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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 44 Ratings

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5.2

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5.2	Your Score
5.2	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 44 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 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

5.2

User Reviews

10

PrThKi

Nov 19, 2021

Designated Survivor is one of the best television series I have ever seen.
I hope to see a reboot in the future with the same cast. Thrilling.

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

SchroederRock

Aug 5, 2019

A great show with vibrant characters and a political tone that resonates with anyone that doesn't believe in career politicians and popularity lobbying, which tends to be a lot of people. The first 2 seasons have enough suspense and immersive feelings to carry the show quite well but it'sA great show with vibrant characters and a political tone that resonates with anyone that doesn't believe in career politicians and popularity lobbying, which tends to be a lot of people. The first 2 seasons have enough suspense and immersive feelings to carry the show quite well but it's the 3rd season, where Netflix takes over, where things deviate and the mission becomes rather muddied. I really liked the show but I don't like how it ended, especially because I think a more focused season 3 would have left the door open for another season or 2 before closing the door on the Tom Kirkman character.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

2

WhosTheDoc

Dec 28, 2019

I'm only giving the show a 2 because it had two Good seasons. Once Netflix took the show over it became a gigantic zero. It has so much left wing indoctrination that it has quit being a show, but has become a platform for pushing agendas. Throw in some disgusting graphic gay sex, and youI'm only giving the show a 2 because it had two Good seasons. Once Netflix took the show over it became a gigantic zero. It has so much left wing indoctrination that it has quit being a show, but has become a platform for pushing agendas. Throw in some disgusting graphic gay sex, and you have one of the worst collapses of a television show ever.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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

Unity3

Jul 24, 2019

I joined this website only because i saw like minded reviews (and wanted to add my two cents) after being VERY disappointed in this show. Season 1 was Great.. Original, thrilling, great story line.. LOVED it!.. I most liked that an Independent was in charge and the show reflected bothI joined this website only because i saw like minded reviews (and wanted to add my two cents) after being VERY disappointed in this show. Season 1 was Great.. Original, thrilling, great story line.. LOVED it!.. I most liked that an Independent was in charge and the show reflected both political parties as problematic and i really did love the NO-AXE (or double edged axe) that it seemed to project... The show even went so far as to address Government flaws and literally was portraying both political parties in a bad light.. Oh my goodness, this was AWESOME!.. Tear em' up.. A show for ALL us middle of the road folks... Um, REAL AMERICA! Well, unfortunately that didn't last... and probably why the show is now cancelled and it's over... I couldn't make it through season 3. Come on Hollywood.. We're not prejudiced, racist or even Republicans... We're tired of being pandered to by your racist, sexist and elitist views.
WE are SO TIRED OF AGENDAS BEING PUSHED ON US!!! When is Hollywood going to realize this???? WHEN????

Something happened after season 1, and it got worse after season 2... Season 3 is a complete disaster. While looking for that magic hit show elixir (that they already had btw), they obviously stumbled across some producer, director, writer or obviously somebody who felt their personal agenda needed to be pushed more than creating quality television.

Too bad, you could have had a long time hit on your hands here.. Once people caught up and discovered the show, like i did... I discovered it 3 seasons in.. Binged season 1 and season 2... Now, you couldn't pay me to finish season 3.. It's a good thing the show is not being made anymore because i wouldn't watch it if it were.

sorry to be so blunt, but i am sooooo tired of being pandered to, in reality, by only a small group of people who think we are all deplorable, idiot, walmart shoppers.

Believe it or not, we are far more complicated and intelligent and far less racist and bigoted as they think, in their hollywood and new york cosmopolitan bubbles.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

0

ty92

Jan 22, 2022

Too much filler to the point where I'm fast forwarding through lots of scenes. It needs to be re-edited.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 25 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