Designated Survivor features President Kirkman handling a viral outbreak on this week’s episode.
Designated Survivor is on a surreal fourth-wall breaking path this season. The news (first reported by Deadline) that actress Natascha McElhone, who play’s President Kirkman’s wife Alex Kirkman, is departing the show has spread like wildfire. Combined with Kiefer Sutherland teasing, “A midseason event that I believe will knock the socks off our audience,” the obvious plot twist seems to be the First Lady leaving President Kirkman behind at the White House.
The first seeds of tension between Alex and Tom were sown last episode when her mother’s house was infiltrated. Though Alex’s mother was unharmed, it didn’t sit well with the First Lady. A bit of doubt and irritation was subtle on Alex’s face. Yet, all it took for the viewer to take note. The unmistakable moment where she reconsiders staying around? The inevitable dangers of being close to the leader of the free world, always casting a shadow. Is Alex’s struggle for family normalcy damaged beyond repair with this irrefutable knowledge?
Last family moment?
At the end of last episode, President Kirkman took a glance at a photo of his kids … borderline tearing up as if they’d already left his side. An ominous sign of his worst fear being losing them and it soon happening? He had one more interaction with his daughter shortly afterwards saying, “Good night.” It had the aura and feel of a farewell more than just a regular hug and chat goodnight.
However, it’s hard to say if we as an audience are too “aware” of this potential plot point or these moments are naturally noticeable. The show has been spoiled in a big way with the real life revelation of McElhone leaving the show, and it’s certainly having an impact subconsciously in the back of your head. Time will tell if this is the last time we see President Kirkman attend to his daughter inside the White House.
Designated Survivor S02E03: “Outbreak” promo teaser
It appears we’re about to pay semi-homage to 24’s third season with a viral outbreak on tonight’s episode of Designated Survivor. This time, however, Kiefer will have to stay at the White House and allow agent Hannah Wells to work her magic in the field.
Last episode, it was revealed to agent Wells that Patrick Lloyd had been uploading something to the White House’s cloud, moments before the drone hit his bunker. Having penetrated through their firewall, this might potentially have something to do with tonight’s “Outbreak” chapter. Lloyd might be gone but his ideas will live on through allies and supporters.
Designated Survivor S02E03: “Outbreak” sneak peek
On the sneak peek of Designated Survivor for tonight’s episode, the outbreak appears to involve an avian spread strand of Influenza A. Twelve fatalities around in the midst, with 32 cases reported and likely thousands infected. President Kirkman has just 72 hours before the majority of the US is infected with the highly contagious viral spread.
Congress/Senate is Designated Survivor’s new ‘CTU’ red tape
President Kirkman couldn’t just executive order his way to droning Patrick Lloyd’s bunker. He had to go through legal proceedings and eventually go around them to achieve his goal, hearkening back to 24’s CTU hierarchy where Jack Bauer was constantly in odds with upper management. Since President Kirkman is the most powerful man in the world, the new obstacles come in the form of checks and balances. It’s similar to Jack Bauer’s CTU obstacles to getting the job done in any way possible if lives were at stake.
Congress and Senate’s role on Designated Survivor is not only to give CTU style red tape to restrict Kirkman’s power. They also utilize each disaster to advance their own political interests at every turn. Even the CDC in the sneak peek for this week’s episode take a swipe. Complaining about lack of funding, to which President Kirkman replies, “Always trying to squeeze blood from a stone.”
Is Patrick Lloyd really gone?
Sure, it appears Patrick Lloyd couldn’t have survived the drone strike on his bunker. However, earlier in the episode agent Hannah Wells recalls how clever and impossible to catch the man is. That it couldn’t possible be him driving in the car they were tracking. Who’s to say if Lloyd was ever at the residence or didn’t escape in time? There’s a sneaking suspicion we haven’t seen the last of Patrick Lloyd on Designated Survivor.
Designated Survivor on ABC: Air time
Watch the new episode of Designated Survivor on ABC tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern/9 Central.