Designated Survivor Review: The Interrogation (Season 1 Episode 6)
Even before Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 6, “The Interrogation,” aired, I’d already asked the metaphorical question: Can Tom Kirman be the actual President of the United States?
The answer, of course, is no. And after watching this episode, I can say with complete confidence that it’s a real shame that he can’t.
A real shame he’s fictional.
Even if he is, though, after a Presidential Election that left the United States more divided than ever, it’s comforting to look to TV and see an alternate universe that’s, in some ways, actually soothing. To see serenity, to see competence, to see humanity.
To see the kind of President we’ve always wanted to have in real life, living in a world very much like the one we live in today.
One with issues, and concerns and agendas, yes, but also one with tolerance, kindness and hope.
Fear is a real issue – one that, in the past few days, we’ve realized has as much effect in our real lives as it does in the fictional lives of these characters. We all fear what’s different. We all fear what we don’t understand.
And yet, we don’t let ourselves be ruled by fear. We try to do what’s right, and when we can’t, we do the best with what we have.
Which is exactly what Tom Kirkman is doing.
Yes, a complete ban on immigration sounds like giving into xenophobia. But, as Tom Kirkman has learned in the past few episodes, sometimes you have to sacrifice what’s important for what’s urgent.
Congress is urgent. Rebuilding the institutions is urgent. And, oh, yes, figuring out who bombed the Capitol, that’s also urgent.
Even more so now that Peter MacLeish is close to becoming the next Vice-President of the United States. Yes, that Peter MacLeish. The one we don’t trust.
Not that we trust many people in this show.
We trust the President, but we’re iffy about Alex and whether she’s actually told Tom about Leo.
We trust Seth, but we don’t particularly think his new girlfriend is up to good things.
We trust Aaron, and Emily but we don’t trust the governors. Not even a little bit.
Trust or not trust, however, there’s one thing that can always be said about Designated Survivor. We care. We’re interested.
More importantly, we’re invested. We want to see these people make the right choices. We want to see them win.
This has been a hard and somber week in the United States of America. TV is supposed to provide a respite, to allows us to transport to a world where things are not just better, no, they’re good.
Designated Survivor is not taking us to a fantasy land. Its characters still fail, say the wrong things, and make incorrect decisions.
And yet they also win, and fight and, occasionally, end up with a President we’d really, really like to have.
If you need a respite from the world today, check out Designated Survivor.
If you need inspiration, check out Designated Survivor.
And yes, if you only care about good writing, check out Designated Survivor.
It truly has all that and much more.
Other things to note:
- “Then pretend I’m not the President – seems to be working for everybody else.” – Kiefer Sutherland kils lines like these and eats them for lunch.
- I thought I had a few episodes before the Leo thing came up. Are we seriously going to do this right away?
- Can Hannah and the President just meet?
- I find the fact that Aaron, Seth and Emily are such close friends the most adorable thing this show has done.
What did you think of this episode of Designated Survivor? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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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