Designated Survivor Series Finale Review: Run (Season 2 Episode 22)

Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 22, “Run,” glosses over Emily’s brush with death and runs straight into Seth’s. 

Aside from Kirkman visiting her in the hospital and Kendra’s one line suggesting Emily goes home, no one else asks how Emily is doing. It’s business as usual.

Even Kendra’s one line is not enough — Emily took a bullet meant for her. That’s a huge deal, and yet there is not an emotional conversation between the two of them.

Emily: I don’t think today is the day to binge watch Top Chef.

Aaron never even speaks to Emily about this. Your coworker was just shot, but it’s no big deal. Sure there’s a lot going on, but Aaron couldn’t spare a minute to ask Emily how she is doing?

It would be one thing if everyone went with Kirkman to visit Emily in the hospital, but it’s just him. Lyor and Seth have a bit of an excuse because they are in another country, but there’s no excuse for Aaron not even bringing it up. Does this bother anyone else?

Three people have been in a life or death situation in the past two episodes — Kendra, Emily, and Seth. These are characters who don’t have a dangerous job like Hannah does, so this is an unusual occurrence for them.

You can’t have Emily get shot at and then move on like it was nothing. It makes it seem like the only reason she gets shot is for a momentary shock and a hint of suspense.

This means the next time it looks like someone is in danger, like with Seth during this hour, you know it’s nothing serious. Everything will be fine; there’s no reason to worry.

It’s setting a dangerous precedent, but hey, the show is canceled, so I guess we don’t have to worry about that.

Speaking of the cancelation, it doesn’t come as a surprise. This has been a rough season with only a handful of good episodes.

Ethan West: You don’t scheme. You serve.

“Run” is a poor finale, season and series.

The episode title gives the “twist” that Kirkman will run again away, and there was never a doubt that he would. Hello, the show couldn’t have continued without him.

“Run” is disjointed. Everyone is off doing a million different things, and none of it is particularly finale-worthy.

Leo’s storyline about getting into two great colleges, for instance, feels completely out of place. It takes us away from everything else that’s going on (not that any of it is particularly exciting), and it’s only a reminder that Kirkman’s family once played a bigger role in the series.

There’s also not a build-up to the finale, at least not one that we care about.

Damian’s murder is not really central to everything else going on, and Moss and West’s presences are aggravating. The majority of the hour is spent handling crises that aren’t all that entertaining.

The only finale-like aspect of the hour is the ending, and it’s the typical drop a bombshell and fade to black deal. Emily’s involvement with Valeria is the one shocking moment of the entire hour.

And we’ll never find out what happens.

Stray Thoughts:

• Congrats, Leo! You’ve come so far from your drug dealing past.
• Is it bad that even before the Valeria twist, I wasn’t sad that Emily was resigning? I may have been a bit relieved.
• Do we think Emily is a secret Russian spy or something?
• Hannah and Alex’s storying is beyond boring, but it ends on a somewhat sweet note.
• Lyor and Seth are the highlights of this finale.

What did you think of this episode of Designated Survivor? Are you satisfied with the finale? Would you like it to come back for another season, or do you think it’s best to simply end things here? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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