President Kirkman learns he’s not the only designated survivor
West Wing: right or left?
The questionat first glanceseems simple this dummy literally doesnt know where the West Wing is!
Or should he, well…not do that?
Credit: ABC/Ben Mark Holzberg
But you know who else was once a professor only to find himself occupying the White House?
No,not him Im talking aboutThe West Wings Jed Bartlet.
Despite the advice of everyone around him, he challenges the country to live up to its ideals.
Whos in charge of stuff now?
They dont get very far in this regard.
But theres a curveball thrown into all this: Kirkman wasnt the only designated survivor!
What does that mean exactly?
Does she get to pass all sorts of legislation willy-nilly?
Its not entirely clear yet.
Kimballs presence could lead to some interesting scenarios.
She could somehow challenge Kirkmans status as president.
Maybe shes lurking around to gather intel to use against Kirkman and weaken his role.
Or maybe the two of them could team up to form a TV-fantasy bipartisan administration.
Shes probably up to no good, right?
NEXT: General Angryman gives Kirkman someone to blame
Who blew up the Capitol?
We know who blew up the Capitol!
General Angryman blurts to President Kirkman after barging into the Oval Office.
He doesnotknow who blew up the Capitol, but apparently he has a pretty good hunch.
Im giving you an enemy we can kill!
But 75-percent sure isnt good enough for Kirkman, so he decides not to bomb anyone.
The bomb wasmeantto be found to get to throw everyone off.
And who really, really wants everyone to think Al-Saqar was behind the attack?
Im 75-percent sure of it.
What should we do with all the brown people?
Designated Survivorsurprised me a little here.
Maybe with a midseason B-plot or just an obligatory line (Not all Muslims, Mister President!)
but the central plot of the second episode?
This upsets Kirkman, so he tells his team to keep an eye on the situation.
Kirkman himself isnt sure of the answer, which is sort of crazy.
The president has no idea what hes allowed to do?!
This is where Aaron and Emilys two candidates for attorney general come in.
Guildenstern says he should make a presidential proclamation, but Rosencrantz thinks thats too weak.
One of them (take your pick) even suggests instituting martial law.
The entire country suddenly gets righteous, giving the president at least a little support.
So far, it looks like Kirkman is shaping up to be a pragmatist-in-chief.
NEXT: The nights big twist
Can Kirkman trick Americans into thinking hes a good president?
(Its nowPhoenix, because the Secret Service loves poignancy.)
Like, what if it was just Snapchat?
The whole thing is a disaster.
Later, Kirkman comes up with a better idea to do it again, but in a hat.
(Those arent exact quotes, but pretty close.)
So we can probably assume the survivor isnt the former president, right?
Because that would be the one person whose death everyone would triple-verify, right?
So lets assume that much, for now at least.
That would be interesting!
If Kirkman is already sworn in, would that even matter?
Could it lead to a (bigger) constitutional crisis?
Or, maybe, its one of the people involved in the attack?
The next episodeistitled The Confession.
Or perhaps its a journalist.
Or a Secret Service agent.
Or just a C-Span camera operator.
We just dont know!
