So far it’s really good. Quite an interesting story premise.
It’s fascinating to see a regular guy thrust into the role of President. I’m looking forward to the twists in plot as he assumes power and gains the respect of his remaining staff and the Generals.
Just to make it even harder. This guy was expected to resign his cabinet position the day after the State of the Union speech. Further undermining his position with the staff and Generals. Will they obey his orders? Stage a coup? Lot of directions this show can take.
I just saw her in the FBI jacket. Is she that thin?
I’m a bit puzzled what a designated Survivor can do? He can assume the Executive powers. But Congress is needed to pass laws. Supreme Court judges to exercise their checks and balances.
If this guy sizes all power. Then… It’s really not the US Gov any more.
In this scenario, were I the President, I would request the state governors to convene their legislatures and request that they be granted the power to appoint Representatives. Pretty sure that would pass Constitutional muster. I would also request, and this might be harder to pull off, that said Governors only appoint persons of the same party as any deceased lawmakers. Otherwise it would look like they were exploiting a national tragedy for partisan gain. Can’t have that, can we?
I really liked the bathroom scene. That will be the last time Tom Kirkman will ever have a normal conversation with anyone. He’ll always be “The President” in future conversations with people.
The only negative is the dope dealing teenage son. Why include such a stereotypical character? The angry and misunderstood teen shows up everywhere.
These early episodes should be the best. There’s so much for Kirkman to do. Restoring a functioning government is a daunting task. Especially since there may be another attack coming.
Had I been in Kirkman’s shoes, as soon as the general challenged my authority, I would have told him “Thank you for stating your views, General. You’re relieved.” Had anyone had tried to remove me in the moments before the broadcast, I’d have ordered the Secret Service to place them under arrest immediately.
You’re assuming those people will follow your orders.
Power, after all, is an illusion. The President of the United States is only powerful because people choose to do what he says. The moment they all choose otherwise, he’s no more powerful than anyone else.
I liked the show. I also wouldn’t have a clue what to do if somebody told me “You’re the president, now run the country.”
But what bugged me is that they put the president and his family in the White House immediately after the bombing a short distance away. On 9/11/2001, didn’t they fly President Bush around the country to secret bunkers to protect him? The White House is the last place I’d put the president under those circumstances.
I really liked the opening episode. I will look for the second one next week. I haven’t watched a regular network show in a long time.
One silly thought, about the guy Kirkman exchanged clothes with. If I was the other guy I’d wear that track suit home and keep it, it could be a “family heirloom” with the story passed down as to how it came to be theirs.
Disappointing thus far, far too many cliches lumbering over the horizon. It’s a wonderful idea for a show, but sadly lacking in the execution, at least in the pilot. Most of the reviewers are lukewarm too.
The only part that interests me (and I didn’t watch it) is the bit I’ve never heard a good answer to. That is, sure the executive branch has a leader but the legislative branch (and presumably most of the Supreme Court) is effectively gone. How does the Congress get up and running in a timely manner? The lack of the Supreme Court is annoying but not a huge deal, because the circuit courts down (and everything at the state level) is still there. The bench can be filled fairly quickly once the Senate is up and running.
Elections are a state-level affair. Governors traditionally appoint a Senator to fill a mid-term vacancy, with a new election at the next scheduled general election. Representatives tend to stay open, though it can depend on where in the term the vacancy arises. How long would it take for all the states to run special elections and what would the format be? And it’s only the elected part of the Federal government that would be in actual crisis. The state level doesn’t need the federal in the short term. All the parts of the Federal bureaucracy that effectively run themselves can run just fine for a little while as long as there is an accepted President.
Somehow I suspect the interesting political and Constitutional questions will mostly be ignored. But to be fair, I don’t plan on watching the show and would be happy to be told I’m wrong.
That bothered me as well. I figured they go to that shelter place in Virginia or wherever that’s all set up to hold the leaders. White house is next on the target list. In the coming attractions they showed flickering lights etc. indicating trouble ahead.
Heh. Could you imagine if the TV series gets lackluster ratings and reviews for being built around far too many clichés – but the very obviosity of the premise, and how expectedly it plays out, is the look-in-the-mirror impetus that finally makes us realize, hey, maybe we should stop doing something so mind-bogglingly stupid every year? Shouldn’t the VP, and not a Designated Survivor, be somewhere else instead of silently sitting there like the Supreme Court? Wait, why is the Supreme Court even there?
It’d go down in history as a culturally significant TV show with a genuine legacy!
