Tell-Tale TV Series Premiere Panels: Designated Survivor

Designated Survivor looks like it’s gearing up to be ABC’s next big hit.

When a terrorist attack takes out the President and all of Congress, Tom Kirkman, a man who was just fired/demoted that morning, becomes the President of the United States. It’s a tough job, and no one thought Tom was going to be the one to do it.

What did you think of the premiere of Designated Survivor? Join the discussion by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

Our panelists are:

• Lissete Lanuza Saenz, associate editor for Tell-Tale TV
• Allison Nichols, senior writer for Tell-Tale TV
• James A. Windley, staff writer for Tell-Tale TV
• Charles Dulaney, staff writer for Tell-Tale TV
• Jennifer Stasak from Just About Write
• Kim Rogers from Head Over Feels

Give it to me straight. What did you think of the premiere?

Lizzie: It was good. More than good, probably. One of the best pilots of the year. Top 2, in my opinion. It balanced the suspense, the family moments, and the politics very well.

Kiefer Sutherland was believable and, not only that, very soon I found myself rooting for him. More importantly, when the episode faded to black, at the end, I was honestly disappointed. I wanted more. And that’s always a good sign.

Jenn: It was one of the best pilots I’ve seen from ABC recently. It didn’t try to be over-the-top, and the promos teased it just well enough that we knew the premise but not the execution of it.

Kiefer Sutherland is, of course, fantastic, and the entire ensemble is already top-notch. There’s just enough mystery to keep the show moving forward, in both the political realm and the overarching terrorism plot.

Kim: I loved it. I never realized how much I missed Kiefer Sutherland on my television until now. He brings such a commanding presence to a show, be it screaming out “Dammit” and shooting bad guys on 24 or playing a mild-mannered Cabinet Member turned Leader of the Free World on Designated Survivor.

There was something comforting and familiar about this show too. I jokingly call it a “Mom Show” because you KNOW it’s a show your mother will be obsessed with. We all need Mom Shows.

Also, like Lizzie, I was leaning forward right when Kirkman was beginning his first address and screamed “NOOOO!” when the credits flashed up. I really wanted to see that speech, you guys.

Charles: I thought it was terrific. I never really watched 24 and never have been a big Kiefer Sutherland fan. This was my favorite thing I have ever seen him with the possible exception of Young Guns.

I related so much to his character, Tom Kirkman so much in this impossible situation he was now thrusted in. To me, a show is so much better when you can make a connection to a character on that show and root for that character. Designated Survivor has done that for me.

James: I liked it a lot, I can certainly see why it got the green light; Designated Survivor was the one show whose premise I thought was the most interesting of this latest batch of shows. They did a fantastic job of setting everything up within basically the first act and just flowing from there.

Like Charles, I’ve not seen very much of 24, so all I know about Kiefer Sutherland is that his father may or may not be President Snow, but he created a compelling character and performed excellently at capturing the sort of anxiety at being thrust into power so quickly as well as the quiet indignation of being condescended to (I would expect nothing less of a Capricorn). And the diversity! Maggie Q!

Allison: I absolutely loved it. When I found out that Maggie Q and Italia Ricci booked a new fall show, it was already on my watch list, but when I read about the premise, Designated Survivor moved to the top of my list.

There’s political intrigue, a terrorist plot to unravel, and likable and captivating characters. It checked all the marks for me. I cannot wait to see where the series takes us.

What’s the show’s biggest problem?

Lizzie: No big problems so far, though it remains to be seen how good they are at balancing all the aspects of Tom Kirkman’s life. But, as I said, this was a very strong pilot that hit all the right notes, and there’s nothing big I can point out as having bothered me.

Only thing that kind of seemed odd was the transition between the I’m getting fired/given a crappy job outside of DC — we’re in the bunker all happy moments between Tom and Alex Kirkman.

Jenn: I can’t foresee any major problems, except maybe to get Leo out of his stereotypical “rebellious teenage son” role (though the moment between him and his sister was sweet). I think that the overarching terrorist plot might start to feel a bit like other dramas out there if it isn’t careful.

Kim: My principle worry is how the terrorism investigation will play out. It reminds me a LOT of the overarching mystery presented on Quantico last season and (to me) that dragged down a show that I was very excited about and made it incredibly convoluted.

I digress. You’ve GOT a compelling story in Kirkman and his rise to a position that he never wanted in the first place. They are clearly setting up an enemy in the General who wants him out of the Oval.

They’ve got plenty of good stuff already. Let’s not bog it down in too much mystery, okay? Give me The West Wing not Scandal with this show, please.

Charles: My biggest concern is the teenage son story. I felt nothing for his scenes except the one with him and his sister at the White House. Just the worry that this “drug dealer” arc gives me is cause for alarm cause I’ve seen stories like this handled very badly.

James: After thinking on it, my only real dislike is the general guy who played Gibbs on Pirates of the Caribbean. I mean, I know you need an internal villain, but it was so heavy-handed, I thought his next scene would be him cackling and twirling his mustache as Penelope Pitstop tries to free herself from the train tracks.

How did he get to such a high-ranking position if his mantra is, “Let’s blow it up?” So if he could maybe show like 5% chill, that would be great. I’d like to watch the sort of political nuance that House of Cards brings to destroying your enemy, y’know?

