7.9/1015 votesLoading...#1 - The Oath
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/14/2016
President Kirkman fears there could be a traitor in the White House when he discovers shocking information connected to the Capitol Bombing. Confiding in Emily, Kirkman puts her in charge of quietly investigating. New information surfaces about Congressman MacLeish, raising concerns regarding his vice presidential nomination.
Director: Fred Toye
Writer: David Guggenheim
7.8/1038 votesLoading...#2 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/2016
Lower-level cabinet member Tom Kirkman becomes President of the United States after a catastrophic attack on the U.S. Capitol. Kirkman must keep the country and his family safe while leading the search for the those responsible for the attack.
Director: Paul McGuigan
Writer: David Guggenheim
7.8/1018 votesLoading...#3 - The End of the Beginning
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 3/15/2017
Circles must tighten as a new discovery within the conspiracy emerges. Tension rises between Aaron and Emily as suspicions loom in the White House. A new lead places Agent Wells closer than before to the truth.
Director: Mike Listo
Writer: David Guggenheim
7.6/1017 votesLoading...#4 - The Traitor
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/16/2016
When an American track-and-field coach heads to Russia, President Kirkman is thrust into a hostage exchange involving the CIA and the Russian government. Agent Hannah Wells and Deputy Director Atwood's investigation into the Capitol bombing uncovers information that puts Atwood and his family's life at risk.
Director: Fred Toye
Writer: Michael Russell Gunn, Jennifer Johnson
7.5/1020 votesLoading...#5 - The Enemy
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/12/2016
Kirkman learns who is behind the attack and needs to grapple not only with the prospect of war, but brewing domestic troubles as well. Kirkman taps Emily to monitor the domestic situation. Alex may be in for more than she bargains for when she seeks out help from Hookstraten.
Director: Paul A. Edwards
Writer: Dana Ledoux Miller, Jon Harmon Feldman
7.5/1015 votesLoading...#6 - Warriors
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 3/8/2017
The nation reels from the aftermath of the shooting on the steps of the Capitol while Emily struggles with the knowledge there may be a traitor in the White House. Agent Wells grapples with her decision to reveal what she knows about the conspiracy behind the Capitol bombing.
Director: Stephen Surjik
Writer: Paul Redford, Carol Flint
7.4/1014 votesLoading...#7 - The Blueprint
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/7/2016
When classified government documents are leaked online, President Kirkman searches for the party responsible only to find that they have taken refuge inside a foreign embassy and are beyond even his reach. Agent Hannah Wells races furiously to gather evidence of MacLeish's involvement in the conspiracy before he can be confirmed as the country's next Vice President.
Director: Richard J. Lewis
Writer: Michael Russell Gunn, Dana Ledoux Miller
7.2/1016 votesLoading...#8 - Backfire
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 3/22/2017
An investigative journalist shocks the White House when he reveals classified information during a press briefing and leaves Seth struggling to contain the damage from the leaked story. Hannah unearths a key connection between MacLeish and the conspiracy.
Director: Tara Nicole Weyr
Writer: Pierluigi D. Cothran, Sang Kyu Kim
7.2/1015 votesLoading...#9 - The Ninth Seat
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 4/19/2017
As President Kirkman struggles to put together a new Supreme Court, FBI Agent Hannah Wells goes undercover and discovers much more than she ever could have imagined. Seth Wright has to contend with journalist Abe Leonard, who returns from the Middle East with an explosive story.
Director: Fred Toye
Writer: Paul Redford
7.1/1024 votesLoading...#10 - The Confession
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/5/2016
President Kirkman and his staff work to keep a high-level security breach of the White House a secret just as he’s about to give his first television interview. The FBI continues to investigate the Capitol bombing but Agent Hannah Wells starts to develop her own theories about who was really behind the attack.
Director: Sergio Mimica-Gezzan
Writer: Paul Redford, Jennifer Johnson
7.1/1019 votesLoading...#11 - The Mission
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/26/2016
Realizing his attempts at diplomacy with Algeria have failed, President Kirkman makes the difficult decision of sending Navy SEALs on a mission that will define his presidency. Agent Hannah Wells discovers more secrets than answers.
Director: Paul A. Edwards
Writer: Michael Russell Gunn, Sang Kyu Kim
7.1/1016 votesLoading...#12 - Commander-in-Chief
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 3/29/2017
Turmoil in an African country forces President Kirkman to rely on an unlikely ally for help. Hannah's investigation into the Capitol bombing takes an unexpected turn. Emily settles into her role as chief of staff. Aaron has to make a difficult choice.
