Designated Survivor (TV Series) Pilot (2016) User Reviews

Did what a first episode should do

[ayamisr · 8/10 · 24 September 2016]

I watched House of Cards as a very good insight on how things in the white house in an excellent fictional context and I thought if any other TV series is going to realistically tread the subject again it's gonna have to copy the House of Cards format in a way, with an ambitious politician who schemes his way into a more powerful position, may be the most powerful of all, with carefully crafted lies and plays which worked greatly. what we have here is a completely different leading man, the main character of this show doesn't want to be were he ended up, in fact no one expected him to keep his own office in the first place, but then someone,more than one actually, dies and he becomes a president. but that is not why I'm now waiting for next episode, I'm waiting because of how everybody's reaction to the tragedy, fear and confusion for the most part, was shown almost perfectly by through the interactions between the different characters, and while that was just enough to attract every pit of attention I have left, I was given a very good WTF moment near the end, and the best part is, it all make sense, it's possible and this is what I want from a good political drama, and I got along with what I want from a TV series first episode. waiting for what's next

A bit thin

[tunix_2008 · 7/10 · 13 June 2019]

The premise of the whole show is a bit thin on the reality aspect. It seems outrageous to me that a building as complex as Capitol Hill could be as devastatingly obliterated as they had it. I'm no engineer but I guess one would need to put a charge on a whole lot of foundation columns to bring the entire building down like that. Even a half-blind security guard could see that much explosives coming inside what's supposed to be one of the most secure buildings in the country. But, of course, there won't be a tv show without suspending reality just a little bit. Sutherland's acting hasn't convinced me yet that he is this out-of-his-depths underdog whose genuine heart always saves the day. For me Jack Bauer is in there somewhere trying to wake up this torture-induced dream so he can escape the Russian imprisonment he was politically traded for. I will continue watching this though because I obviously still have a 24 hangover. I keep yelling at Sutherland, 'What are you doing in a suit inside an office when you should be on the ground hunting down these terrorists?' And after he told the Iranian ambassador, "Three hours, Mr. Ambassador," I totally expected the screen to split and hear the 24-clock start pounding the countdown.

Sets up a promising series

[jchealey-1 · 9/10 · 10 October 2016]

Designated Survivor features Kiefer Sutherland as Tom Kirman, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, as a reluctant successor to the President, after a terrorist attack on the Capitol. Sutherland is pretty convincing as a rather timid character. Rather than making impulse decisions, as President, he weighs his options carefully. He is perhaps naively idealistic and the public, most of whom were unfamiliar with him up until he is sworn as President, is wary of him.

The pilot sets up the basic story that the remainder of the series will likely continue throughout. There's a lot of promise in this show. There's a few undeveloped plot lines that will need more follow through as the series continues, mostly the plot lines involving Kirkman's family, which seek to humanize him, and the plot line about an FBI agent investigating the attack in its aftermath.

Fantastic

[Ioana1717 · 10/10 · 22 January 2021]

One of the most fantastic first episodes from all the TV shows I have watched. I highly recommend this TV show,it will keep you hooked in the first Season for sure.

Fantastic

[kelley-jenkins · 10/10 · 14 February 2021]

Fantastic start of a wonderful series but it's a bit shocking the plot summary can't even get the name of one of the main characters correct, the speech writer is called Seth Wright not Wheeler

Openers

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 13 July 2019]

So this is where Jack Bauer went. As a pilot, this episode lays down the situation that will now be followed. Kiefer Sutherland plays a housing secretary who is about to lose his cabinet position. When the Capitol is destroyed the night of the State of the Union speech, he succeeds to the Presidency through the rules of succession. He comes across well because he isn't a bumbling mess like they could have made him. Also set up is the fact that there is still a great deal of danger to America. I'm moving on to Episode 2.

Not bad but not great

[Mynameisroman · 6/10 · 15 November 2016]

So i just saw the pilot and i'm not sure what to think. its not really bad. it got good actors in it, the idea is at least a little fresh but not all of it. it builds up some story lines that will be probably developed in the rest of the season but isn't as interesting as you want it to be. some things are actually kinda wrong... *Spoiler* So the whole Congress blew up. All American Politicians dead and his son is attending a party somewhere... I'm pretty sure if something like this happens every party stops immediately and no one is dancing any more. *Spoiler End* But i hope that the next Episodes will have better writing and that the Plot thickens. The show has potential but it might takes a couple of Episodes to determine if this is a good show or not

Big mistake in the story

[Javidradfar · 4/10 · 21 September 2016]

Tonight was the debut of the new TV show "Designated Survivor". It's about a newly appointed president of the United State upon the attack and the subsequent assassination of the elected president and the rest of the cabinet..... In another word, the character is going to be the "good" Frank Underwood! In the story, the new president (Sutherland) talks to the "Iranian ambassador" in Washington about the military operation in the Persian Gulf..... It's indeed surprising to see a top network could make such a goof in one of its highly anticipated new show! Iran does not have any ambassador in the United State, no matter how much Obama and John Kerry try to suck up to them! If you want to make up stories, at least give more air time to Maggie Q, in this show! Jees!!!

1, terrific..2, excellent..3, disgusting

[zeldaqn · 6/10 · 18 November 2023]

I love to binge watch shows and watched all of these over 2 or 3 days. The first season was really good and terrifying in its potential predictive programming much like the one about 9/11 before it actually happened. I enjoyed that it had minimal bad language and unnecessary scenes. Season 2 was intense and kept me on the edge of my seat. Then, something happened and season 3 spiraled into some of the nastiest stuff I've seen on tv. Unnecessary and revolting and had no business being there especially when it really had nothing to do with any story line or plot in any episode. If it were only season 1 and 2, I would've given it a 10/10. I lost the desire to want to even finish it but did while also ff'ing through all the disgusting degrading things I chose not to see.