Designated Survivor Review: The Threat Comes Home

Chasing a terrorist on foreign soil is old news, and that’s based on real events and the events on Designated Survivor. A homegrown terrorist with a very specific axe to grind attacked his own people. Yet, even given the destruction and the body count, this same man is allowed the same fundamental rights as anyone in the White House. Because he is an American citizen, Patrick Lloyd is as equally damned as he as protected. It’s up to an unprecedented White House to come up with an unprecedented answer for how to deal with a man who did the unthinkable.

That Patrick Lloyd slipped so swiftly into the United States is not reassuring about the state of national security; and on the eve of the Correspondents Dinner no less! Aaron, Hannah, and their consigliere on loan, Agent Damian Rennett, do their best to keep up with Lloyd while the President deals with opposition. There are still people who think they can go toe-to-toe with the President just because he is a newbie. Like the Senator from Missouri who tries to influence Kirkman by “accidentally” leaking classified information to create a quid pro quo situation. Needless to say, that does not go well for him. The only person who has managed to stay ahead is Patrick Lloyd. His plans were derailed, and he took it personally.

Going after the First Lady’s mother was just to signal that intention for effect. The real threat comes from Lloyd proudly saying he’ll release sarin gas into Washington D.C., and the White House will never know how or when unless Kirkman gives him amnesty. If at all possible, there is a bigger problem, which is that Lloyd’s long-term plans might not die with him. You could cut off the head of the snake, but the poison might still be lethal. And yet, on top of all of that, the Homeland Security Council interferes, saying that lethal force against Lloyd is not constitutional. An American citizen cannot be targeted by military force.

The only third choice that Kirkman can think to make is to connect with Lloyd on another level-father to father. At the very least Kirkman gets a response, but Lloyd is too far gone. Cowards blame everyone but themselves for their actions. This puts Aaron in a tough bind as he goes against U.S. attorney Kendra Danes, who is as by the book as they come. However, even she knows the difference between constitutionally right and morally right. Hard as it is to believe, the FBI is technically a civilian agency, not a military one. After Kirkman uses this knowledge to authorize a strike that kills Lloyd, he gives Danes a promotion to the White House legal council. The threat is gone, the White House’s staff is finally filled out, and the American people are safe. So why aren’t we happy? Because there is always another threat, and there is not a 100% guarantee that this threat is over. Remember what I said about poison.

Has the real threat on Designated Survivor been eliminated, or is it still creeping in the shadows?