| Designated Survivor | |
|---|---|
| Season 2 | |
 Promotional poster | |
| Starring | |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | September 27, 2017 – May 16, 2018 |
| Season chronology | |
The second season of the American political drama series Designated Survivor was ordered on May 11, 2017. [1] It premiered on September 27, 2017, and consisted of 22 episodes. [2] The series is produced by ABC Studios and The Mark Gordon Company, and is filmed in Toronto and Cambridge, [3] Ontario, Canada.
Beginning one year into office, President Thomas Kirkman juggles searching for the mastermind behind the attack on the Capitol Building, dealing with the day-to-day situations that take place at home and abroad, and surviving attacks against his administration.
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | US viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 1 | "One Year In" | Chris Grismer | Keith Eisner | September 27, 2017 | 5.50 [9] | |
| Aaron is now National Security Advisor; Kirkman tries to prevent an international crisis when Ukrainian separatists hijack a Russian airplane with American citizens on board; Wells works with MI6 agent Damian Rennett (Ben Lawson) to find the Capitol bombing's chief architect; Emily juggles hiring political consultant Lyor Boone (Paulo Costanzo) and determining where Seth's loyalties lie; the senior staff keeps a visiting writer occupied before his audience with the President. | |||||||
| 23 | 2 | "Sting of the Tail" | Frederick E. O. Toye | Keith Eisner | October 4, 2017 | 4.80 [10] | |
| Kirkman works with Wells and Rennett when Patrick Lloyd (Terry Serpico) reemerges and threatens to unleash sarin gas on the D.C. metropolitan area if his demands are not met; Seth struggles to finish Kirkman's speech for the Correspondents' Dinner; the senior staff welcomes White House Counsel Kendra Daynes (Zoe McLellan) into the fold. | |||||||
| 24 | 3 | "Outbreak" | Chris Grismer | Ashley Gable | October 11, 2017 | 4.61 [11] | |
| Kirkman works with the Centers for Disease Control to contain a viral outbreak; Wells and Rennett dig deeper into Patrick Lloyd's motives; Daynes attempts to settle a debate about a Confederate statue; the senior staff prepares for the presentation of an Amazonian frog named after the President. | |||||||
| 25 | 4 | "Equilibrium" | Joe Lazarov | Paul Redford & Keith Eisner | October 18, 2017 | 4.34 [12] | |
| Kirkman and the senior staff attempt to resolve a border dispute between the United States and Mexico; Wells interrogates Alex about her mother's possible involvement in a decades-old crime; an investigator from the Office of Management and Budget tries to determine who is responsible for breaking a priceless vase. | |||||||
| 26 | 5 | "Suckers" | Fred Gerber | Bill Chais | October 25, 2017 | 3.94 [13] | |
| Kirkman and the senior staff work together to regain the public's trust after a private conversation is taken out of context on national television; Wells and Rennett reunite when a visiting British MP is gunned down; Alex becomes emotionally involved in the ongoing investigation against her mother. | |||||||
| 27 | 6 | "Two Ships" | Leslie Libman | Jessica Grasl | November 1, 2017 | 3.92 [14] | |
| Kirkman sets out to prevent a potential national security threat after a stranded US Navy ship with a state-of-the-art surveillance system drifts into enemy waters; Wells and Rennett continue investigating Charlotte Thorne's death; Daynes tries to convince Alex's mother to make a difficult decision; Rhodes reunites with her absentee father. | |||||||
| 28 | 7 | "Family Ties" | Milan Cheylov | Pierluigi Cothran | November 15, 2017 | 4.05 [15] | |
| The First Family struggles to prevent a scandal when Leo is sued by a man protesting a Turkish official; Alex finds herself caught in the middle of a murder investigation; Secretary Moss stonewalls Wells and Rennett as they investigate his relationship with Charlotte Thorne. | |||||||
| 29 | 8 | "Home" | Ian Toynton | Pat Cunnane | November 29, 2017 | 4.03 [16] | |
| Kirkman attempts to determine who he can trust while on a secret trip to Afghanistan. Wright makes a personal decision that could jeopardize both his political career and his future in the White House. | |||||||
