The WORST episodes of Designated Survivor

Every episode of Designated Survivor ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst 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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Original Sin
star
7.35
1967 votes

#1 - Original Sin

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/14/2018

When a video of the president visiting prison leaks to the media, his team works to minimize the fallout. A surprise White House demonstration has deeper ties to the president than anyone first realizes.

Directors: Bosede Williams
Writer: Ashley Gable
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Final Frontier
star
7.36
1985 votes

#2 - The Final Frontier

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/7/2018

When a missile intended to bring water to stranded astronauts in space is hacked, President Kirkman must work with Russia and enlists the help of Dr. Andrea Frost to help save lives and find out who is behind the hack. Meanwhile, Hannah finds herself working with Damian again.

Directors: Sharat Raju
Writer: Jeff Melvoin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#makehistory
star
7.37
955 votes

#3 - #makehistory

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/7/2019

Aaron’s heritage and a widespread teachers’ strike become big issues. Wells discovers a sinister pattern in a flu outbreak.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Equilibrium
star
7.42
2904 votes

#4 - Equilibrium

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/18/2017

Tensions rise between America and Mexico when a Mexican citizen is shot during a border dispute. Kirkman and his staff must work quickly to resolve the situation and create a new trade deal.

Directors: Joe Lazarov
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Three-Letter Day
star
7.47
2232 votes

#5 - Three-Letter Day

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/6/2017

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.

Directors: Jeanott Szwarc
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
In the Dark
star
7.48
1801 votes

#6 - In the Dark

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/21/2018

When a blackout threatens to shut down the government and causes chaos in the streets of Washington, D.C., President Kirkman joins forces with Mayor Ellenor Darby, but the partnership doesn’t end there.

Directors: Carol Banker
Writer: Bill Chais
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Grief
star
7.48
2110 votes

#7 - Grief

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/28/2018

It’s been ten weeks since his wife, Alex, was killed in a car accident; and President Kirkman’s senior staff insist he seek professional help in dealing with his loss, forcing him to reluctantly see therapist Dr. Adam Louden. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Hannah Wells and Aaron Shore travel to Cuba as part of a trade delegation, but the trip does not go according to plan. With lives in the balance, Kirkman is challenged with a decision that will test his role as commander in chief during this time of personal tragedy.

Directors: Timothy Busfield
Writer: Keith Eisner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Outbreak
star
7.49
3158 votes

#8 - Outbreak

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/11/2017

President Kirkman is faced with a viral pandemic. Agent Wells and MI6 Agent Damian Rennett discover evidence that could change the lives of members of the first family forever.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Writer: Ashley Gable
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Suckers
star
7.49
2702 votes

#9 - Suckers

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/25/2017

Kirkman tries to win back the people’s trust after a senator misrepresents a private conversation. MI-6 agent Damian Rennett joins FBI agent Hannah Wells to solve an international murder.

Directors: Fred Gerber
Writer: Bill Chais
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Summit
star
7.51
1808 votes

#10 - Summit

Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/28/2018

As tensions between East and West Hanchu escalate, President Kirkman travels to Camp David to broker a peace treaty with the leaders of those countries; while back in Washington, D.C., Seth and Emily take a hard look at their relationship and decide how, and if, they will move forward as a couple.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Home
star
7.51
2294 votes

#11 - Home

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/29/2017

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 United States, 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.

Directors: Ian Toynton
Writer: Pat Cunnane
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#slipperyslope
star
7.52
1006 votes

#12 - #slipperyslope

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/7/2019

A heated debate over child marriage causes tension between Kirkman’s staff. Opioid addiction hits home for Mars. A biohacker turns Wells onto a chilling new threat.

Directors: Peter Leto
Writer: Dawn DeNoon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
One Year In
star
7.52
3627 votes

#13 - 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.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Writer: Keith Eisner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Sting of the Tail
star
7.52
3255 votes

#14 - Sting of the Tail

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/4/2017

Agent 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.

Writer: Keith Eisner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#nothingpersonal
star
7.53
936 votes

#15 - #nothingpersonal

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/7/2019

Emotions run high after a despicable fake news story goes viral. Isabel makes waves with a controversial appeal. Wells finds a clue pointing to conspiracy.

Directors: Peter Leto
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#thesystemisbroken
star
7.54
1106 votes

#16 - #thesystemisbroken

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/7/2019

Running for office for the first time, Kirkman and his new campaign stumble out of the gate. Wells gets a critical reassignment.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Writer: Neal Baer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Family Ties
star
7.54
2360 votes

#17 - Family Ties

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/15/2017

When a Turkish activist ignites protests in the U.S., Turkey’s president demands his extradition while the first family unknowingly finds themselves in the center of a battle that could threaten Leo’s future.

Directors: Milan Cheylov
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#whocares
star
7.55
931 votes

#18 - #whocares

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

A dying Guatemalan child in a Texas hospital brings immigration up front. A mugging opens Kirkman’s eyes to the reality of life in the capital.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#identity/crisis
star
7.58
938 votes

#19 - #identity/crisis

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

A stray Russian bomber threatens Seattle, Mars crusades against a drug company. An event from Aaron’s childhood brings trouble to Kirkman’s campaign.

Directors: Sudz Sutherland
Writer: Adam Stein
Watch Now:Apple TV
Overkill
star
7.59
1736 votes

#20 - Overkill

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/11/2018

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.

Directors: Jeff T. Thomas
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Target
star
7.59
1588 votes

#21 - Target

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/9/2018

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.

Directors: Timothy Busfield
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Kirkman Agonistes
star
7.62
1792 votes

#22 - Kirkman Agonistes

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/18/2018

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.

Directors: Leslie Libman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Fallout
star
7.62
1789 votes

#23 - Fallout

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/4/2018

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.

Directors: Joe Lazarov
Writer: Tom Garrigus
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Two Ships
star
7.62
2546 votes

#24 - Two Ships

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/1/2017

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.

Directors: Leslie Libman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Capacity
star
7.64
1786 votes

#25 - Capacity

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/25/2018

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

Writer: Keith Eisner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV