tv series Designated Survivor (2016)

[Harsh World]

The show started off strong. Season one was fantastic, and season two kept up the pace. But season three? That’s where it lost me. The tone shifted so much that it kind of ruined the experience. Since it was only ten episodes, I decided to finish it, but honestly, it just kept getting worse. It even felt like some of the characters' personalities completely changed in the third season.

What I loved about the first two seasons was that it felt like what would happen if Tom Kirkman ever became president, and the acting and storylines were top-notch. I flew through the episodes faster than any other show.

So, overall, it's definitely worth watching, but maybe pretend the third season doesn't exist!

 

[Snippet]

In Designated Survivor, capital building of the country was blown away, the president is killed, the congress are all wiped out and so the guy that would normally be 11th in line to be the president becomes the president. He's played by Kiefer Sutherland. I'm a huge fan of Kiefer Sutherland. He doesn't think that he's up to the task but he just has to do the job because someone has to step up and bring the country together.

There is tension because everyone is doubting whether this guy should lead and nobody has any idea who should lead if not him, then everyone is panicking and it makes it very interesting. The frustrating part is that nobody trusts him to do a great job as the president. There are lots of people trying to get him while there are other people who are trying to support him. It's a nice show to binged. I recommend it.

 

[Unlocked]

The show started off strong. Season one was fantastic, and season two kept up the pace. But season three? That’s where it lost me. The tone shifted so much that it kind of ruined the experience. Since it was only ten episodes, I decided to finish it, but honestly, it just kept getting worse. It even felt like some of the characters' personalities completely changed in the third season.

What I loved about the first two seasons was that it felt like what would happen if Tom Kirkman ever became president, and the acting and storylines were top-notch. I flew through the episodes faster than any other show.

So, overall, it's definitely worth watching, but maybe pretend the third season doesn't exist!

I'm a massive fan of Designated Survivor, I started watching it during COVID lockdowns in 2020 and immediately thought it was a great show! I really agree with you about what happened with season 3 though... it definitely feels like the writers were held hostage and told they had to create another season and do it quickly. There's no real basis to the storyline and definitely as you said, some of the character's have huge noticeable behavioural/personality changes that aren't explained in the story...

Definitely highly recommend watching this, but as Harsh World said, pretend season 3 doesn't exist!