As we near the midpoint of Designated Survivor‘s first season, we’re looking at how the show’s landscape is developing, especially in the wake of a shaky U.S. political climate. It’s easy to judge Tom Kirkman as the illegitimate President since he only got the job by default, but the true measure of a man is how he carries himself under the weight of the world. This week Tom Kirkman reminded his family, staff, and country that the job requires an enormous amount of bravery and humility. Connecting with people’s fears and speaking to them with respect, even when it’s personally difficult, is part of what makes a great President.
News of Majid Nassar’s death is leaked just two days before Congressional elections. This is not the type of encouragement people need to get to the polls. The election also doesn’t need Kansas City hit with a biological toxin. The CDC figures out that the only people affected were poll workers, which means it’s an attempt to cripple the election so the country can’t get back on its feet. They can’t promise that the polls will be safe just because one of poisoners is caught because he has a whole anti-government militia to back him up. There’s talk of even cancelling the election when one of the poll workers dies. For a moment Kirkman considers it, until he talks to the victim’s daughter about how passionate the woman was about her civic duty. Kirkman goes through with the elections and inspires the country to participate by casting his vote.
Of course the President can’t catch a break in his personal life either. A reporter with a big mouth tracks down Leo at school wanting a quote about his paternity. The Kirkmans have no choice but to come clean with their son and finally take a paternity test. Kirkman may still be finding his sea legs as the President, but he is a wonderful father. He talks to Leo with respect, explaining that biology doesn’t factor into his love for his son. He also leaves Leo with the decision of whether or not to open the envelope. If he wants to know his paternity, that’s his right, but it won’t change the love he was raised in. Mike reiterates this point by telling Leo about his own father who adopted him when he was three. After much consideration, Leo decides he doesn’t want to know either.
Seth is tasked with figuring out how the story got around, and it leads straight to his potential lady love Lisa. She wasn’t about to let a good scoop get away even if it meant hurting a teenage boy and betraying Seth. She believes in the truth. That’s all well and good, but biological fact that is a private family matter doesn’t change magically transform Leo’s life. At the end of the day he was raised by Tom Kirkman. However, Kirkman has to approach the situation differently now that he’s the President. He can’t pretend the story is going to go away, so he opens the envelope. Lisa is told that Kirkman really is Leo’s father, and while her press badge isn’t revoked, she can forget about anything personal happening with Seth.
With his son being held captive, Atwood has a decision to make. If he helps the terrorists trick Kirkman into doing what they want, the entire country will be at the mercy of killers. If he doesn’t do what they say, they’ll kill his son. Atwood’s only hope is that he can leave a subtle enough trail and tone for Agent Wells to follow. The only problem is that Wells is two steps behind and being followed herself. By the time Wells figures out that the terrorists have Atwood’s son, it’s too late. Atwood goes to the President and confesses to poisoning Nassar himself. Sensing something isn’t right Kirkman sets up an investigation into Atwood over MacLeish’s protests. Wells is forced to continue the Capitol investigation alone now that her boss is imprisoned. The only good news is that Congresswoman Hookstraten is onto MacLeish, at least as far as her eyes opening to his true political intentions. If she chooses to take down MacLeish in her attempt to get to Kirkman, we wouldn’t object.
Once again, in President Kirkman we trust.
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