'Designated Survivor' season 1B spoilers: POTUS Grows in Office Despite Threats, EP Says
Transitioning from secretary of housing and urban development to president of the United States is hard enough with people conspiring to kill him, but Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) is soldiering on after surviving an attempt on his life. What other threats are in store for him and his presidency in the second half of "Designated Survivor" season 1?
After a hiatus lasting for almost three months, ABC's political drama series picked up right where it left off and sent the president of the United States (POTUS) to surgery when he got hit by the bullet despite Agent Hannah Wells' (Maggie Q) effort to save him.
Fortunately, the bullet went through his body and managed to miss every possible vital organ along the way. But a shrapnel left inside his chest necessitated a surgery that would incapacitate him for a longer period of time, and thus he was forced to promote Vice President Peter MacLeish (Ashley Zuckerman) as acting president.
The MacLeishes' evil agenda were further revealed as the episodes progressed, but luckily POTUS survived the surgery and would be ready to resume authority in episode 12 of "Designated Survivor."
Titled "The End of the Beginning," the episode will uncover a new conspiracy that raises tensions and suspicions in the White House. Agent Wells' continuing investigation into the Capitol bombing that killed the former president and his entire administration will bring her a new lead that sends her closer to the truth than ever before.
The official trailer for the episode also teases the POTUS' determination to find out the traitors in his government and bring them to justice once and for all.
Kirkman and Wells are also about to meet each other for the first time since the series started. What role will they be playing in each other's life and in their mutual quest to solve the mystery of the Capitol bombing?
In an interview with TV Guide, executive producer Jeff Melvoin revealed that the second half of the show's first season will be delving deeper into the conspiracy storyline as it gradually reveals some answers. But other than this, Kirkman will also be able to do some real governing.
"You're going to see the show continue to be driven by the conspiracy, but you're also going to see the president grow in office and become his own," Melvoin said.
"Designated Survivor" airs every Wednesday at 10 p.m. EST on The ABC Television Network.