Monday, February 05, 2018
Designated Survivor 1st Season
- Commentary: There's an excellent possibility that I won't be owning this first season of Designated Survivor long. I was thoroughly disappointed in it, but my expectations were uninformed, to say the least. After having read short descriptions of the second season episodes that have aired, I have no intention of watching, let alone purchasing, it. Why am I writing it up, then, if I'll soon be donating it to the library (which, as of right now, does not have a copy of the first season and I'm sure would like one)? In order to complain, frankly. When I learned from my Colorado brother-in-law that he had begun watching a series called Designated Survivor on TV and it began with a full Capitol Dome explosion in which almost everyone in government was murdered, I was excited. I have, off hand, for years, decades, even, wondered what the effect would be of such an event. I've wondered, too, if the effects might be salutary, since it seems that this country is stuck in oligarchy and can't wrench itself away from plutocratic control, seeing as how strict democracy has been killed, and all. When the first season became available I purchased it, sight unseen, especially since my brother-in-law was enthusiastic about it. We had not discussed, however, what I was expecting from such a series versus what he was seeing. Big mistake. I had imagined a series in which the entire idea of government, particularly in the U.S., was suddenly subjected to severe scrutiny and questioning. I was surprised that this might happen on U.S. network TV but impatiently looked forward to it. Of course, this is not the thrust of the series. The idea, structure and operation of government is never questioned in the series. It continues as usual, with different people. The group that perpetuated the disaster is presented as a fanatical, farcical out-group that, of course, would never be taken seriously, except for the violence it produces. The "dilemmas" that are featured in each episode could have been taken directly out of the womb of 24 impregated by The West Wing. I only watched a few episodes of 24 and found it full of violent silliness. I liked The West Wing. Their child, though, is ugly and ill-gotten. I know the U.S. imagination is better than this because my imagination is better than this. It is, I think, this populist U.S. imagination, though, that network television, being headed by people whose literal fortunes are tied to our present government, would never allow, let alone acknowledge. So, the library will be getting this DVD set. I'm sure they'll be pleased. I imagine there are lots of people inquiring about the possibility of checking out this series.
Update 2/10/18: That's right, folks. I did it, two days ago. I donated this DVD series 1st season to my library.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Kiefer Sutherland President Thomas Kirkman Natascha McElhone First Lady Alexandra Kirkman Adan Canto Aaron Shore Italia Ricci Emily Rhodes LaMonica Garrett SSA Mike Ritter Tanner Buchanan Leo Kirkman Kal Penn Seth Wright Maggie Q Hannah Wells
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2015-2019
Various directors for this season, one of whom is female.
Labels: drama4, female-director1, political2, presidential, TV1