Allison: I completely agree with Kim. While I love a good thriller, I don’t want it to take away from the intrigue that we can get from watching an underdog who isn’t really a politician somehow try to navigate politics and being the President.

One of Quantico’s main problems was that it tried to keep you guessing and gave you three new suspects in the course of one episode. If Designated Survivor can give us a good mystery without trying to shock us or throw us off every episode, then I think we’ll be okay.

Also, the son’s drug dealing storyline needs to go away. I don’t need any additional drama in this show, especially eye roll worthy drama.

What/Who do you want to see more of?

Lizzie: Italia Ricci. I hope she gets to keep the Chief of Staff job, or at least that she gets to continue to advise Kirkman closely. And, of course, I’m very interested in Tom Kirkman’s relationship with his family, especially with his older son.

Jenn: I agree with Lizzie — give me more Italia Ricci in the future, please! I would also love to see more of Tom’s wife, Alex. She seems like an interesting woman. Oh, and more Kal Penn!

Kim: Kal Penn! I was so delighted when he turned up, especially because it feels like a meta-nod to him leaving House to work for Obama. I loved the chemistry that he had with Kiefer, and I feel like Seth could become a great ally for Tom in the future. He felt very Michael J. Fox in The American President to me.

Charles : I’m with Lizzie and Jenn – Italia Ricci definitely. I can’t wait to see her and Kiefer in more scenes together. Seeing her backstory and how she first met Tom would be a wonderful story to see later on in the season.

I also would love to see more little moments like the one with Tom and Alex at the beginning of the episode. It’s nice to see solid marriages on TV, and my hope is we get to see them stay strong together for each other.

James: Everyone took my answers, so I’ll go off on a tangent and ask what everyone is thinking: Is Leo Kirkman the milkman’s baby? I may not know much about Punnett Squares, but something’s amiss there…

I do want to see more of Tom messing up, as awful as that might be. He seemed to come in knowing everything about warfare and diplomacy right off the bat. Is he going to make any big mistakes? How compelling would that be if he made a call that cost people their lives?

And as much as the country admires “straight-shooters,” he’s bound to ruffle some feathers with his style, and I’d like to watch him learn how to navigate that without compromising his beliefs. I’d also like to watch Alex struggling with becoming the First Lady, having to unwillingly put her own promising career on the back burner and what that will do to their marriage.

Also, who is “Scott,” and why does Maggie Q keep calling him? Is it denial that he was in the explosion or does she have reason to believe that he’s very much alive?

Allison: Italia Ricci, definitely. She won my heart as Emily within seconds, and I am dying to see more of her dynamic with Tom. He needs someone he can trust, and it doesn’t look like that person is Aaron.

I’m also really curious to see how her role and their relationship shifts now that Tom is the president. They both have some adjusting to do.

What was your favorite moment/quote?

Lizzie: There’s a certain gravitas to the moment where Tom Kirkman is told he’s the new President of the United States, because as absurd and unbelievable as this concept is, in the world that we live in, it’s not exactly absurd and unbelievable. So, it works.

The other moment I really enjoyed was the visual of him being sworn in while wearing jeans and a ratty sweatshirt.

Jenn: I loved the exchange between Seth and Tom in the restroom. I thought it was a really great moment where Tom is at his most vulnerable and is getting smacked around by a speechwriter. I also loved the line: “We are going to do this my way. If that doesn’t work, we’ll try yours.”

But also, I loved the subtle comedy: the moment Tom and Alex are trying to stay in bed and the kids interrupt him, he yells: “LEAVE US ALONE! YOU ARE NOT LOVED!” and it’s just this adorable moment of calm before the chaos and upheaval.

Kim: I loved the moment where Natascha McElhone realized that she was the First Lady. The whole time she had been supportive of Tom, not even thinking about her new role, and I thought it was just a lovely (and funny) moment when she realized how much her life was about to change too.

I also loved the moments of Tom finding his strength, from standing up to everyone in the situation room to getting all Presidential Bad Ass with the Ambassador. I feel like you actually SAW the moment where Tom’s spine became made of steel.

What I found so compelling about Tom is that he’s a man who never pursued a position of power suddenly thrust into one and rising to the occasion. That’s the kind of guy you want. Can I vote for HIM in November?

Charles: I loved the scene after Tom’s first meeting with the generals where he immediately goes to the bathroom and throws up. Then his talk with Seth in the stalls just because it felt real to me.

When Seth said he shouldn’t be president, you could feel Tom agreed with him. He even says it but also knows that for the nation he has to step up.

Also I enjoyed the last moment of Tom about to give his first presidential speech as it just gave me chills.

James: Hands down, my favorite moment is when Maggie Q turned around and was all like, “I’m Maggie Q.” I also very much enjoyed the small moments between Alex and Tom.

Watching them be each other’s strength is the kind of quality television I want on my screen and I hope the show utilizes these moments between all the sturm and drang of trying to run a country at DEFCON 2. I also had to laugh when Tom finally abandoned that hoodie.

Allison: I loved Tom stating how he paid attention in cabinet meetings about Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. It’s a small moment, but it shows us that Tom is at least somewhat in the loop on what’s going on.

He’s not an idiot. Sure, Tom has no idea about how the nuclear football works, but Tom does pay attention. The country could be in worse hands.

What did you think of the season premiere of Designated Survivor? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Designated Survivor airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.

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