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Designated Survivor

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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71

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Ratings

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5.3

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5.3	Your Score
5.3	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Ratings

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Designated Survivor: Season 3

Now Playing: Designated Survivor: Season 3

Designated Survivor

Series Details & Credits

ABC | Netflix | Release Date: September 21, 2016

Summary: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) is left as the Commander in Chief after an explosion during the State of the Union address kills the President and those in line of succession.

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

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Recent Episodes

tbd
S3:E10. #truthorconsequences
Air Date: June 7, 2019
tbd
S3:E9. #undecided
Air Date: June 7, 2019
tbd
S3:E8. #scaredsh*tless
Air Date: June 7, 2019

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

71

Positive:

27

Mixed:

12

Negative:

0

Critic Reviews

100

San Francisco Chronicle

David Wiegand

Sep 19, 2016

Season 1 Review: As equal parts action and drama, and giving Kiefer Sutherland one of the best roles of his career, Designated Survivor is the season’s first sure thing. Make that “Designated” sure thing. Read full review

88

USA Today

Robert Bianco

Sep 20, 2016

Season 1 Review: With a little humor to lighten the tension, some well-placed quiet moments to keep the show grounded and a fast pace that keeps any seams from showing, Designated arrives as the most satisfying opening hour of any new broadcast drama. Read full review

83

Entertainment Weekly

Jeff Jensen

Sep 19, 2016

Season 1 Review: Sutherland is incredibly appealing and credible in a change-of-pace role. The supporting players are well cast. Read full review

70

Vox.com

Emily Todd VanDerWerff

Sep 21, 2016

Season 1 Review: Sutherland perfectly captures the dizzying nausea anyone would feel in this situation. ... But there’s every chance the conspiracy stuff takes over, and if there’s one thing about Designated Survivor that gives me pause, it’s that. Read full review

70

We Got This Covered

Isaac Feldberg

Sep 21, 2016

Season 1 Review: That B-plot is where Designated Survivor has the potential to adhere most stringently to formula, with Wells chasing down leads and interrogating suspects Bauer-style in order to prevent further chaos, but even that traditional side of the series is deftly introduced. Ideally, it will remain in the background; Sutherland is where the show soars. Read full review

60

The Salt Lake Tribune

Scott D. Pierce

Sep 21, 2016

Season 1 Review: For the first half hour or so, Designated Survivor feels a lot "The West Wing"--and that's about the highest praise I can give a show. But then things start to deteriorate. There's a rather ridiculous plot involving Kirkman's son. Worse yet, there's a plot involving one of the generals who seems to be plotting a coup--and he's a cartoonish villain if ever there was one. Read full review

40

Collider

Allison Keene

Sep 20, 2016

Season 1 Review: Sutherland himself is cool and charming, but the boilerplate stylings and dialogue leave his character--and the series--uninspired. Read full review

SEE ALL 39 REVIEWS

Write a Review

5.3

User Reviews

10

Ebbtide

Oct 4, 2020

This show is the definition of quality writing and acting. The production is, by far, one of the best I have ever seen, or imagined. I only became aware of it very recently, and am more than dismayed to learn that i6 is no longer I'm production.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

9

AidanParish

Nov 30, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This show is incredible, lovely to just enjoy in the evening, there is tension and loads of great character connections and dramas. *SPOILER* When Alex dies in series 2, the instant grief shown by Kirkman is just incredible, 100% recommend, season 3 is not as great (other than Seths incredible speech of course) I think Netflix made it very political so it lost its heart warming sense, but all over all, one of the best series’ out there! Solid 9/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

7

Lord-Xaffax

Jun 12, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The show was pretty okay. I looked forward to Season 3. However with the very lackluster demise of Hannah it became a slightly boring version of West Wing.It feels kinda like the Muppets without Animal. Or the X-Men without Wolverine. You need some **** kicking violence to keep things from becoming too sedate. No need for a Season 4.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

2

Maxx71

Jul 29, 2019

A series of predictable plot points strung together by mediocre acting and sub-par dialogue.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

1

JWall

Jun 8, 2019

Pretty disappointed in the changes that Netflix made with this show. Sutherland played a Tom Kirkman who you could look up to in Season1-2; who was bigger than the dirt in Washington and overcame adversity, betrayal, and deceit with humility and an unwavering stand for goodness. But nowPretty disappointed in the changes that Netflix made with this show. Sutherland played a Tom Kirkman who you could look up to in Season1-2; who was bigger than the dirt in Washington and overcame adversity, betrayal, and deceit with humility and an unwavering stand for goodness. But now Netflix has flooded the show with excess profanity and unnecessary sexual content that blur the lines between Kirkman’s team and the rest of Washington’s rat pack. There’s nothing special about this show anymore.… Expand

8 of 8 users found this helpful80

1

Biga

Jun 10, 2019

Horrible season 3! Where did all the cursing come from? Totally not necessary! And why the gay sex? Is it really appropriate? Done watching after the 4th episode. It had so much potential!!

7 of 9 users found this helpful72

0

scottcollier051

Jul 18, 2019

This show was fantastic on ABC. It was well written, had great plots and twists and it was clean. Once it went to Netflix, they started the cussing and then came the gay sex! I mean that's just disgusting and sick and they are no longer focused on the show, but they are now focused onThis show was fantastic on ABC. It was well written, had great plots and twists and it was clean. Once it went to Netflix, they started the cussing and then came the gay sex! I mean that's just disgusting and sick and they are no longer focused on the show, but they are now focused on their agenda of shoving these socially unacceptable life choices down the throat of the viewers. They try to "normalize" abhorrent behavior an effort to make viewers think it's ok. Such a shame to see a great two seasons ruined and derailed by social agendas and disgusting cussing. This show will die now and the above clearly explains why.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

SEE ALL 22 REVIEWS

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Seasons & Episodes

71

Series Overview
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: June 7, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E10. #truthorconsequences
  Air Date: June 7, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E9. #undecided
  Air Date: June 7, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E8. #scaredsh*tless
  Air Date: June 7, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E7. #identity/crisis
  Air Date: June 7, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E6. #whocares
  Air Date: June 7, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E5. #nothingpersonal
  Air Date: June 7, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E4. #makehistory
  Air Date: June 7, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E3. #privateparts
  Air Date: June 7, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E2. #slipperyslope
  Air Date: June 7, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E1. #thesystemisbroken
  Air Date: June 7, 2019
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 27, 2017
Season 1

71
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 21, 2016