Designated Survivor Review: The First Day (Season 1 Episode 2)
It’s hard to follow up on a good pilot. Really, really hard.
Pilots, after all, are the episodes that get you a show. The ones that sell the story. And to sell, you need a good episode – no, you need a great one.
Designated Survivor does as good a job of following its first episode as it’s possible to do on “The First Day.” In fact, they probably do more than most of us had any right to expect.
Mostly because they keep it real.
How would the world react to an event like that? How, in the current climate, would the police behave? How would the people who survived take to a President they don’t know and they didn’t vote for?
Badly, is probably the answer. And the show doesn’t shy away from that.
There’s Seth, being stopped by police just for walking-while-a-minority. There’s the governor of Michigan, ordering his police forces to behave in the most racist and backwards way possible. And there are probably a million more instances of this that they don’t show us, because they don’t need to.
We get the message.
And there’s Tom Kirkman, trying to navigate it all.
Failing, at times. Succeeding at others. Mostly just trying to get through the day.
Designated Survivor presented an impossible situation from the beginning. There is no right or wrong way to handle things when something so catastrophic happens. Public perception is fickle, and there is absolutely no way to please everyone.
What matters is not giving up. Trying – on the first day, the second and the third.
Tom Kirkman is the President of the United States. This was his first day on the job.
He was overwhelmed at times. He failed to reassure people. He was in over his head.
But he also wasn’t. He found ways. He wasn’t perfect, but perfection is unattainable.
This is a journey – a journey towards a better, kinder world. One where Seth could find, not condemnation, but compassion. One where we all see the best in each other.
We’re not there, not on TV, and not in real life, but we are trying. And on a day where an episode of Designated Survivor seems more like a possibility than a distant and unbelievable future, it’s important that we continue to do so.
Relevant? Thought-provoking? Necessary?
Try all of those. Designated Survivor is must-see television. After all, the stakes have never been higher.
Other things to note:
- First rule of any kind of job that puts you on the public eye, President Kirkman? Don’t listen to the news.
- Maggie Q seems to be the smartest person on this show – BY FAR. Not that I have any problem with that as a general rule, but …eh …considering the circumstances, could the rest, maybe, I don’t know …rise to the challenge?
- Kimble Hookstraten seems like an ally – so far. But, am I the only one thinking the President should be wary of her? A show of unity the day after a tragedy is nice and well, but how long will it last?
- I don’t envy Leo Kirkman. Penny is too young to understand or really feel the ramifications of suddenly being part of the First Family, but for Leo this will change absolutely everything.
- Maggie Q should have just made a run for the President and told him her theory. He would so have listened.
What did you think of this episode of Designated Survivor? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
Designated Survivor airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz
Lawyer. Writer. Columnist. Geek. Falls in madly in love with fictional characters. Hates the color yellow, misogyny, and people who are late. Can always be found with a book. Watches an absurd amount of TV every week, often, while eating coffee ice cream. She has no regrets. You can check out her blog here: Absurday. Lissete is a senior writer for Tell-Tale TV. Follow @lizziethat
One thought on “Designated Survivor Review: The First Day (Season 1 Episode 2)”
Loved this review, captures my thoughts exactly. I’m thrilled that Designated Survivor received a full pick up. The hour just flies by as the characters and storylines are so riveting. Kiefer Sutherland is headlining an incredible cast.
Comments are closed.