Designated Survivor (Kiefer Sutherland - ABC)

[Tiduwho]

Just saw the trailer for Kiefer Sutherland's new show that premiers later this fall on ABC:

http://untitledtv.com/fall-tv-fox-de...survivor/16258

Official Synopsis:

Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland (“24”) returns to primetime in a conspiracy thriller as Tom Kirkman, a lower cabinet member who unexpectedly becomes president after a devastating attack on Washington. He will struggle to prevent the country and his own family from falling into chaos, as he is thrust into one of the most difficult presidencies in history.


“Designated Survivor” stars Kiefer Sutherland as Tom Kirkman, Natascha McElhone as Alex Kirkman, Maggie Q as Hannah Watts, Kal Penn as Seth Wheeler, Adan Canto as Aaron Shore, Italia Ricci as Emily Rhodes, LaMonica Garrett as James Ritter, and Tanner Buchanan as Leo Kirkman.


“Designated Survivor” is from The Mark Gordon Company and ABC Studios. David Guggenheim is creator and executive producer. In addition to Guggenheim, the series is executive produced by Simon Kinberg, Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Gordon, Nick Pepper, Suzan Bymel, and Aditya Sood. Paul McGuigan directed the first episode.

Trailer definitely has perked interest. Could be good?

[Tiduwho]

Premiers tonight. Looking forward to it. 82% on rotten tomatoes.

[junior94]

for a few months now I've been referring to this as sort of the American version of "King Ralph".

not that I'm necessarily swayed by this, but the bulk of the reviews I was skimming over this morning weren't exactly glowing.

[Rodey]

Thought the pilot was solid. Nothing groundbreaking, but I like the concept and Kiefer is good.

[Rodey]

And what are you talking about, Junior? It's at 85% on RT right now.

[DMBstandUP1984]

watched the first 30mins on my commute, so far I enjoy it. Just wonder if it will keep up its pace throughout the season. Reminds me of Quantico.

[neumdogg]

Definitely liked it a lot. Very entertaining. Love having Kiefer back on TV.

[junior94]

Originally Posted by Rodey

And what are you talking about, Junior? It's at 85% on RT right now.

well it wasn't Rotten Tomatoes, but I saw a rundown of a bunch of different reviews (mostly pro stuff I think, like from major newspapers, etc) and there were definitely quite a few dinging it a fair bit, including questioning how it could be sustained as a series. and like too many little subplots going on, etc

[gocubsgo3822]

I enjoyed it.

[DMBstandUP1984]

is 24 worth going back and watching?

[Tiduwho]

Originally Posted by junior94

well it wasn't Rotten Tomatoes, but I saw a rundown of a bunch of different reviews (mostly pro stuff I think, like from major newspapers, etc) and there were definitely quite a few dinging it a fair bit, including questioning how it could be sustained as a series. and like too many little subplots going on, etc

That's a dumb criticism IMO.

This isn't a movie, it's a show. Shows need lots of little subplots, and it also has the time to flesh all of them out fully.

[Tiduwho]

Originally Posted by DMBstandUP1984

is 24 worth going back and watching?

Yes of course. First season is a masterpiece. The remaining range from very good to eye-rolling, but majority is very good.

The last season before it got canceled was dreadful, but the mini half season return last year was very solid.

[TMoore4075]

Originally Posted by Rodey

Thought the pilot was solid. Nothing groundbreaking, but I like the concept and Kiefer is good.

Agree.

Originally Posted by DMBstandUP1984

watched the first 30mins on my commute, so far I enjoy it. Just wonder if it will keep up its pace throughout the season. Reminds me of Quantico.

Also agree with this. Never watched Quantico but there are shows that you wonder if they can keep it up for a whole season and beyond. How creative are the writers and can they stretch out the overall story without it becoming bland? I'm hoping for good things though.

[GSUdawg521]

I enjoyed it. The scene of him being sworn in and then first getting to that conference table were more intense than I thought they'd be.

[sheldonlevene]

Maybe I need to go back to this, but I turned it off.

The show just seemed kind of "light" tonally, for virtually everyone in government to have just been murdered. I know it was serious, but I don't know...the acting seemed hammy and not related to the gravity of the whole scenario.

[DMBstandUP1984]

yea I agree. The smirks between Kiefer and his wife really took me out of the moment that hundreds of people and I'm sure kids just lost their lives.

[junior94]

Originally Posted by sheldonlevene

Maybe I need to go back to this, but I turned it off.

