Designated Survivor Review: Party Lines (Season 1 Episode 16)

And you thought last week was political.

Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 16, “Party Lines,” goes deep into the heart of the bipartisan politics of the United States, brings the women to the forefront and, in doing so, delivers yet another outstanding episode.

Week after week the most surprising thing about this show is not that it’s good – we’ve come to expect that at this point. The most surprising way is how it finds different ways to be good, different angles to play.

Sure, there’s been family drama and there’s been mystery and there’s even been politics – but there hasn’t been a real political showdown, not till this week.

Because, as easy as it is to praise what Tom Kirkman is doing and what he wants to achieve, a rational mind would also understand that a mostly Republican Senate will not side with him, not in the partisan world we live in today.

Like the new Secretary of State points out, he doesn’t owe anything to anyone – but that also means no one owes him anything either. And when it comes to votes, that’s what you need sometime.

At least, in real life. In fiction, you can sometimes get by with some common sense and some badass women.

If only life took after fiction.

From Kimble Hookstraten and Senator Hunter, to Emily Rhodes and Mrs. Kirkman, without forgetting  Senator Vandenberg, it’s the women that swing everything, the women that take up the spotlight for the first time this season and show that they really deserve their time in the light.

And though I don’t want to take away from the others – it’s Kimble Hookstraten that finally realizes the promise of those first few episodes and shows that she’s not an opponent to be trifled with, especially now that she has Aaron on her side.

I really, really hope she ends up as Vice-President.

But, that’s a story for another day – just as whatever it is that’s going on between Emily and Aaron is a story for another day.

“The only thing that matters is fighting the war that’s in front of you,” Secretary of State Moss advises the President in one of his frequent Yoda-like moments of wisdom, and though this battle might not have been the most interesting, or the most realistic, it’s a fight Designated Survivor had to have if it wanted to be a serious political show.

Filler episode? Maybe.

Setup? Certainly.

Edge-of-your-seat exciting? No.

But that’s the beauty of Designated Survivor, that it can wear many hats and still look good out in the runway. It doesn’t have to get rave reviews every week; it just has to make sense, to entertain us, and more importantly to keep advancing the storyline.

Check, check and check.

Like always.

Other things to note:

• “Nobody puts baby in a corner” is right at the top of the list of things I never expected anyone to tell the President of the United States.
• I need a gif of Virginia Madsen’s face when Bowman tells Hookstraten to “Get in line or step aside.” I’ll use it for everything.
• It was the face of every woman who’s ever been told what to do by a man.
• It was the face of every woman who’s been disrespected.
• In short, it was beautiful and I need it.
• The female power in this episode. Finally. If there was something the show was missing, it was this.
• We have ourselves someone to hate! Welcome to the party senator Jack Bowman.
• Emily was the only one to eat pizza. That clearly makes Emily the only one who knows how to enjoy life.
• “Yeah, what could go wrong?” – Everything.
• Seriously, never ask that question, Hannah. You should know better.

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.

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