Netflix Political Thriller Series Gets Better Every Season

Designated Survivor was created and developed for television by David Guggenheim, who previously found success as a writer for projects such as The Christmas Chronicles, Stolen, and Safe House starring Denzel Washington. The series stars Kiefer Sutherland in the leading role, as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Thomas Kirkman. Other performers who round out the ensemble cast include Adan Canto, Italia Ricci, Maggie Q, LaMonica Garrett, Natascha McElhone, and Kal Penn, who famously took a break from acting to aid Barack Obama’s White House as an associate director of Public Engagement.

The narrative of Designated Survivor sees Sutherland’s Thomas Kirkman unexpectedly thrust into the office of President of the United States, after a shocking terrorist attack wipes out everyone in the lengthy line of succession before him. As Kirkman struggles to gain his footing and earn the trust of the American people as a legitimate president, he also conducts a thorough investigation into the origins of the attack, only to learn that more trouble is on the horizon. I won’t spoil too much of the show beyond that, but suffice it to say, it’s a nonstop thrill-ride that will leave you desperate to designate some binge hours.

By the time the third season of Designated Survivor concluded, some fans were desperately hoping that Netflix would pick the series up for additional installments. Unfortunately, execs at the streamer explained that they found difficulty arranging the schedules of the leading performers and writing staff, and ultimately cancelled the show for the second and final time. Regardless, the season 3 conclusion is much more satisfying and final in nature than season 2, making the ending a perfect stopping point for the adventures of President Kirkman and company.

The series earned mixed to positive reviews from critics, and currently holds a 71 percent certified fresh critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. General audiences were extremely fond of the show, especially those that enjoyed catching Sutherland’s work on 24. While Designated Survivor might live in the shadow of other political series’ of its time such as Veep, House of Cards, and Scandal, the show has managed to carve out a dedicated and reliable cult following.

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Those interested in watching Designated Survivor can stream the series in full on Netflix today. Just be sure to avoid big viewing parties with all of the most important and notable people in the country, or you too could find yourself at the center of a massive political kerfuffle.