The show just seemed kind of "light" tonally, for virtually everyone in government to have just been murdered. I know it was serious, but I don't know...the acting seemed hammy and not related to the gravity of the whole scenario.

actually yea you just reminded me of probably the single biggest detail I remember seeing from the one in depth review I'd looked at, that it seemed like the majority of major government players (those who were left) were substantially less than bright in their actions, and it included a blustery general who's all gung ho about bombing a country who it's not even certain if they were behind the attack. Which, if that's how it was, I'm sorry but that sounds very cliche.


and to tiduwho, as far as the "too many subplots introduced", I *think* maybe the criticism was that it just tried to put too many in the very first episode. I mean I can understand the first season of a show wanting to cover a lot of ground, but I dunno, maybe they just tried to overstuff the pilot.

[Rodey]

I'm not really sure how you would expect someone to act in that situation. There would literally be no time to be anything but "light" for these people. You could probably liken it to 9/11. Firefighters that day weren't balling their eyes out in the corner as people jumped out of windows. They knew they had a job to do and there wasn't time for anything but light.

[Rodey]

Also, Junior, just watch the show and stop commenting on it until you do.

[junior94]

well shit, I'd already planned on pretty much live blogging the whole first season but without EVER actually watching it, so sorry, no can do

for reals though, you reference the word "light" multiple times in that previous post of yours and I'm sorry but have no clue what you're talking about.


edit - sorry, never mind, I only just noticed you were actually talking about that post from sheldon that I had been quoting (I just hadn't really focused on that particular part of his)

[Rodey]

I'm really liking this show through the first two episodes.

[GSUdawg521]

I enjoyed it again. Him yelling at the general and walking out saying "25%, dammit!" got me excited like Jack is back! I know, I don't want to compare this to 24 at all, I just like him getting fired up.

A few silly details I think. Like when he hung up the video call with the governor and his right-hand guy said "sir, do you want me to inform homeland security their operatives are being released?" I feel like he would've known that was made up, even if Kirkman didn't tell him.

Kal Penn getting stopped by the police was good stuff, and then him again later at the vigil. I didn't know if he's playing a character of Indian descent (which he is) or middle eastern, because I was thinking he was gonna just tell the cops "I'm fucking Indian!"

But something about this show, maybe how relevant it is, how 9/11y it is, makes me enjoy it and get the feelz.

As far as some speculation only, spoilered because some of it involves next week's preview

I had an idea that they find a survivor in the rubble who's ahead of him in the line of succession, and there ends up being a whole controversy about that, even though the survivor is like on life support or in critical condition or something and who's more qualified to be making the presidential decisions. They do show a survivor, but not sure if they go in that directon. They were saying let's see if he saw anything.

Easy to call that the Rebublican other designated survivor congresswoman is going to turn on him for a power struggle

Click the "Show Spoiler" Button to reveal hidden text.

[DMBstandUP1984]

I thought the fact the right hand guy and the girl nodded at each other was the tip they knew it was a lie?

[defcon]

Just watched the Pilot. Seems like 24: Part II Where Jack Bauer is now President because everyone's dead. All the treachery of 24 starting to rear its head. Who are the terrorists? Lots of questions, but I'll watch. I love shows and movies where a lot of people die. They're cool.

[MOWJO8185]

Gave up on this one probably 5 or so episodes in.

[Rodey]

Anyone still watching this? It's been surprisingly good, in my opinion. I'd argue that it rivals the early seasons of 24, albeit it's not as high-intensity.

[DMBstandUP1984]

Still watching it. Still enjoy it.

I never watched 24 but Sutherland is great....just wonder where they will go in S2.

[TMoore4075]

Originally Posted by DMBstandUP1984

Still watching it. Still enjoy it.

I never watched 24 but Sutherland is great....just wonder where they will go in S2.

Yeah still watching it and also my concern. Can you keep coming up with the story to carry it. These shows that have these crazy overall story arcs can have trouble keeping it up for years. Hope they can though.

[mr. testaverde]

still watching, still enjoying. it's a bit cheesy at times, but overall it's good

the subplot love story between Aaron and Emily just up and...vanished lol

side note: BIG fan of Italia Ricci

https://www.google.com/search?q=ital...w=1920&bih=950

[DMBstandUP1984]

yeah. I never heard of her until this show..but hachi machi.


and your point about their love story..i was wondering that last week, it just flamed out but they still throw each other some side eye.