The BEST episodes of Designated Survivor

Every episode of Designated Survivor ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. 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 everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession.

Last Updated: 2/17/2024Network: NetflixStatus: Ended
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The End of the Beginning
star
8.05
5009 votes

#1 - 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.

Directors: Mike Listo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Oath
star
8.01
4949 votes

#2 - 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.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Brace for Impact
star
7.97
4416 votes

#3 - Brace for Impact

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/17/2017

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.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Warriors
star
7.94
4967 votes

#4 - 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.

Directors: Stephen Surjik
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Enemy
star
7.89
5603 votes

#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.

Directors: Paul A. Edwards
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Blueprint
star
7.86
4942 votes

#6 - 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.

Directors: Richard J. Lewis
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The First Day
star
7.86
5891 votes

#7 - 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.

Directors: Brad Turner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Mission
star
7.85
5503 votes

#8 - 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.

Directors: Paul A. Edwards
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilot
star
7.84
6566 votes

#9 - 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.

Directors: Paul McGuigan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#truthorconsequences
star
7.83
897 votes

#10 - #truthorconsequences

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/7/2019

On election day, Kirkman turns to his therapist to relieve his conscience about the events and own decisions he made 36 hours ago.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Writer: Peter Noah
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bombshell
star
7.81
4274 votes

#11 - 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. Hannah Wells uncovers the conspiracy’s next target.

Directors: Sharat Raju
Writer: Sang Kyu Kim
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#undecided
star
7.80
916 votes

#12 - #undecided

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/7/2019

Behind in the polls, Kirkman weighs forcing the FBI’s hand over the bioterrorism plot. Emily struggles with her mother’s last wishes.

Directors: Peter Leto
Writer: Dawn DeNoon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Traitor
star
7.79
5034 votes

#13 - 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.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Commander-in-Chief
star
7.75
4730 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.

Writer: Michael Gunn
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Run
star
7.74
1626 votes

#15 - Run

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/16/2018

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.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Writer: Keith Eisner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Confession
star
7.73
5680 votes

#16 - 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.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Ninth Seat
star
7.73
4618 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.

Writer: Paul Redford
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Misalliance
star
7.72
4394 votes

#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.

Directors: Norberto Barba
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Backfire
star
7.72
4722 votes

#19 - 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.

Directors: Tara Nicole Weyr
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
One Hundred Days
star
7.70
4724 votes

#20 - 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.

Directors: Kenneth Fink
Writer: Dana Ledoux
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Results
star
7.70
4962 votes

#21 - 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.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Interrogation
star
7.69
5198 votes

#22 - 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.

Directors: Michael Katleman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Party Lines
star
7.69
4673 votes

#23 - 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.

Directors: Mike Listo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#scaredsh*tless
star
7.67
893 votes

#24 - #scaredsh*tless

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/7/2019

Kirkman enacts a frantic hunt for the bioterrorist. Lorraine plays hardball and pushes the opioid epidemic into the campaign.

Directors: Sudz Sutherland
Watch Now:Apple TV
#privacyplease
star
7.66
958 votes

#25 - #privacyplease

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/7/2019

A political attack on Kirkman puts privacy and transgender rights in the spotlight. Aaron weighs a major decision. Wells and Eli track a bioterrorist.

Directors: Timothy Busfield
Writer: Peter Noah
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV