Designated Survivor Review: Overkill (Season 2 Episode 17)

On Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 17, “Overkill,” Kirkman goes to war, uncovers a conspiracy, and ends a war. It’s a very busy hour.

The whole Kunami conspiracy that also ties into East Hun Chiu is a bit much. It’s been an exhausting ordeal, trying to put the pieces together.

The hacker conspiracy is enough. We don’t need to have another conspiracy that unfolds over several episodes and then vanishes.

The show has been lacking its thriller aspect that made Designated Survivor Season 1 such a hit, but the answer to that problem is not to inundate us with multiple conspiracies.

The conspiracies during Season 1 all tied into each other, into the big picture. The dirty bomb and the Kunami embassador’s power play have nothing to do with the hacker.

All this conspiracy does is add another set of clues and red herrings that we are forced to decipher.

When the truth finally comes out, it’s a relief because it means we’re done trying to figure out what’s going on. Did you enjoy getting to the bottom of this conspiracy?

All the while this is going on, we’re still working on identifying the hacker. Yup, we’re not done solving mysteries yet folks!

You can barely breathe a sigh of relief that the bombing conspiracy has been solved because now someone super close to Kirkman is most likely connected to the hack. The suspicious glances around the room are a bit much.

The best part about the hacker storyline during this hour is that it gives us the utter joy that is watching Chuck and Damian working together.

It’s beyond shocking that Damian’s storyline is one of the more enjoyable ones of the hour, but his scenes with Chuck are delightful. Usually, they work with Hannah or someone as a buffer between them, but this time around, it is just the two of them.

There’s great banter along with Chuck going a touch undercover and posing as an FBI agent. It’s the highlight of the hour. Do you agree?

Aaron: One thing I haven’t figured out. What the hell is it exactly you do here?

Lyor: I make everyone look good. I should charge you double.

The upside to the conspiracy overload is that we catch a break from watching Emily go off the rails in her pursuit against Moss. She comes across as a much more rational person, especially during her one on one scene with Kirkman in the oval.

That scene is a miracle worker.

It reminds us of the connection Emily and Kirkman have. Kirkman is his old self again. He isn’t combative or defensive. It’s an honest conversation between two coworkers.

It’s what the show has been missing.

Designated Survivor is full of intense conversations and some lighthearted banter, but there haven’t been a lot of quiet moments between characters.

Important aspects of the story are still discussed in Emily and Kirkman’s oval scene, but there’s no urgency there. Things slow down a bit in order to give them a chance breathe and work something out.

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.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!