Did you watch the first season of Designated Survivor, FOX’s heady blend of 24 and The West Wing? If so you were treated to a fast-paced narrative, fusing conspiracy thriller with White House political drama, and a surfeit of characters in the mix who spiralled around each other.
Before the second season dawns tomorrow on Netflix, here’s a handy reminder of who’s who in the Designated Survivor universe, and what they may face in this new run…
PRESIDENT TOM KIRKMAN (Kiefer Sutherland)
The main man. Thrust into the political limelight suddenly after Capitol Hill is destroyed in a terrorist bombing, Tom Kirkman rockets from being Under Secretary for Housing and Development (HUD Secretary), a nobody on the Washington rung, to the most powerful man in the world in one night, when the entire government are killed in the attack and as the titular ‘designated survivor’ in this extreme scenario, he becomes the only man able to be sworn in as President. Oh, what a night!
The first season has Kirkman struggling with this awesome, unexpected responsibility, questioning whether he’s the right man for the job, and trying to balance some semblance of a life with his wife Alex, a human rights lawyer, slightly off the rails son Leo, and sweet young daughter Penny. While standing up to rebellious General, obstinate Congressmen (and women) and trying to form a new government, Kirkman also has to contend with not just the hunt for the bombers, but the reality of a deeper conspiracy on American soil which halfway through the series unsuccessfully tries to assassinate him.
Season Two will see Kirkman face his greatest challenge; continue forming a new government, while hunting terrorist billionaire Patrick Lloyd, the man responsible for the attack, attempting to destabilise the White House from within. Can he succeed and become the President everyone hopes he can be?
FBI AGENT HANNAH WELLS (Maggie Q)
Given Kiefer is busy off being President, it’s left to Maggie Q to step into the role of hardass, resilient, dogged super cop Hannah Wells, an FBI agent who immediately becomes caught up in the aftermath of the Capitol bombing after learning a Congressmen she was having an affair with died in the bombing. Personal stakes driving her, Hannah begins investigating and begins to steadily uncover a deeper, darker conspiracy which suggests Al Sakar, the Middle Eastern terrorist group who claimed responsibility, may not have been responsible and the lone survivor of the blast, soon to be Vice-President Peter MacLeish, could well be linked to the real culprits.
Over the season, Hannah becomes the one true north of the investigative side of the series, doggedly exposing the key players alongside ill-fated FBI Deputy Director Jason Atwood, and in places Kirkman himself. With even more reason to take down Lloyd and his conspiracy, Hannah is likely to be ever more facing danger in pursuit of answers.
FIRST LADY ALEX KIRKMAN (Natascha McElhone)
The main woman. Much like her husband Tom, Alex is thrust very quickly into a role she never expected: First Lady of the United States. A human rights lawyer, Alex is as liberal and morally motivated as her husband the President, always seeking an opportunity to provide a listening ear and ethical compass for her husband, while attempting to use her position to do good for the country.
Alex faces personal difficulty via her children at several points across the first season, when son Leo first faces the ignominy of a drug-pushing charge, while later his paternity is questioned after revelations from her imprisoned ex-boyfriend. Alex seems likely to serve as President Kirkman’s rock going forward.
ACTING-CHIEF OF STAFF EMILY RHODES (Italia Ricci)
An old staff hand of Kirkman, Emily Rhodes was with the Under Secretary in his days before becoming ‘designated survivor’, operating as Tom’s assistant in his lowly position, and the new President swiftly rewards her loyalty by giving her a position as his ‘special advisor’, after being unable to make her Chief of Staff, which she vied for against the more experienced Aaron Shore.
Emily eventually gets the gig when Aaron’s possible involvement in the conspiracy—later debunked—makes her Acting Chief of Staff following an attempted assassination on Kirkman, but it also pours cold water on a budding romance with Aaron, following a spiky relationship. Can they rekindle the fire this season?
AARON SHORE (Adan Canto)
Every inch Wall Street, former White House Chief of Staff Aaron Shore is slick, suited and very much a young career politician. Rising to the job following the Capitol attack, chosen by Kirkman for his greater experience over Emily Rhodes, Aaron quickly overcomes his uncertainties about the new President and proves himself loyal, beginning a budding romantic relationship with Emily.
After McLeish is exposed as a traitor, and Aaron is suspected by Emily of being connected, Kirkman is forced to sideline him until the allegations die down. Aaron briefly goes to work for Republican Congresswoman Kimble Hookstraten but it looks like he may be on course back to the White House permanently once more.
WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY SETH WRIGHT (Kal Penn)
Another lowly staffer given the opportunity of a lifetime, Seth Wright was a speech writer who has an awkward run in with Kirkman in a men’s room, bemoaning the new President without realising he’s talking to him! The earnest, dry-witted, honest Seth is soon recognised by Kirkman as being someone he can trust, and makes him his chief speech writer as he takes office, to Seth’s amazement.
Aaron soon gives him another promotion, recognising he would make a great Press Secretary after watching him cover for a staffer who fails at the job. Seth now is the front guy for White House press conferences, but a couple of run-ins with journalists (such as old-flame Lisa Jordan) have made him weary about trusting the press.
SECRET SERVICE AGENT MIKE RITTER (LaMonica Garrett)
As loyal an employee as the White House can find, Mike Ritter is the main Secret Service agent assigned to President Kirkman’s detail. Strong, tough and resilient, Mike literally takes a bullet for his President in the line of duty and ends up joining forces with Hannah Wells and the FBI in trying to expose MacLeish and the deeper conspiracy.
KENDRA DAYNES (Zoe McLellan)
One of the new main characters for Season Two, Kendra Daynes is described as a sharp-witted attorney.
WHITE HOUSE POLITICAL DIRECTOR LYOR BOONE (Paulo Costanzo)
Another new face, Lyor Boone will become the new Political Director of the White House, so expect him to cross paths with both Emily and Aaron.
DAMIAN RENNETT (Ben Lawson)
The final new face for the season, Damian Rennett is an MI6 operative who encounters Hannah while undercover in Amsterdam – could he provide a romantic entanglement while helping her pursue Lloyd and his forces?
Designated Survivor Season 2 begins today on Netflix UK. Let us know what you think of the series…