| 30 | 9 | "Three-Letter Day" | Jeannot Szwarc | Bill Chais & Ashley Arena | December 6, 2017 | 3.87 [17] | |
| Kirkman's senior staff personally respond to letters requesting that the White House investigate a war hero's legacy, a death row inmate's pardon, and a bee colony's collapse; Wells and Rennett continue to search for evidence that could exonerate Alex; Chuck makes a shattering discovery. | |||||||
| 31 | 10 | "Line of Fire" | Chris Grismer | Keith Eisner | December 13, 2017 | 4.38 [18] | |
| Kirkman and the senior staff attempt to save a group of religious extremists who refuse to leave their cabin during a raging forest fire. Wells reels from a stunning betrayal. Alex prepares to testify before Director Forstell. Alex is killed in an unexpected accident. | |||||||
| 32 | 11 | "Grief" | Timothy Busfield | Keith Eisner | February 28, 2018 | 3.72 [19] | |
| Ten weeks after Alex's death, Kirkman has to resolve a diplomatic mission turned into a hostage crisis in Cuba while still coming to terms with his loss and confronting the imprisoned driver who killed his wife. Director Timothy Busfield also appears as Kirkman's therapist. Meanwhile, Rennett returns, having survived being shot by Wells. | |||||||
| 33 | 12 | "The Final Frontier" | Sharat Raju | Jeff Melvoin | March 7, 2018 | 3.60 [20] | |
| Brought in for questioning, Rennett claims to have key information that may help Kirkman save a space station crew from dehydration, including that both the U.S. and Russian space programs were cyberattacked. The resolution compromises Kirkman's relationship with Cornelius Moss, the former president and current secretary of state, until he is fired, while Kirkman tries to keep his children steady in the wake of Alex's death. | |||||||
| 34 | 13 | "Original Sin" | Bosede Williams | Ashley Gable | March 14, 2018 | 3.69 [21] | |
| The White House staff has its hands full dealing with the fallout from the video leak of Kirkman's contentious visit with Alex's killer, finding who was responsible for the leak, and combating a false perception of Kirkman as a tyrant because of it. Adding fuel to the fire is an unexpected sit-in from a visiting tribe of Native Americans whose lands were compromised by decades-old developments by Kirkman's former architectural firm, but all from a time Kirkman himself was unaware of the tribe or its heritage. On top of it all, Kirkman's younger brother comes to heal their relationship. | |||||||
| 35 | 14 | "In the Dark" | Carol Banker | Bill Chais | March 21, 2018 | 3.98 [22] | |
| A power blackout in Washington scrambles both the White House staff and Hannah into tracking the source of an apparent hack into the grid. Rennett breaks his tracking device to kill a Russian before the Russian can kill Hannah. Kirkman and D.C.'s mayor Ellenor Darby tackle local unrest during the power failure and their success after an early misunderstanding makes up Kirkman's mind about his choice for vice president. Kirkman's brother delivers an unexpected but welcome surprise involving a bond payment deadline extension from Japan. | |||||||
| 36 | 15 | "Summit" | Chris Grismer | Jessica Grasl | March 28, 2018 | 3.80 [23] | |
| With Ellenor confirmed as the new vice president, tensions including a nuclear missile test compel Kirkman to speed up a peace summit between the Asian countries of East Hun Chiu and West Hun Chiu at Camp David, but incessant leaks threaten to torpedo the talks, especially when the son of one of the leaders defects to the US. While Wright and Rhodes continue re-assessing their relationship as both are compelled to sign White House disclosure documents covering it, Kirkman is quietly outraged when he discovers the source of the leaks, which is Moss, who he roped in to help with negotiations. | |||||||
| 37 | 16 | "Fallout" | Joe Lazarov | Tom Garrigus | April 4, 2018 | 3.84 [24] | |
| Kirkman and the FBI scramble to find where a "dirty" nuclear waste bomb is planted in the United States and the person responsible for it. The bomb is found at a Metro Line train station, but kills six FBI personnel including Director Forstell before they can clear the station. Evidence initially points to East Hun Chiu but, when it proves to be Kunami's doing, Kirkman launches airstrikes at strategic targets in that country. | |||||||
