'Designated Survivor' Recap: 'Commander-in-Chief'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

Putting together a massive plot thread that is designed to cover and reach the entire season of a television show, can be a risky gambit. If the series tips its hand on the resolution of the plot thread too quickly...what point is there in watching any further? But if the series takes its sweet time in getting to the point, it runs the risk of alienating the audience and boring them to tears and right now, Designated Survivor is struggling to find the right balance when it comes to the massive plot thread that drives the premise of the show, the grand conspiracy going on behind the scenes in Washington.

I say that simply because for a few weeks there, it truly seemed as though the conspiracy plot line was about to be busted wide open, but the perfect storm of murder and intrigue have continued to keep this big reveal at bay and well, I truly had my hopes up for answers when it came to last night's episode, 'Commander-in-Chief' and unfortunately, my hopes were dashed in this particular story, because there were no major answers to be found, just more bread crumbs when it comes to the people responsible for their heinous crimes and well...this episode was simply downright frustrating because this was a golden opportunity to give us something to work with, but that opportunity was squandered away.

Because this episode finally brought former Chief of Staff Charles Langdon into the spotlight when he brokered a deal with the White House for his own safety and it truly seemed like this was the big moment. Hannah was going to get him into a room and he was going to spill his guts and blow our minds in the process, and while Langdon did indeed talk, he basically...knew nothing. The only major revelations to come out of his interrogation is that the mystery woman we have been seeing around, the one who Hannah photographed with Jason, is named Claudine Poyet and she used Charles to get her hands on the threat assessment on the Capitol building. We also learned that it was his job to call Kirkman and name him the Designated Survivor and his refusal to do so, nearly cost him his life and it was Mister Langdon's opinion that Kirkman was chosen because he was the least qualified to be the President, which would help further whatever agenda they had planned.

But let's be honest here, the audience already knew that. The Peter MacLeish storyline already established this, in subtle and intelligent fashion and this just spoon fed us what we already knew and well, I expected better from a show that has delivered on so many levels. However, while it seems like the tone of this article is about to become a declaration of my intent to no longer watch it, that's simply not the case. While dragging out the conspiracy is frustrating, this is still a damn good character drama about a man thrust into an extraordinary circumstance and that took the center stage in this particular episode since the visit from President Moss was a crash course in leadership for President Kirkman. The former Commander-in-Chief had plenty of fascinating tidbits to offer up for Tom and when all was said and done, it's clear having a former leader guide Tom paid off in spades.

Tom Kirkman seems like a man transformed now, with a newfound confidence and a new ally on his staff in Moss and despite this episode's shortcomings, watching Kirkman become more Presidential, even going so far as to give Hannah special privileges to bring Claudine and her cohorts to justice was simply magical and extremely satisfying and I'm also curious to see what comes next for Aaron, now that he has resigned as Kirkman's Chief of Staff. But when all is said and done, I really do hope the show starts to move this conspiracy storyline forward. It doesn't have to come forth all at once, just give us something to work with and to sweeten the pot, let's see these people make some bigger moves, let's see them challenge Kirkman like never before because clearly he's up to it and clearly he's ready to take them on. Until next time. 

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