Designated Survivor
Designated Survivor
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Designated Survivor

"Declare your independence"

7.1
Yr 2016
Status Canceled
Drama War & Politics
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Tom Kirkman, a low-level cabinet member is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union kills everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 55 /100

Critical reception for Designated Survivor is notably polarized. Many critics initially praised the show's high-stakes premise, with some finding the pilot episode to be taut and intriguing. Fans of the early seasons often celebrated the series as an engaging, addictive look at government that successfully kept viewers hooked.

However, detractors pointed to a lack of narrative focus, arguing that the show struggled to balance political intrigue with procedural investigation and domestic drama. Critics frequently cited a reliance on clichés and formulaic character tropes as major drawbacks, with some reviewers finding the series' idealized portrayal of a regular citizen in power to be unconvincing or even repellent.

“The execution of this premise... is taut, fast-moving and reasonably believable.”

“There’s not enough family tension for it to be a domestic drama, not enough government intrigue to make it a political show, and not enough investigation to make it a procedural.”

“Overall, the first and second season of the series were incredible. Every episode had you engaged, and you never wanted to stop watching.”

“Designated Survivor is treacly wish-fulfillment for every under-appreciated middle manager who’d like to believe he’s got what it takes to do the boss’ job.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
CA • UK • US
Netflix Standard with Ads
CA • UK • US
Why fans love it

Designated Survivor finds a unique tension between the structural weight of government and the chaos of sudden catastrophe. It captures a dignified, introspective look at leadership as Tom Kirkman navigates the immediate aftermath of a national tragedy. The series leans into a reflective tone that moves beyond simple political maneuvering to examine the human cost of sudden, unchecked authority.

The show balances this gravity with biting, irreverent observations about the halls of power. By centering on an unassuming official thrust into the Oval Office, the narrative avoids the usual tropes of hardened career politicians. Kiefer Sutherland anchors these shifts in perspective, grounding the more exciting procedural elements in a quiet, hopeful core. It manages to feel both tragic and urgent without losing sight of the vulnerability inherent in modern crisis management.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 8
Longest run 53 eps
Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland
as Tom Kirkman
53 episodes
Natascha McElhone
Natascha McElhone
as Alex Kirkman
43 episodes
Maggie Q
Maggie Q
as Hannah Wells
53 episodes
Kal Penn
Kal Penn
as Seth Wright
53 episodes
Adan Canto
Adan Canto
as Aaron Shore
53 episodes
Italia Ricci
Italia Ricci
as Emily Rhodes
53 episodes
LaMonica Garrett
LaMonica Garrett
as Mike Ritter
43 episodes
Malik Yoba
Malik Yoba
as Jason Atwood
21 episodes
Show 67 more
Tanner Buchanan as Leo Kirkman 14 episodes Virginia Madsen as Kimble Hookstraten 15 episodes Rob Morrow as Abe Leonard 5 episodes Paulo Costanzo as Lyor Boone 22 episodes Ben Lawson as Damian Rennett 22 episodes Emiliano Díez as Président Ortega 10 episodes Arjay Smith as Nolan 1 episode Alex Quijano as Lawrence 1 episode Elana Dunkelman as Nathalie 1 episode Vanessa Smythe as Reporter 1 episode Cory Lee as Callie Song 1 episode Neeraja Ramjee as Melissa Derfler 1 episode Bo Martynowska as Tiffany Gimble 4 episodes Colin Woodell as Tyler Richmond 2 episodes Kearran Giovanni as Diana Harris 2 episodes Cariba Heine as Peyton Lane 3 episodes Ashley Zukerman as Peter MacLeish 10 episodes Michael Gaston as John Royce 2 episodes Mykelti Williamson as Admiral Chernow 2 episodes Nicholas Massouh as Majid Nassar 5 episodes Paulino Nunes as Director Carrera 3 episodes Melanie Scrofano as Lisa Jordan 4 episodes Peter Outerbridge as Charlie Langdon 4 episodes Kevin McNally as Harris Cochrane 6 episodes Mariana Klaveno as Dark-Haired Woman 3 episodes Mark Deklin as Jack Bowman 4 episodes George Tchortov as Catalan 10 episodes Reed Diamond as John Forstell 19 episodes Jake Epstein as Chuck Russink 28 episodes Lara Jean Chorostecki as Beth MacLeish 8 episodes Michael J. Fox as Ethan West 5 episodes Zachary Bennett as Cameron Feller 3 episodes Breckin Meyer as Trey Kirkman 6 episodes Tom Choi as Chairman Kim 2 episodes Chelsea Harris as Tricia Sims 6 episodes Chris Butler as Dax Minter 4 episodes Terry Serpico as Patrick Lloyd 7 episodes Nora Zehetner as Valeria Poreskova 5 episodes Timothy Busfield as Dr. Adam Louden 3 episodes Dan Jeannotte as Greg Bowen 3 episodes Morgan Kelly as Simon Day 3 episodes Kim Raver as Dr. Andrea Frost 5 episodes Daniel Jun as Joon Kim 2 episodes Dillon Casey as Detective Blakey 6 episodes Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Eleanor Darby 6 episodes Geoff Pierson as Cornelius Moss 13 episodes Jennifer Wigmore as Dianne Lewis 2 episodes Mckenna Grace as Penny Kirkman 17 episodes Chukwudi Iwuji as Dr. Eli Mays 2 episodes Wendy Lyon as Carrie Rhodes 2 episodes Benjamin Charles Watson as Dontae Evans 3 episodes Jake Foy as Felix 2 episodes Julie White as Lorraine Zimmer 3 episodes Lauren Holly as Lynn Harper 4 episodes Elena Tovar as Isabel Pardo 4 episodes Anthony Edwards as Mars Harper 4 episodes Mary Grant as Trauma Team 2 episodes Nisa Gunduz as Kayla 3 episodes Ayesha Mansur Gonsalves as Riya Kapoor 2 episodes Zoe McLellan as Kendra Daynes 21 episodes Martin Roach as Defense Secretary Nick Wooster 2 episodes Aaron Ashmore as Phil Brunton 4 episodes Christopher Jacot as Alan (uncredited) 2 episodes Rob Stewart as Garrett Detwiler 4 episodes David Alexander Miller as Second Journalist 5 episodes James Cade as myles lee 5 episodes Clark Backo as Ava 8 episodes
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Designated Survivor overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

usa president affectation politics president conspiracy terrorism biting mourning questioning meditative mysterious usa politics thoughtful somber philosophical unassuming reflective complex loving political introspective irreverent inspirational grand intimate provocative direct dramatic suspenseful critical thriller tense sentimental exciting intense adoring appreciative bold comforting commanding compassionate defiant dignified earnest empathetic hopeful informative modest optimistic powerful sincere tragic vibrant
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
September 21, 2016
Status
Canceled
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
1,100