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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!

Binge this in 1d 15h•Peaking at 7.9/10

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 everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession.

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 10 - The Oath
    7.9/10(17 votes)

    #1 - The Oath

    S1:E10

    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:Frederick E. O. Toye
    Writer:David Guggenheim

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  2. Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 12 - The End of the Beginning
    7.8/10(20 votes)

    #2 - The End of the Beginning

    S1:E12

    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

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  3. Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.6/10(45 votes)

    #3 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    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

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  4. Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 4 - The Enemy
    7.5/10(22 votes)

    #4 - The Enemy

    S1:E4

    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
    Writers:Dana Ledoux Miller, Jon Harmon Feldman

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  5. Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 7 - The Traitor
    7.5/10(19 votes)

    #5 - The Traitor

    S1:E7

    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:Frederick E. O. Toye
    Writers:Michael Russell Gunn, Jennifer M. Johnson

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  6. Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 9 - The Blueprint
    7.5/10(17 votes)

    #6 - The Blueprint

    S1:E9

    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
    Writers:Michael Russell Gunn, Dana Ledoux Miller

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Designated Survivor

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  7. Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 11 - Warriors
    7.5/10(17 votes)

    #7 - Warriors

    S1:E11

    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
    Writers:Paul Redford, Carol Flint

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  8. Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 10 - Line of Fire
    7.5/10(1376 votes)

    #8 - Line of Fire

    S2:E10

    It’s Christmas Day and President Kirkman is alerted to a group of religious extremists who refuse to evacuate when a forest fire threatens to engulf their cabin. Deploying Emily and Aaron to help diffuse the situation, Kirkman must act quickly to save multiple lives at stake. Meanwhile, the First Lady finally gives her testimony to the FBI director, while what happens next changes the lives of the Kirkman family forever.

    Director:Chris Grismer
    Writer:Keith Eisner

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  9. Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 16 - Fallout
    7.5/10(1006 votes)

    #9 - Fallout

    S2:E16

    President Kirkman and his staff have credible intelligence that a dirty bomb is on U.S. soil, thrusting the president into a high-stakes effort to find the bomb and stop it from detonating. At the White House, Emily approaches Chuck to help her with something that has damaging and illegal consequences.

    Director:Joe Lazarov
    Writer:Tom Garrigus

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  10. Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 22 - Run
    7.5/10(1052 votes)

    #10 - Run

    S2:E22

    As President Kirkman continues to deal with the turmoil surrounding the hacker and Congressional investigation, a natural disaster threatens the lives of two White House staffers. Meanwhile, Kirkman’s closest allies are surprised when the president makes an announcement no one saw coming.

    Director:Chris Grismer
    Writer:Keith Eisner

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  11. Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 18 - Kirkman Agonistes
    7.4/10(1011 votes)

    #11 - Kirkman Agonistes

    S2:E18

    As more content from President Kirkman’s confidential therapy sessions continues to leak out, Vice President Darby meets secretly with the entire Cabinet, resulting in attorney Ethan West looking into the president’s past – while playing a large role in his future as commander in chief.

    Director:Leslie Libman
    Writers:Pierluigi D. Cothran, Patrick Cunnane

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  12. Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 19 - Capacity
    7.4/10(1001 votes)

    #12 - Capacity

    S2:E19

    Attorney Ethan West calls on President Kirkman's closest advisors and staff as he begins his investigation.

    Director:David Warry-Smith
    Writer:Keith Eisner

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  13. Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 20 - Bad Reception
    7.4/10(982 votes)

    #13 - Bad Reception

    S2:E20

    President Kirkman negotiates with a foreign government to release an American held overseas, while attorney Ethan West continues his investigation.

    Director:Chris Grismer
    Writers:Tom Garrigus, Jessica Grasl

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  14. Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 6 - Two Ships
    7.3/10(1247 votes)

    #14 - Two Ships

    S2:E6

    When a U.S. Navy ship containing secret surveillance becomes stranded in enemy waters, President Kirkman must negotiate the crew and ship’s release. If captured, the technology on board would create a massive threat to national security. Meanwhile. Chief of Staff Emily Rhodes reconnects with someone from her childhood.

    Director:Leslie Libman
    Writer:Jessica Grasl

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  15. Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 13 - Backfire
    7.2/10(18 votes)

    #15 - Backfire

    S1:E13

    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
    Writers:Sang Kyu Kim, Pierluigi D. Cothran

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  16. Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 17 - The Ninth Seat
    7.2/10(17 votes)

    #16 - The Ninth Seat

    S1:E17

    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:Frederick E. O. Toye
    Writer:Paul Redford

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  17. Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 2 - Sting of the Tail
    7.2/10(1452 votes)

    #17 - Sting of the Tail

    S2:E2

    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:Frederick E. O. Toye
    Writer:Keith Eisner

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  18. Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 8 - Home
    7.2/10(1177 votes)

    #18 - Home

    S2:E8

    While on a secret mission to Afghanistan, President Kirkman meets with two infamous warlords and must determine whom he can trust to hand over territories to the U.S., while Seth has a run-in with Washington, D.C., police that puts his job, reputation and future in the White House on the line.

    Director:Ian Toynton
    Writer:Patrick Cunnane

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  19. Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 9 - Three-Letter Day
    7.2/10(1145 votes)

    #19 - Three-Letter Day

    S2:E9

    After sorting through thousands of letters all requesting something of president, the White House staff are assigned three, with Emily, Seth, Aaron, Llyor and Kendra joining forces to get answers and possibly save a life. Meanwhile, Hannah and Damian continue to chase down leads to exonerate the first lady, but in the end, Hannah learns the truth may be closer than she thinks.

    Director:Jeannot Szwarc
    Writers:Ashley Gable, Bill Chais

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  20. Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 17 - Overkill
    7.2/10(995 votes)

    #20 - Overkill

    S2:E17

    Following the deadly bomb explosion inside a D.C. metro station, President Kirkman declares war on Kunami. When the emir of that country sends his ambassador to negotiate, FBI Agent Hannah Wells learns the emir is hiding something that could have deadly consequences.

    Director:Jeff Thomas
    Writers:Jeff Melvoin, Tracey Rice

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  21. Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 21 - Target
    7.2/10(945 votes)

    #21 - Target

    S2:E21

    White House Council Kendra Daynes finds herself in a dangerous situation that puts another White House staffer's life at risk, while Hannah Wells takes an unexpected trip for answers.

    Director:Timothy Busfield
    Writers:Ashley Gable, Bill Chais

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  22. Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 3 - The Confession
    7.1/10(26 votes)

    #22 - The Confession

    S1:E3

    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
    Writers:Paul Redford, Jennifer M. Johnson

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  23. Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 5 - The Mission
    7.1/10(21 votes)

    #23 - The Mission

    S1:E5

    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
    Writers:Michael Russell Gunn, Sang Kyu Kim

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  24. Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 14 - Commander-in-Chief
    7.1/10(18 votes)

    #24 - Commander-in-Chief

    S1:E14

    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:Frederick E. O. Toye
    Writer:Michael Russell Gunn

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  25. Designated Survivor Season 1 Episode 20 - Bombshell
    7.1/10(16 votes)

    #25 - Bombshell

    S1:E20

    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

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Oath" is the best rated episode of "Designated Survivor". It scored 7.9/10 based on 17 votes. Directed by Frederick E. O. Toye and written by David Guggenheim, it aired on 12/14/2016. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "The End of the Beginning".