Director: Fred Toye
Writer: Michael Russell Gunn
7.1/1015 votesLoading...#13 - Lazarus
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 4/26/2017
As President Kirkman considers candidates for Vice President, Kimble Hookstraten finds herself embroiled in scandal. Agent Wells and Jason Atwood return from North Dakota with a critical new lead while journalist Abe Leonard's investigation takes an unexpected turn.
Director: Chris Grismer
Writer: Jennifer Johnson
7.1/1014 votesLoading...#14 - Bombshell
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 5/10/2017
President Kirkman’s first international summit is derailed when journalist Abe Leonard publishes an explosive article. Meanwhile, Hannah Wells uncovers the conspiracy’s next target.
Director: Sharat Raju
Writer: Sang Kyu Kim
7.1/1015 votesLoading...#15 - Brace for Impact
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/17/2017
In the nail-biting season finale, Hannah Wells must stop the conspiracy from carrying out a final attack while President Kirkman authorizes a nationwide manhunt for the mastermind behind it all.
Director: Fred Toye
Writer: David Guggenheim
7.0/1019 votesLoading...#16 - The Interrogation
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/9/2016
When shots ring out at The White House during a Governors Summit, President Kirkman’s plans at electing a new Congress are thrown into turmoil. Agent Hannah Wells continues investigating the Capitol bombing and makes one of her most shocking discoveries yet.
Director: Michael Katleman
Writer: Jenna Richman, Barbie Kligman
7.0/1015 votesLoading...#17 - Party Lines
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 4/12/2017
President Kirkman forms an unlikely alliance in the hopes of passing his first bill. Agent Ritter is briefed by Agent Wells about a new alarming threat to the nation.
Director: Mike Listo
Writer: Jenna Richman
7.0/1014 votesLoading...#18 - Misalliance
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 5/3/2017
As the White House gears up for President Kirkman’s first international summit, Kimble Hookstraten faces her toughest political battle yet when her speakership is challenged. Meanwhile, Alex wrestles with whether or not to bring the kids back to Washington.
Director: Norberto Barba
Writer: Dana Ledoux Miller, Jenna Richman
6.9/1025 votesLoading...#19 - The First Day
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/2016
Hours after the attack on the Capitol, President Kirkman steps into his role as Commander-in-Chief in the midst of chaos and confusion. Facing dangerous new challenges and adversaries, Kirkman struggles to hold a country together that is on the brink of falling apart.
Director: Brad Turner
Writer: N/A
6.8/1015 votesLoading...#20 - The Results
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/30/2016
On the eve of the country voting to elect a new House of Representatives, an unexpected development forces Kirkman to consider cancelling the elections entirely. News about Majid Nassar’s death leaks out, and Kirkman has to handle the fallout.
Director: Chris Grismer
Writer: Paul Redford, Sang Kyu Kim
6.8/1014 votesLoading...#21 - One Hundred Days
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 4/5/2017
As President Kirkman releases an agenda to reset his presidency, Alex makes a controversial public statement that threatens to derail it. Agent Wells unknowingly finds herself in the center of a dangerous trap while getting closer to the truth.
Director: Ken Fink
Writer: Dana Ledoux Miller
6.8/1018 votesLoading...#22 - One Year In
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/27/2017
Now, one year into office, Kirkman is a Commander-in-Chief determined to rebuild the Capitol and capture the terrorists behind the catastrophic attack on the United States. When Ukrainian nationalists hijack a Russian Air flight, the president is faced with a hostage situation in which his diplomatic skills are put to the test.
Director: Chris Grismer
Writer: Keith Eisner
6.8/1015 votesLoading...#23 - Sting of the Tail
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 10/4/2017
FBI Agent Hannah Wells finally closes in on Patrick Lloyd, but when the president decides to take action during the White House Correspondents Dinner, members of the Homeland Security Council threaten to derail their plans.
Director: Fred Toye
Writer: Keith Eisner
6.8/1015 votesLoading...#24 - Outbreak
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/11/2017
President Kirkman is faced with a viral pandemic that threatens to kill countless Americans; Hannah and Damian discover evidence that could change the lives of members of the first family forever.
Director: Chris Grismer
Writer: Ashley Gable
6.7/1014 votesLoading...#25 - Suckers
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/25/2017
Kirkman tries to win back the people's trust after a senator appears on the national news and misrepresents a private conversation he had with the president; MI-6 agent Damian Rennett joins FBI agent Hannah Wells to solve an international murder.
Director: Fred Gerber
Writer: Bill Chais
The Best Episodes of Designated Survivor
Every episode of Designated Survivor ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Designated Survivor!
Tom Kirkman, a low-level cabinet member is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union kills...
Genres:DramaWar & Politics
Best Episodes Summary
"The Oath" is the best rated episode of "Designated Survivor". It scored 7.9/10 based on 15 votes. Directed by Fred Toye and written by David Guggenheim, it aired on 12/14/2016. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Pilot".