Take Three: Designated Survivor

Designated Survivor: Season 1, Episode 3 “The Confession” (B)

It was inevitable that Tom being fired the morning before he would become president would come out and that the American people, already not too enamored with their new commander-in-chief, wouldn’t be happy. What Tom showed, however, in the whole ordeal, is that he values honesty more than anything. Being cast aside by his predecessor’s son in favor of the likeliest candidate to replace him, Virginia Madsen’s Kimble Hookstraten, could have led him to be cold and crass when he found out that his relationship with his father wasn’t all he thought it had been. But instead he chose to share an inspiring moment that gave the newfound orphan a positive take on how his father felt about him, which was a relatively selfless act since the boy’s endorsement meant nothing to him once the funeral was over. Tom was smart to choose Aaron as his Chief of Staff because he needs someone smart and conniving, and I sincerely hope that this new file Aaron has created on him is to protect him from the scandals that will eventually get out and not to create them. If he works with Emily to serve Tom steadfastly, they can do great things. Leo’s antics aren’t terribly enticing, and while Natascha McElhone is a strong actress, I’m not sure Tom’s family needs to be so much of the subject of this show. The discovery that the recently discovered living congressman in the rubble got out of his seat and therefore was likely part of the crew that set off the bomb is unsettling, and Hannah better share that news with Jason soon or she’s going to find herself the sole advocate of a dangerous theory.