Channel Surfing: Designated Survivor - "Pilot"

Kiefer Sutherland
Welcome to a new column called Channel Surfing, in which I sporadically look at current TV shows and talk about them. These are not ones that I care to write weekly recaps for and are instead reflections either on the episode, the series, or particular moments. This will hopefully help to share personal opinions as well as discover entertainment on the outer pantheon that I feel is well worth checking out, or in some cases, shows that are weird enough to talk about, but should never be seen.
So far, 2016 feels like the perfect year for TV and cinema to get very political. After all, America is currently going through an election for the next president and thoughts of who should govern has been atop many people's minds. It also makes sense then that TV would usher back in the forefather of the 21st century Pro-American action formula: 24 star Kiefer Sutherland. If anyone could bring about justice, it is likely him. It is why he has likely been selected for a series that could read as America's greatest nightmare scenario: the death of every major politician. By the five minute mark of Designated Survivor, there is no president giving a speech in front of congress. There is merely fire and rubble with chaos ensuing as they attempt to make sense of the scenario.
The title derives from the idea of one politician being designated not to attend meetings in case of an emergency. The "Designated Survivor" in question is Tom Kirkman (Sutherland), who starts as a lowly senator at the episode's beginning before being thrust into unfathomable power. With a speech writer (Kal Penn) also alive, the episode follows the process to get the new president going. The speech writer contemplates word choices for a president who doesn't have a voice. Tom does his best to understand the world around him as the government tracks down his family; which includes a son that deals drugs at a rave. The few flashbacks paint Tom as a good father and a lowly politician who doesn't get much respect. He is an underdog by default, even if Sutherland's masculinity would suggest against this.
The first episode isn't necessarily telling of what the show will become. It is an action episode where everything happens at a dizzying speed, leaving audiences to piece together the story. The few breathing moments are spent contemplating what the future of America holds. Nothing is certain. One can only imagine that the show will calm down after a few episodes and show the more fascinating side of the equation: the work. How does the country come to deal with their new president amid crisis? How does the president deal with said crisis? There's a lot that still makes it feel like the promising thriller that we need during the 2016 election. We need the fictional president who makes tough decisions with almost no understanding of what the presidency actually needs. In fact, some would even argue that he's not very qualified.
There's plenty of mystery in tow, and Designated Survivor quickly becomes one of the most exciting new series of Fall 2016's new network line-up. It raises questions that are both literal mysteries as well as potential morality concepts. We don't really know much about Tom other than he was seen as lowly before. Now that he has power, will he be even more despised? Like all good pilots, it raises plenty of questions and leaves the audience to wonder if they actually will be solved. Time will answer that question, though you could do worse than having Sutherland launch the country into potential war, or face down an angry press. 
It may be heightened and at times silly, but Designated Survivor definitely feels like a nice bit of escapism for 2016's politically charged times. It's been awhile since TV has had a riveting fictional president, and one can only imagine what Sutherland will bring to the role. Hopefully, the show will manage to balance tension and plot in ways that will help it keep its must see TV status. If nothing else, it comes out swinging in ways that most shows are envious for. It may not change the world nor likely give deep insight into the political process, but it's an entertaining show, and one that has promise to help America explore this conflicting period in creative and compelling ways.

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