Designated Survivor: The Complete First Season

Kieeefer!!! With the ominous opening title card, ABC sets up its new political drama: "During the State of the Union, one cabinet member is taken to an undisclosed location. In the event of a catastrophic attack on our government, that cabinet member becomes our new President." It'd be kinda jacked up if the show then doesn't follow up on this.A man of academia and a pushover dad, Thomas Adam Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) has snagged possibly the least respected Cabinet post, the lowest in the pecking order. He's the Secretary of Housing & Urban Development. And, on this horrible day, he'd just gotten sacked, or, to couch it in more diplomatic terms, he'd just been reassigned to an ambassadorship. And, yet, he still has to fulfill an obligation: He's been tapped as the Designated Survivor, the poor sap who has to sit out the gala event of the State of the Union address. So, when the fit hits the shan, when an explosion rocks the Capitol Building and wipes out pretty much the entirety of Congress and the Cabinet, there's the Secretary of H.U.D. in shock in his grey Cornell hoodie. Right away, Tom Kirkman cuts a most sympathetic figure.It's such an outrageous premise, only someone like Kiefer can pull it off. Anyone else, and I'd be snorting with disbelief and channel surfing on. But there's compelling gravitas to Kiefer, and an everyman charisma. I believed him utterly as the ruthless Jack Bauer, and I believe him now as the sincere and sudden and in-over-his-head leader of the free world. He is magnetic. What this show does brilliantly is turn the Presidency into an underdog story. Observe Kirkman, an old-school straight shooter, strive to corral sundry government entities suddenly jockeying for power, because nature abhors a vacuum. But the man has to first earn respect from subordinates who all the time give him the side eye and would rather that he'd act the figurehead. See Kirkman arrive at various crossroads, wrestling with having to compromise his values to get the job done. See him make the tough choices. It's as if around every corner someone's casting doubt or frankly challenging the legitimacy of his Presidency. It's such a ridiculous turn of events. Again, if this weren't Kiefer in the eye of the storm, I would jump ship in a heartbeat. But Kiefer as POTUS is an irresistible conceit.An intriguing ongoing story arc looks to be the whodunit mystery of the assault on the Capitol Building. Not so intriguing is the focus on Kirkman's family life, specifically the focus on his son. I absolutely have no use for the tired trope of the troubled child, of this kid Leo (Tanner Buchanan) who writes code for dub-step tracks and who sells drugs. He's like a worse version of Kim Bauer.Conversely, the little girl who plays the daughter, Penny, is adorable.It's a hell of a capable cast. I love Natascha McElhone as the level-headed First Lady, Adan Canto as the ambitious (and kinda shady) aide, Italia Ricci as Kirkman's loyal Chief of Staff, and Kal Penn as the political speech writer who's got the pulse of the public. I'm not quite as sold on Maggie Q's frantic FBI agent, but I'm willing to be convinced.I'm stoked about this show, and gratified that it's, lived up to the hype. Season 1 in, and we've been exposed to twisty political shenanigans and savage backbiting. We've been introduced to at least three main baddies to undermine this untested Commander-in-Chief. The best quote comes from Kal Penn's character who delivers an astute observation regarding Kirkman's perhaps most sly adversary: "She's so political she doesn't even seem political." Heh.One of my favorite reads by Tom Clancy is his 1996 thriller, Executive Orders, which shares a similar premise to this show. It's a good comparison, I think. Clancy's go-to hero, Jack Ryan, has always been a thinking man's hero. Tom Kirkman tracks to be of similar mettle. And, yet, I wouldn't be too gobsmacked if, somewhere down the line, he'd require a Jack Bauer type to handle some dirty business. Mister, if you dabble in politics, you ain't coming out clean.

Technically, the stream performed well on a Verizon DSL line.The show was - ok...A bit like the 24 series... = not very plausible... Too much happens in too short of a period of time.Sutherland gets from one side of town to the other in far too little time to be believable... Thus making for a fast paced yarn.The point of the show seems to be - what would happen if a well meaning, generally honest man, with ever so many good intentions - was able to set up and run his own government - without a Supreme Court, House of Representatives and/or a Senate.Been there - done that....Hitler did it.Mussolini did it.The Emperor in Star Wars did it.What people fail to appreciate is that all of history's dictators - were not - born evil to begin with.History - especially the politically correct western variety - can be inordinately vindictive.Historians - these daze - do not write about facts and dates... they write history the way it should have been.Few fare well, in such a literary environment.All the classic dictators started out as average people... it took many decades to get them to the point where history would demonize them.Few had a long term game plan. Most just incrementally inched their way along, seeing how far they could go.Not so our brave, ever so stalwart hero in this drama...Will he be smart enough?Will he be quick enough?Will he be righteous enough?Will he learn to be devious - quickly enough?Tune in and find out....There are the usual cast of antagonists... the evil general, the conniving sycophants, the mistresses and the concubines.and,Of course, the growing plethora of additional designated and un-designated survivors.What is most un-nerving is that it plays so well with the current presidential campaign....Just how much better would your candidate do - if they did not have to deal with Congress - or, the Supreme Court...Which loony tune candidate would make the best benevolent dictator?The blithering idiot - or, the pathological liar?or,Would we all be better off with the head post master in Billings Montana?If you have a thing about escapism - in which Congress and the Supreme Court - can die... this is the show for you...There is little love left in this country for the professional politician... they can no longer call themselves public servants - cuz, they haven't any proof that they have publicly served any purpose - other than their own.The first season seems to be focused on whether or not the stalwart hero will survive long enough to form an administration.I assume next season - if there is one - will deal with how he handles running it.

Fantastic series

Eins vorweg: Diese Serie ist von der ersten bis zur zweiundzwanzigsten Episode durchgehend unterhaltsam, teilweise spannend - und das bei moderater Gewalt/Action im Vergleich zu "24" z.B.Mir gefällt sehr, daß im Laufe der Staffel die beiden anfangs parallel laufenden Handlungsstränge: Erlebter Regierungsalltag mit allen Intrigen durch den "Designated Survivor" Kiefer Sutherland und die Aufklärung des begangenen Verbrechens (Sprengung des Capitols) durch das FBI miteinander verwoben werden - elegant!Wer wird diese Serie mögen? Jeder, der Kiefer Sutherland aus "24" mag, jeder der "West Wing" oder "Welcome, Mrs President" gerne gesehen hat.Ich freue mich/hoffe auf die zweite Staffel!

Ein sympathischer Praesident, ein vielfaeltiger plot, nachvollziehbare stories, nicht zu viel "amerkianische action" - und manchmal kommt es einem vor, als sei es der aktuellen "Lage" entliehen. Die erste Staffel was aufregend, die zweite Staffel, die gerade im UK gesendet wird, kommt in ruhigere Fahrwasser.Politk "unterhaltsam" - aber Praesidet Tom Kirkman ist wohl eher "Wunschfigur" als Politiker. Nett.

Nein, mit House of Cards teilt die Serie kaum Gemeinsamkeiten. Dort durch und durch skrupellose Politiker, hier moralisierende Fracht bis zum Kitsch. Wer das mag oder aushält, der kann sich von der Spannung packen lassen, wer nicht, der fühlt sich oft erzieherisch gegängelt. Macht für mich zwei Punkte.

Tolle Serie. Manchmal ein bisschen viel Pathos aber alles in allem spannend zu anzusehen. Die Story gibt vermutlich keine zwölf Staffeln her und wenn nach der ersten keine zweite Staffel folgt ist das auch in Ordnung. Es kann eigetnlich nur schlechter werden. Klare Empfehlung!