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Season 3 – Designated Survivor

Play trailer 2:09 Poster for Season 3 – Designated Survivor 2019 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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67% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 27% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
As a lower-level cabinet member, Tom Kirkman never imagined something would happen that would catapult him to the oval office. When a devastating attack on the night of the State of the Union address claims the lives of the president and most of the Cabinet, the Housing and Urban Development secretary -- who was named the designated survivor in case of such an event -- finds himself promoted to leader of the free world. Suddenly thrust into his new position of power, Kirkman struggles to keep the country from dissolving into chaos and must adjust to his new normal, unaware of what fresh horrors may await the United States.
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Designated Survivor — Season 3

Critics Reviews

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Debi Enker The Age (Australia) Packed with meaty plot developments and boosted by a larger and more diverse cast, it tackles topics ripped from the headlines. Jul 8, 2019 Full Review Ed Power Daily Telegraph (UK) As political drama Designated Survivor season three has the smoke-streaming-from-its-ears quality of a Donald Trump stump-speech. As bursting-at-the-seams pot-boiler it is magnificent. Rated: 4/5 Jun 10, 2019 Full Review Allison Shoemaker AV Club This is not a positive review, but the third season is a marked improvement over the two that preceded it; this is still not a show that can manage to be three shows at once, but at least now some of those shows are marginally interesting. Rated: C- Jun 10, 2019 Full Review Jamie Andrew Den of Geek Season three is a success. Aug 20, 2019 Full Review Sameen Amer The News International (Pakistan) [T]his set of episodes is ultimately so inessential that it doesn't explain why the series was revived anyway. Rated: 2.5/5 Jul 29, 2019 Full Review Dustin Rowles Pajiba Again, at this point, Designated Survivor is a full-blown poor man's West Wing, but there are worse things to be, especially in a campaign year for the show (I love Presidential campaigns). Jun 28, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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T L Very sad about season 3, we finally found a show we enjoyed without bad language and sexual content that had a great plot and kept us engaged until season 3. The first episode of season 3 was our last episode. It was clear that someone else was writing the script and so I googled it and was not surprised when I see that Netflix had taken it over. It's hard to find anything new on Netflix that is completely saturated with the foul language and bad sexual content. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/25 Full Review Jason T The slow transition from the crisis of being designated survivor over the last two seasons to the present re-election campaign at the start of this season has been a joy to watch. The centrist independent leader rallies his staff around him and they are just as strong in this series. If you enjoy politics, you’ll love this show. It tackles the current issues of the day. Maggie Q as Hannah Well continues to fight for the safety of the present and is a great actress and a joy to watch. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/25/24 Full Review Gabriel A couldnt even finish watching the third season, where are all the likable characters? cant believe Kiefer Sutherland presented himself for this slop Rated 1 out of 5 stars 09/04/24 Full Review Scott M First two seasons were great. Season 3 is truly awful. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Fazil B It was cringe since 1st season, but MY GOD BY 3RD SEASON IT BECAME UNBEARABLE TO WATCH. 1 word to describe it - cringe. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/23/24 Full Review Robert S Agree with the consensus. Season 1 and 2 were great and couldn’t wait for more. Then more came in season 3 and Im struggling to get through it. Probably just go online and read how season 3 ends. Plus the noticeable increase level of profanity was completely unnecessary, tacky, tasteless and only made it worse. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/27/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Designated Survivor — Season 3

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Cast & Crew

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Kiefer Sutherland

Tom Kirkman

Paulo Costanzo

Lyor Boone

Adan Canto

Aaron Shore

Italia Ricci

Emily Rhodes

LaMonica Garrett

Mike Ritter

Zoe McLellan

Kendra Daynes

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jun 7, 2019 #thesystemisbroken Now that he's running for office for the first time, Kirkman and his nascent campaign stumble out of the gate; Wells gets a critical reassignment. Details Episode 2 Aired Jun 7, 2019 #slipperyslope A heated debate over child marriage angers Kirkman's staff; opioid addiction hits home for Mars; a biohacker turns Wells onto a chilling new threat. Details Episode 3 Aired Jun 7, 2019 #privateparts A political attack on Kirkman puts privacy and transgender rights in the spotlight; Aaron weighs a big decision; Wells and Eli track a bioterrorist. Details Episode 4 Aired Jun 7, 2019 #makehistory Aaron's heritage and a widespread teachers' strike become polarizing issues; Wells discovers a sinister pattern in a flu outbreak. Details Episode 5 Aired Jun 7, 2019 #nothingpersonal Emotions run high after despicable fake news goes viral; Isabel makes waves with a controversial appeal; Wells finds a clue pointing to conspiracy. Details Episode 6 Aired Jun 7, 2019 #whocares A dying Guatemalan child in a Texas hospital brings immigration to the forefront; a mugging opens Kirkman's eyes to the realities of life in the capital. Details Episode 7 Aired Jun 7, 2019 #identity/crisis A stray Russian bomber jeopardizes Seattle; Mars crusades against a drug company; an event from Aaron's childhood vexes Kirkman's campaign. Details Episode 8 Aired Jun 7, 2019 #scareds...less Kirkman mobilizes a panicky hunt for the bioterrorist; Lorraine plays hardball and pushes the opioid epidemic into the campaign fray. Details Episode 9 Aired Jun 7, 2019 #undecided Kirkman, trailing in the polls, weighs forcing the FBI's hand over the bioterrorism plot; Emily struggles with her mother's final wishes. Details Episode 10 Aired Jun 7, 2019 #truthorconsequences On election day, Kirkman turns to his therapist to assuage his conscience about the events -- and his own decisions -- of the momentous previous 36 hours. Details

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Designated Survivor — Season 3

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Designated Survivor — Season 3

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Season Info

Executive Producer
David Guggenheim, Mark Gordon, Kiefer Sutherland, Simon Kinberg, Suzan Bymel, Aditya Sood, Peter Noah, Neal Baer
Network
ABC
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jun 7, 2019
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