| 38 | 17 | "Overkill" | Jeff T. Thomas | Jeff Melvoin & Tracey Rice | April 11, 2018 | 3.29 [25] | |
| Kirkman presses forward with more attacks on Kunami's military infrastructure to bring that country's strongman emir to heel in the wake of the dirty bombing but, while Kirkman wrestles with his conscience over the mini-war, Hannah--on the ground in Kunami--discovers Kunami's ambassador has a side-agenda dangerous to both the emir and the US. | |||||||
| 39 | 18 | "Kirkman Agonistes" | Leslie Libman | Pierluigi D. Cothran & Patrick Cunnane | April 18, 2018 | 3.51 [26] | |
| The private tape recordings of Kirkman's therapy sessions have been leaked to the press. The White House staff scrambles to expose the leaker. Vice President Darby convenes a secret Cabinet meeting to discuss whether to remove Kirkman under the 25th Amendment and ruthless attorney Ethan West (Michael J. Fox) is brought in to investigate Kirkman's past. A weary president ponders briefly whether he really feels fit to remain in office. Wright dresses down the White House press corps by reminding them that any man--never mind a president--would be traumatized by his wife's unexpected death. | |||||||
| 40 | 19 | "Capacity" | David Warry-Smith | Keith Eisner | April 25, 2018 | 3.36 [27] | |
| Kirkman and his inner circle testify before Ethan West's hearing in order to prove the President's capability to stay in office. Meanwhile, Wells desperately searches for a link between Andrea Frost and the cyberattacks, bringing her into career-threatening disfavour with the President. Rennett is shot when he and Wells are attacked. Wells accosts Frost in public. Kirkman fires Wells for insubordination. | |||||||
| 41 | 20 | "Bad Reception" | Chris Grismer | Tom Garrigus & Jessica Grasl | May 2, 2018 | 3.47 [28] | |
| Kirkman negotiates with a foreign government to release American youth Matthew Jennings, threatened with hard labor for a minor crime, but Ethan West's interest in the case may obstruct the effort. Kirkman's nomination to the DC appellate court, Kendra's former law mentor, runs aground over past sexual harassment. Dax Minter is revealed as the cyberattack mastermind who also leaked Kirkman's therapy recordings. Minter had bugged Kirkman's office and Wells' firing was staged for Minter to hear. Young Jennings is freed and Minter is arrested at the White House. Frost, about to leave for San Francisco to head a project crucial for her company, shares a private farewell with Kirkman, each urging the other not to reject future love despite their spousal bereavements. | |||||||
| 42 | 21 | "Target" | Timothy Busfield | Bill Chais & Ashley Gable | May 9, 2018 | 3.29 [29] | |
| Republicans and Democrats each use a key defense spending measure to try strong-arming the resolutely independent Kirkman to choose between them as their presidential candidate. An old murder case threatens Daynes' safety and her budding relationship with Trey Kirkman. The president engages Ethan West to investigate former president Moss' leaks and betrayals. Moss steps up his attacks on Kirkman and announces that he is running (as a Republican) for President. Wells discovers that Rennett wants her to protect his daughter in London. | |||||||
| 43 | 22 | "Run" | Chris Grismer | Keith Eisner | May 16, 2018 | 3.54 [30] | |
| Kirkman faces criminal accusations from the Attorney General, who seems to have the support of Capitol Hill leaders. Concurrently, US protectorate Taurasi is slammed by an earthquake-caused tsunami just after voting for independence. Trying to aid the Taurasians may jeopardize Kirkman's presidency, but Wright and Boone are on the island. Rhodes survives a gunshot and makes a fateful decision about her White House service. Kirkman's son is accepted to both Georgetown and Stanford. Despite first seeming to side against the president, Ethan West comes to a surprising realization about Kirkman's character and style. After resolving Taurasi's humanitarian crisis, Kirkman announces that he is running for re-election as an Independent. Meanwhile, Wells protects Rennett's daughter Amy from an assassination attempt and ultimately kills Valeria. Because she has no family left, Amy asks Wells to take care of her. Wells reluctantly agrees and the two board a plane to fly to the US. On a USB drive that Valeria was carrying, Wells sees recorded video footage showing Rhodes passing an envelope to Valeria. | |||||||
