The new ABC drama, Designated Survivor shows what would happen if the worst were to fall upon the United States. By presenting the viewer with the situation of the President, Congress, Senate, and all but one cabinet members dying, Designated Survivor shows Americans all of what they hope will never happen in real life.

A designated survivor is a person in the president’s line of succession. They are chosen to not attend a gathering, such as the State of the Union address, that includes all others in the line of succession. This is to prevent a disaster where all the people in the line of succession die.The designated survivor gets to chose any location and is heavily protected by the secret service.

Tom Kirkman, played by Kiefer Sutherland, is the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the lower ranks of the President’s Cabinet. During the State of the Union address, Kirkman is chosen to be the designated survivor and is absent from the address.

While Kirkman is watching the address, the news feed cuts out. Directly after, Kirkman looks out of his window to see that the Capital Building has been bombed. As the designated survivor, Kirkman is now the President of the United States and has to deal with the chaos that is falling upon his country.

This drama shows the range of emotions that Kirkman goes through once becoming president, especially shock and nervousness. It also shows the abruptness of  how quickly life changes for Kirkman, and how he goes from simply resting and watching the State of the Union address to all of the sudden being the President of the United States. Actor Kiefer Sutherland shows conveys these emotions impeccably.

Although the show can tend to drag on, it is packed full of drama. It is not a show you can just play in the background; you must give the show your complete attention or you will be lost.

Designated Survivor is the perfect show for anyone interested in the government, curious about what could happen in a situation like this, or just someone who is simply looking for a drama to watch that keeps them on the edge of their seat.