Series synopsis
Designated Survivor is an American drama war & politics television series that premiered on ABC on September 21, 2016. It ended on June 7, 2019. It was created by David Guggenheim. It stars Kiefer Sutherland, Natascha McElhone, Maggie Q and Kal Penn.
Tom Kirkman, a low-level cabinet member is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union kills everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession.
Premise
Tom Kirkman, a low-level cabinet member is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union kills everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession.
Premise: Declare your independence
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Kiefer Sutherland as Tom Kirkman
- Natascha McElhone as Alex Kirkman
- Maggie Q as Hannah Wells
- Kal Penn as Seth Wright
- Adan Canto as Aaron Shore
- Italia Ricci as Emily Rhodes
- LaMonica Garrett as Mike Ritter
- Malik Yoba as Jason Atwood
Supporting cast
- Tanner Buchanan as Leo Kirkman
- Virginia Madsen as Kimble Hookstraten
- Rob Morrow as Abe Leonard
- Paulo Costanzo as Lyor Boone
- Ben Lawson as Damian Rennett
- Emiliano Díez as Président Ortega
Guest cast
- Arjay Smith as Nolan
- Alex Quijano as Lawrence
- Elana Dunkelman as Nathalie
- Vanessa Smythe as Reporter
- Cory Lee as Callie Song
- Neeraja Ramjee as Melissa Derfler
- Bo Martynowska as Tiffany Gimble
- Von Flores as Dr. Shen
- Abhi Sinha as Mike Wright
- Tim Machin as NSA Deputy
- Scott Wickware as Larry Hill
- Dan Lett as Wynbrandt
Episodes
This series spans 3 seasons with 53 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 21 | September 21, 2016 | May 17, 2017 |
| Season 2 | 22 | September 27, 2017 | May 16, 2018 |
| Season 3 | 10 | June 7, 2019 | June 7, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pilot Lower-level cabinet member Tom Kirkman becomes President of the United States after a catastrophic attack on the U.S. Capitol. Kirkman must keep the country and his family safe while leading the search for the those responsible for the attack. |
September 21, 2016 |
| 2 |
The First Day Hours after the attack on the Capitol, President Kirkman steps into his role as Commander-in-Chief in the midst of chaos and confusion. Facing dangerous new challenges and adversaries, Kirkman struggles to hold a country together that is on the brink of falling apart. |
September 28, 2016 |
| 3 |
The Confession President Kirkman and his staff work to keep a high-level security breach of the White House a secret just as he’s about to give his first television interview. The FBI continues to investigate the Capitol bombing but Agent Hannah Wells starts to develop her own theories about who was really behind the attack. |
October 5, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
One Year In Now, one year into office, Kirkman is a Commander-in-Chief determined to rebuild the Capitol and capture the terrorists behind the catastrophic attack on the United States. When Ukrainian nationalists hijack a Russian Air flight, the president is faced with a hostage situation in which his diplomatic skills are put to the test. |
September 27, 2017 |
| 2 |
Sting of the Tail FBI Agent Hannah Wells finally closes in on Patrick Lloyd, but when the president decides to take action during the White House Correspondents Dinner, members of the Homeland Security Council threaten to derail their plans. |
October 4, 2017 |
| 3 |
Outbreak President Kirkman is faced with a viral pandemic that threatens to kill countless Americans. Hannah and Damian discover evidence that could change the lives of members of the first family forever. |
October 11, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
#thesystemisbroken Now running for office for the first time, Kirkman and his nascent campaign stumble out of the gate. Wells gets a critical reassignment. |
June 7, 2019 |
| 2 |
#slipperyslope A heated debate over child marriage roils Kirkman's staff. Opioid addiction hits home for Mars. A biohacker turns Wells onto a chilling new threat. |
June 7, 2019 |
| 3 |
#privacyplease A political attack on Kirkman puts privacy and transgender rights in the spotlight. Aaron weighs a major decision. Wells and Eli track a bioterrorist. |
June 7, 2019 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ABC |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 21, 2016 |
| Last aired | June 7, 2019 |
| Status | Canceled |