Network: ABC, Netflix
Episodes: 53 (hour)
Seasons: Three
TV show dates: September 21, 2016 — June 7, 2019
Series status: Cancelled by ABC, Revived by Netflix, Cancelled by Netflix
Performers include: Kiefer Sutherland, Natascha McElhone, Adan Canto, Italia Ricci, LaMonica Garrett, Tanner Buchanan, Kal Penn, and Maggie Q.
TV show description:
This political thriller series follows what happens when an unlikely person becomes the leader of the free world.
Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) is a lower-level Cabinet member, the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He’s the “designated survivor” to the current administration, an individual in the presidential line of succession who is at a distant and secure location when the President and the country’s other top leaders are gathered at a single location.
On the night of the State of the Union address, an unprecedented attack claims the lives of the President and all other members of the Cabinet. Kirkman is immediately sworn in as President, unaware that the attack is just the beginning of what is to come.
He struggles to keep the country and his own family from falling apart — while navigating the highly-volatile political arena and leading the search to find who is responsible for the attack.
Seth Wright (Kal Penn) is Kirkman’s speechwriter and he has strong doubts about his boss’ abilities to lead the nation. FBI agent Hannah Wells (Maggie Q) investigates the attack and believes that there’s more to come from the perpetrators. She clashes with FBI Deputy Director Jason Atwood (Malik Yoba).
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Aaron Shore (Adan Canto) advises the new President following the attack.
A career military man, Admiral Chernow (Mykelti Williamson) is the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who becomes one of the new President’s most trusted advisors. Emily Rhodes (Italia Ricci) is Kirkman’s former Chief of Staff and a close friend of his family.
Kirkman’s wife is EEOC attorney Alex Kirkman (Natascha McElhone) and their children are teenager Leo (Tanner Buchanan) and young daughter Penny (Mckenna Grace). Mike Ritter (LaMonica Garrett) is Kirkman’s Secret Service agent who’s charged with protecting the family following the attack.
Episode #53 — #truthorconsequences
On election day, Kirkman turns to his therapist to assuage his conscience about the events — and his own decisions — of the momentous prior 36 hours.
First aired: June 7, 2019.
What do you think? Do you like the Designated Survivor TV show? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a fourth season?
I really enjoyed this show, but when they decided to kill off the President’s wife, I stopped watching. Completely unnecessary and I refused to watch the episode. I am tired of watching shows where people get killed all the time and Designated Survivor decided to go that route too. As a mother I can’t imagine leaving my children on this planet without me and I don’t need to fill the anguish of it through television. You ruined the show and your cancellation was imminent. Glad I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
Please rethink cancelling Designated Survivor. You have cancelled all the shows I watch ABC for. I will have no reason to watch ABC
Loved, loved, loved Designated Survivor, even better then Madame Secretary and I like it also. Please leave it on, not enough good shows like this on.
I get so tired of shows like this getting canceled only to be replaced by stupid comedy shows! This show was great.
Why was this show cancelled? This is a great show, please bring it back, I hope another channel picks it up.
I can’t believe they would cancel it after they figured out who has been helping Russian chick. There’s too many questions. Somebody please bring it back. That’s a horrible way to cancel a show and this show was my favorite time of the week.
Leave this show on the air! Or someone else pick it up please
Great Show. Should not be cancelled!
I liked the show why does it have to be canceld?? Not fair
Cancel all the rest but please leave designated survivor alone
Please bring it back! Hopefully someone else will see the light and save this show!
Looking for Designated Survivor to continue. The acting was great!! BRING IT BACK!!
Designated Survivor was my favorite show on TV I guess if it is gone I won’t watch TV very much.
I meant on ABC.
Designated Survivor was a top notch show with content. I agree with Walter Polakowski comments completely. This was the best show on NBC. The ones Walter named are junk TV.