Designated Survivor Review: The Confession (Season 1 Episode 3)
There’s no honesty in politics, is the message of “The Confession,” Designated Survivor’s third episode, and the one where the real challenges that Tom Kirkman will face start to come to the forefront.
Or at least, there shouldn’t be.
Sure, it’s immensely refreshing to see a politician who isn’t playing an angle, even if it’s a fictional one. But, when everyone around you is looking out for himself, is that approach really the right one?
Conventional wisdom says no.
And yet, Tom Kirkman is nothing if not tenacious. He went with sincere in his first interview as President of the United States, and that was a total failure. That, however, didn’t keep him from taking the same approach to Tyler Richmond, despite the fact that Tyler had basically acted like a spoiled brat before.
It’s more than a little reminiscent of our favorite fictional President, Jed Bartlet, from The West Wing. Except that Bartlet would have probably acted much more decisively than President Kirkman is willing to do.
But maybe that’s the point. This is not a seasoned politician. This is a man, trying to find his way in the most complicated job in the world during one of the most complicated times anyone has ever faced.
What he needs are allies. He’s got Emily, that he knows, but Emily, as great as she is, is a bit too much like him, in that she’s genuinely a good person. She’s not a politician, she’s a public servant.
And if Tom Kirkma’s going to be President, he might need her around to remind him of who he truly is, yes, but he especially needs Aaron around to remind him of what he needs to be.
That’s why Aaron gets the job of Chief of Staff, even after he basically goes behind the President’s back and leaks that video from the terrorist group claiming responsibility. That’s why Seth keeps sticking around, even though when he first met the President he suggested that maybe resigning was a good idea.
Kirkman needs people on his corner, people who’ll give it to him like it is. Especially now that he opened his eyes to the notion that Congresswoman Hookstraten wants his job. Especially now that there’s a “survivor” to the attack.
It’s going to get way worse before it gets better – both for the President, and for the country. That’s the way of TV, and sometimes, the way of life.
Tom Kirkman’s a good man. The question is – can you be a good man and the President of the United States?
We’ll find out.
Other things to note:
- Hey, Designated Survivor, people don’t really clap after eulogies.
- How bad is the secret service that the lights when out in the entire White House and not ONE agent went into the Oval Office to check on the President. NOT ONE. Mike can’t possibly the only person tasked with security at this point.
- The cyber part of the security in the White House is not doing any better than the actual physical security.
- Emily and Aaron, right? I give that 10 episodes tops. Probably less.
- If we’re going to keep secrets because being President is hard enough, then Tom Kirkman is basically just a stand-in father. There has to be a balance.
- Leo’s explanation to his mom felt very believable. Yes, there is a reason. He just can’t articulate it yet.
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