8.1/103,760 votes#1 - 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
8.0/102,863 votes#2 - 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
7.7/102,466 votes#3 - 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
7.9/102,348 votes#4 - 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
7.8/102,204 votes#5 - 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
7.5/102,061 votes#6 - 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
7.6/101,970 votes#7 - 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
7.6/101,917 votes#8 - 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
8.0/101,914 votes#9 - 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
8.5/102,332 votes#10 - 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
8.1/101,888 votes#11 - 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
8.4/102,018 votes#12 - 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
7.5/101,711 votes#13 - 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
7.6/101,670 votes#14 - 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
7.3/101,727 votes#15 - 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
7.3/101,661 votes#16 - 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
7.5/101,615 votes#17 - 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
7.3/101,569 votes#18 - 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
7.4/101,533 votes#19 - 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
7.6/101,499 votes#20 - 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
7.8/101,660 votes#21 - 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
The Best Episodes of Designated Survivor Season 1
Every episode of Designated Survivor Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Designated Survivor Season 1!
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
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Designated Survivor" season 1. It scored 8.1/10 based on 3760 votes. Directed by Paul McGuigan and written by David Guggenheim, it aired on 9/21/2016. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The First Day".