Designated Survivor: The Mission
October 27, 2016 6:25 AM - Season 1, Episode 5 - Subscribe
President Kirkman approves a bombing, then a SEAL assault, and maybe even a VP offer.
In the meantime, Agent Wells discovers that Room 105 was a bomb shelter... IN THE CAPITOL. And an old boyfriend of the First Lady claims (from prison) that Leo isn't the President's child... AND HE'S RIGHT.
In the meantime, Agent Wells discovers that Room 105 was a bomb shelter... IN THE CAPITOL. And an old boyfriend of the First Lady claims (from prison) that Leo isn't the President's child... AND HE'S RIGHT.
He seems to be evilly glowering all the time, but to what end?
Gotta make the evil glower quota somehow? I'm still kinda enjoying how earnest the show is, and even the villains are apparently earnest in their evilness.
posted by nubs at 8:42 AM on October 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
Gotta make the evil glower quota somehow? I'm still kinda enjoying how earnest the show is, and even the villains are apparently earnest in their evilness.
posted by nubs at 8:42 AM on October 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
I hate to admit that I'm really digging this show so far. I especially liked the last episode, as it was almost West Wing-esque. I am worried, though, that we're approaching 24 territory*, with the sudden twists and moles and hidden agendas. Really, I like it when it's a meditation on the presidency and the office, and I like it less when it's "oh crap am I supposed to be guessing who the bad guy is? Oh, wait, the bad guy isn't who I thought it was. Oh wait maybe it is, etc."
* and I totally get that it's only because of the lead actor, but there are some plot lines that are touching that category.
Random other thoughts:
- Yeah, I know he's a political n00b, but come on, you have 49-50 sitting governors and your first thought for VP is a congressman? Didn't you just get reminded that you may die?
- The first son maybe being a convict's kid is, well, I'm already tired of that story line.
- Yeah, the evilly glowering thing is a little much. We've already basically been told that he's a baddie. Or is he????
- I'm happy but also a little disappointed that Seth is basically a cut/paste job from CJ Cregg. The "You can't just go back to talking points." "Watch me." was a little on the nose.
- I don't buy at all that the FBI can tell where the survivor was during the blast, but the "bomb shelter" also disintegrated enough to not be able to be immediately discovered.
I am not a crackpot.
posted by General Malaise at 5:31 PM on October 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
* and I totally get that it's only because of the lead actor, but there are some plot lines that are touching that category.
Random other thoughts:
- Yeah, I know he's a political n00b, but come on, you have 49-50 sitting governors and your first thought for VP is a congressman? Didn't you just get reminded that you may die?
- The first son maybe being a convict's kid is, well, I'm already tired of that story line.
- Yeah, the evilly glowering thing is a little much. We've already basically been told that he's a baddie. Or is he????
- I'm happy but also a little disappointed that Seth is basically a cut/paste job from CJ Cregg. The "You can't just go back to talking points." "Watch me." was a little on the nose.
- I don't buy at all that the FBI can tell where the survivor was during the blast, but the "bomb shelter" also disintegrated enough to not be able to be immediately discovered.
I am not a crackpot.
posted by General Malaise at 5:31 PM on October 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
For all that I'm going to keep making fun of the show's earnestness, I am enjoying it. There's something nice about watching a show that gives us largely straightforward, well-meaning characters without the heavy doses of cynicism and moral compromise that characterizes most of our entertainment these days.
- Yeah, I know he's a political n00b, but come on, you have 49-50 sitting governors and your first thought for VP is a congressman? Didn't you just get reminded that you may die?
I think what they are going for is that the plan all along was to maneuver McLeish into being in charge of the whole sheebang; as the FBI guy said, whoever did this was tying up loose ends before anyone else even knew they existed. I think the plan was for McLeish to be the sole survivor of Congress, and then they would only have to deal with whoever was the Designated Survivor to assume full control. The unexpected fly in the ointment is going to be Hookstraten; I think the show's angle here is going to be that she's a political animal and plays all the angles, but she's going to be the true loyal member of the government when McLeish and whoever else make their move. Maybe the hope all along was for McLeish to ingratiate himself into the VP slot.
- The first son maybe being a convict's kid is, well, I'm already tired of that story line.
Exhausted by it before it even started. I get that the show needs to find something to do with Natascha McElhone, but there's got to be something better to do with a lawyer suddenly becoming the first lady than to give her a "sex scandal".
posted by nubs at 1:17 PM on October 29, 2016
- Yeah, I know he's a political n00b, but come on, you have 49-50 sitting governors and your first thought for VP is a congressman? Didn't you just get reminded that you may die?
I think what they are going for is that the plan all along was to maneuver McLeish into being in charge of the whole sheebang; as the FBI guy said, whoever did this was tying up loose ends before anyone else even knew they existed. I think the plan was for McLeish to be the sole survivor of Congress, and then they would only have to deal with whoever was the Designated Survivor to assume full control. The unexpected fly in the ointment is going to be Hookstraten; I think the show's angle here is going to be that she's a political animal and plays all the angles, but she's going to be the true loyal member of the government when McLeish and whoever else make their move. Maybe the hope all along was for McLeish to ingratiate himself into the VP slot.
- The first son maybe being a convict's kid is, well, I'm already tired of that story line.
Exhausted by it before it even started. I get that the show needs to find something to do with Natascha McElhone, but there's got to be something better to do with a lawyer suddenly becoming the first lady than to give her a "sex scandal".
posted by nubs at 1:17 PM on October 29, 2016
I'm still laughing at the bomb shelter that disintegrated but still managed to save him. You definitely have to be willing to suspend a heap of disbelief with this show, but it is still enjoyable somehow overall.
That said, the older son was already my enemy with the cliche drug dealer plot line, but this "who's your daddy?" bullshit is just beyond awful.
posted by gatorae at 6:24 PM on October 29, 2016
That said, the older son was already my enemy with the cliche drug dealer plot line, but this "who's your daddy?" bullshit is just beyond awful.
posted by gatorae at 6:24 PM on October 29, 2016
I am glad the show's writers finally acknowledged that most governors can make emergency appointments of senators, but there's no way you wouldn't already have a couple of dozen of them at least. Partisan governors would jump at the chance to give members of their party senior senator status, even if only by days or weeks.
And it's weird acting like there are only two choices for Speaker of the House. As soon as elections happen there will be veteran House members who failed a re-election bid who make it back in. The idea that it'll be McLeish, Hookstraten and 433 total noobs is unrealistic.
I want to like the show, but they don't actually think through the real life implications of anything, and that is perpetually distracting.
On a positive note, I really like the actor who played the military commander. That is one of the most believable portrayals we have seen so far.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:59 AM on October 31, 2016 [3 favorites]
And it's weird acting like there are only two choices for Speaker of the House. As soon as elections happen there will be veteran House members who failed a re-election bid who make it back in. The idea that it'll be McLeish, Hookstraten and 433 total noobs is unrealistic.
I want to like the show, but they don't actually think through the real life implications of anything, and that is perpetually distracting.
On a positive note, I really like the actor who played the military commander. That is one of the most believable portrayals we have seen so far.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:59 AM on October 31, 2016 [3 favorites]
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posted by Etrigan at 6:26 AM on October 27, 2016