Designated Survivor was renewed for a second season on May 11, 2017. Former The Good Wife executive producer Keith Eisner will take over as showrunner for the second season. [31] Eisner will be the fourth showrunner for the show, replacing Jeff Melvoin, who was hired as showrunner in December 2016, taking over for Jon Harmon Feldman. [32] The show's original showrunner Amy B. Harris stepped down due to creative differences after the series' official pickup in February 2016. [33]
On June 22, 2017, cast member Virginia Madsen announced that she would not be returning for the second season as Kimble Hookstraten as she commented "I guess they had other stories to tell. It's a big show so I wish them well." [34] After the first-season finale, Sutherland announced that the show would add three new characters for the second season. Two of the character descriptions was "a "fiery" female White House Counsel and a "ruggedly handsome" MI6 operative who crosses paths with Hannah." [35] TVLine announced on June 29, 2017, that Paulo Costanzo had been cast as a series regular role as Lyor Boone, the new White House Political Director. [36] Deadline reported on July 17, 2017, that Ben Lawson had been cast as the series regular character Damian Rennett, an MI6 operative. [37] In the same month, it was announced that Zoe McLellan was cast in a series regular role as attorney and White House counsel, Kendra Daynes. [38] In November 2017, Kim Raver was cast in the recurring role of engineer and space entrepreneur, Andrea Frost. [39] In January 2018, Michael J. Fox was cast in the recurring role of Washington attorney and special prosecutor, Ethan West. [7] In March 2018, Nora Zehetner was cast in the recurring role of Russian cultural attaché, Valeria Poriskova. [40]
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "One Year In" | September 27, 2017 | 1.1/4 | 5.50 [9] | 1.4 | 5.84 | 2.5 | 11.34 [41] |
| 2 | "Sting of the Tail" | October 4, 2017 | 0.9/4 | 4.80 [10] | 1.2 | 5.20 | 2.1 | 10.00 [42] |
| 3 | "Outbreak" | October 11, 2017 | 0.9/4 | 4.61 [11] | 1.1 | 5.07 | 2.0 | 9.68 [43] |
| 4 | "Equilibrium" | October 18, 2017 | 0.8/3 | 4.34 [12] | 1.1 | 5.00 | 1.9 | 9.34 [44] |
| 5 | "Suckers" | October 25, 2017 | 0.7/3 | 3.94 [13] | 1.0 | 4.60 | 1.7 | 8.54 [45] |
| 6 | "Two Ships" | November 1, 2017 | 0.7/3 | 3.92 [14] | 0.9 | 4.31 | 1.6 | 8.23 [46] |
| 7 | "Family Ties" | November 15, 2017 | 0.8/3 | 4.05 [15] | 0.9 | 4.47 | 1.7 | 8.52 [47] |
| 8 | "Home" | November 29, 2017 | 0.7/3 | 4.03 [16] | 1.0 | 4.83 | 1.7 | 8.86 [48] |
| 9 | "Three-Letter Day" | December 6, 2017 | 0.7/3 | 3.87 [17] | 0.9 | 4.60 | 1.6 | 8.47 [49] |
| 10 | "Line of Fire" | December 13, 2017 | 0.8/3 | 4.38 [18] | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | "Grief" | February 28, 2018 | 0.6/2 | 3.72 [19] | 1.0 | 4.71 | 1.6 | 8.43 [50] |
| 12 | "The Final Frontier" | March 7, 2018 | 0.6/2 | 3.60 [20] | 0.9 | 4.41 | 1.5 | 8.02 [51] |
| 13 | "Original Sin" | March 14, 2018 | 0.7/3 | 3.69 [21] | 0.8 | 4.20 | 1.5 | 7.89 [52] |
| 14 | "In the Dark" | March 21, 2018 | 0.7/3 | 3.98 [22] | 0.8 | 4.10 | 1.5 | 8.08 [53] |
| 15 | "Summit" | March 28, 2018 | 0.7/3 | 3.80 [23] | 0.7 | 3.99 | 1.4 | 7.79 [54] |
| 16 | "Fallout" | April 4, 2018 | 0.6/3 | 3.84 [24] | 0.8 | 3.88 | 1.4 | 7.72 [55] |
| 17 | "Overkill" | April 11, 2018 | 0.6/3 | 3.29 [25] | 0.7 | 4.11 | 1.3 | 7.39 [56] |
| 18 | "Kirkman Agonistes" | April 18, 2018 | 0.6/3 | 3.51 [26] | 0.7 | 3.97 | 1.3 | 7.48 [57] |
| 19 | "Capacity" | April 25, 2018 | 0.5/2 | 3.36 [27] | 0.7 | 3.71 | 1.2 | 7.07 [58] |
| 20 | "Bad Reception" | May 2, 2018 | 0.6/3 | 3.47 [28] | 0.6 | 3.44 | 1.2 | 6.91 [59] |
| 21 | "Target" | May 9, 2018 | 0.5/2 | 3.29 [29] | 0.7 | 3.62 | 1.2 | 6.90 [60] |
| 22 | "Run" | May 16, 2018 | 0.6/3 | 3.54 [30] | 0.7 | 3.58 | 1.3 | 7.12 [61] |
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