Will the Designated Survivor be able to save the US?

The impossible happens when an explosion claims the lives of the president and all the members of the cabinet.

When Kiefer Sutherland announced his return to TV in the new show, Designated Survivor, I was thrilled since I loved watching Jack Bauer continuously put his life at risk to save lives on 24 and 24: Live Another Day. But I was yet to find out whether this new show would live up to my expectations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_f1v0Nx5Sw

The plot of the show is quite intriguing; it revolves around Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland), who was the secretary of housing and development at the White House, but was not given any importance in the presidential palace. His plans and strategies were usually ignored and even the president himself wanted to get rid of him.

Kiefer Sutherland.Photo: IMDb


Kirkman considered resigning when he was called to become the ‘designated survivor’. In other words, he was the cabinet member who was kept at a secure and undisclosed location while the president and the country’s other top leaders were gathered in one place, as they usually are during the State of Union addresses and presidential inaugurations.

This is done to ensure the continuity of the government in the event of a catastrophic occurrence that kills the president and officials in the presidential line of succession. If such an event occurs, the last surviving official that was highest in line – possibly the designated survivor – becomes the acting president of the United States under the Presidential Succession Act.

Kiefer Sutherland.Photo: IMDb


In the midst of all this, the impossible happens and an explosion claims the lives of the president and all the members of the cabinet, resulting in Kirkman being sworn in as the president of the US. The show follows the life of Kirkman and his efforts to bring the US back on its feet and finding the culprits behind the explosion, while dealing with his family problems all at the same time.


Kiefer Sutherland.Photo: IMDb


The show is captivating and Kiefer Sutherland’s strong presence makes it a treat to watch – especially him filling in the president’s shoes. Sutherland’s strong performance is supported by other actors such as Natascha McElhone (Kirkman’s wife), Adan Canto (The White House’s Deputy Chief of Staff), Maggie Q (an FBI agent) and Kal Penn (a speechwriter). They do a commendable job in giving the show a dramatic appeal.

Kiefer Sutherland and Kal Penn.Photo: IMDb


The high production value of the show makes it a visual treat and helps keep the audience engrossed every step of the way. I am sure viewers will be able to sense the tension and thrill that takes place in the White House.

Kiefer Sutherland and Natascha McElhone.Photo: IMDb


Kiefer Sutherland has saved the US countless times before as Jack Bauer, but will he be able to do it again as Tom Kirkman, the designated survivor?

Kiefer Sutherland.Photo: IMDb


There is only one way to find out, you will have to watch the show; and don’t worry, you haven’t missed much because the third episode comes out today!
WRITTEN BY: Sahir Palijo
The author is an undergrad pursuing a degree of Business Administration. He loves to write his thoughts and is a movie freak. He tweets at @The_Sahir (https://twitter.com/the_sahir)

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.