Who's the new VP?

I've read that the show is already on its fourth showrunner. And it, ah, shows. The story is being yanked in many truncated directions. Maybe designated survivor refers to the showrunner!

I hope it gets back on track. The first dozen episodes were great. But now it doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. We need story and character development, not simplistic and predictable political babble.

 

[mom2rtk]

I've really enjoyed Designated Survivor up until the last two episodes. Then somebody hijacked the show. It's now an odd hybrid of thriller and politics. A two-episode arc on a gun bill? It has no bearing on previous events, all of which have seemingly been forgotten. They didn't even relate it to Kirkman being shot. And Kirkman sends Agent Wells off to find the masterminds behind the attack, almost making her story a completely separate show. And he carrys on as if everything is normal.

Does anyone wonder why the bombers wanted to make Kirkman the President? He is even being pressured to pass certain legislation? Is anyone looking into MacLeish and his wife? What about the general that Kirkman fired then left standing in the situation room after his offer to help? Who's the new VP?

I've read that the show is already on its fourth showrunner. And it, ah, shows. The story is being yanked in many truncated directions. Maybe designated survivor refers to the showrunner!

I hope it gets back on track. The first dozen episodes were great. But now it doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. We need story and character development, not simplistic and predictable political babble.

I had the same sort of "meh" feeling recently. I really want them to focus on the thriller part of it. The politics part of it is just..... boring. Kirkman and his wife are just....... boring. Completely goody two shoes, too perfect. No inner conflict or interesting quirks.

 

[iZon]

There is no tension or drama between the main characters, that's true. Emily is so comfortable as chief-of-staff. No growing pains at all. Kirkman has the perfect marriage. And Seth is flawless as press agent. The characters are not developing at all.

 

[jdb in AZ]

That underground bunker that's full of explosives -- why don't the perps have any video cameras keeping an eye on things?

 

[Shrfleen]

There is no tension or drama between the main characters, that's true. Emily is so comfortable as chief-of-staff. No growing pains at all. Kirkman has the perfect marriage. And Seth is flawless as press agent. The characters are not developing at all.

It appears that the Kirkmans have the perfect marriage now, but I believe keeping these secrets is going to strain their relationship. I think alienating Aaron is also going to start to cause some fiction between the characters. I cannot wait to see where it goes.

 

[wwffan7385]

It appears that the Kirkmans have the perfect marriage now, but I believe keeping these secrets is going to strain their relationship. I think alienating Aaron is also going to start to cause some fiction between the characters. I cannot wait to see where it goes.

I don't trust Aaron at all. He has looked like a traitor from Episode 1.

 

[iZon]

Much better episode tonight, although the White House stuff is still dry. Great ending.

 

[Disney Ella]

I was hoping someone totally unexpected, like the first lady, was on the helicopter.

 

[mom2rtk]

I was hoping someone totally unexpected, like the first lady, was on the helicopter.

That would have shaken things up! Might have been over the top (even for a show like this) but I'm ready for something to shake things up in that part of the story line. Who would have guessed I would fine Kiefer and his family to be so boring in a show like this?

 

[Claudia1]

I expected Senator Bowman to step out of the helicopter.

 

[mom2rtk]

I expected Senator Bowman to step out of the helicopter.

I'm glad they didn't. Because they seem to be taking the easy road with good and evil in this show. I want them to really shake things up and shock me. So far, that's not been the case.