Pumped for one of the most exciting looking shows of the fall, ABC’s Designated Survivor? We’ve broken down some of the spoilers on offer in the trailer.
When the networks debuted their fall trailers back at Upfronts in May, there was one that everyone seemed to be talking about: Designated Survivor. Starring Kiefer Sutherland in his first regular TV role since hanging up the gun as 24’s Jack Bauer, ABC’s new series follows Tom Kirkman, the “designated survivor” who becomes President of the United States when an attack at the State of the Union address kills the standing commander-in-chief and all other members of the Cabinet. We’ve taken a close look at the initial trailer and picked out five spoilers on show.
1. Don’t be fooled by Kiefer Sutherland – Kirkman is NOT Jack Bauer.
Tom Kirkman may look and sound just like Jack Bauer (albeit with glasses), but the trailer makes absolutely certain that viewers won’t be able to confuse the pair. From his unease to his casual attire – hell, even the trailer’s opening shot of him eating popcorn – it’s clear that the two characters are not alike. Of course, as the season develops, we may see more qualities overlap, but for now, they’re very different characters.
2. An underdog story?
At one point, Kirkman’s speechwriter Seth Wright (Kal Penn) tells fellow staffers that his superior “has no business running the country,” before expressing directly to him a belief that he should step down. Even Kirkman himself doesn’t think he’s right for the job: “I’m not the guy for this,” he tells his wife (Natascha McElhone). He’s fighting an uphill battle from the very beginning, but his impending struggles with his newfound position is part of what makes the series such an intriguing prospect.
3. Tom Kirkman isn’t just all-business.
The trailer opens with a shot of Kirkman making fun of his daughter for still being awake late into the evening. Later, he overhears his son tell her, “Dad’s not scared of anything,” a line sure to inspire him into trying to prove his doubters wrong. But it’s clear that at his core, Kirkman is more devoted to, and cares more about, his family than any job he could have, regardless of its nature.
4. Retaliation isn’t always the answer.
Even more of an indication of Kirkman’s difference to Sutherland’s former character? His objection to instant, violent retaliation. He isn’t hot-headed and is instead much more considered and diplomatic about dealing with the situation. “What do you want me to do, General, declare war?” he asks at one point. Despite his inexperience, Kirkman clearly has principles and believes in doing things in a less aggressive manner. “There are different ways to show force,” he says. Let’s see how long that lasts
5. “Whoever did this is just getting started.”
Back at the show’s panel at the Television Critics Association press tour, Sutherland said that the series “had the thriller aspect, [is] a family drama” and is political. But Hannah Wells (Maggie Q), the FBI agent assigned to investigate the attack, indicates here that future episodes will also explore the search for the perpetrators. There’s also very little suggestion from the trailer that she and Kirkman will be crossing paths, and it’s reasonable to assume that the two aspects will develop separate from one another.
Designated Survivor premieres on ABC on Wednesday, September 21st at 10pm
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