May 17 2018SaveTV ReviewsDesignated Survivor5/17/18C-TV ReviewsDesignated Survivor5/17/18So this is how Designated Survivor ends: Not with a whimper, but with a "... what?"Allison Shoemaker36SaveDesignated Survivor started out like this: the HUD Secretary was about to be fired. Before that firing actually took…
Mar 1 2018SaveTV ReviewsDesignated Survivor3/1/18B-TV ReviewsDesignated Survivor3/1/18Designated Survivor is back, and is still trying to be two shows at onceAllison Shoemaker35SaveThe world is full of stories that have already been told. It’s nearly impossible, in fact, to avoid all tropes and…
Dec 13 2017SaveTV ReviewsDesignated Survivor12/13/17C+TV ReviewsDesignated Survivor12/13/17Designated Survivor goes through the motionsAllison Shoemaker26SaveFor its mid-season finale, Designated Survivor makes a bold choice: to spin its wheels a bit while it patiently…
Dec 6 2017SaveTV ReviewsDesignated Survivor12/6/17B-TV ReviewsDesignated Survivor12/6/17It's Big Block of Cheese Day on Designated SurvivorAllison Shoemaker12SaveNearly every week in these reviews, I call out whichever episode of The West Wing feels oddly similar to Designated…
Nov 15 2017SaveTV ReviewsDesignated Survivor11/15/17BTV ReviewsDesignated Survivor11/15/17Designated Survivor turns out two decent episodes in a rowAllison Shoemaker1SaveThis review covers two episodes of Designated Survivor: “Family Ties,” which aired on 11/15, as well as “Home,”…
Nov 2 2017SaveTV ReviewsDesignated Survivor11/2/17B-TV ReviewsDesignated Survivor11/2/17Designated Survivor's still not great, but it has its momentsAllison Shoemaker14SaveTo say that Designated Survivor still doesn’t know what kind of show it wants to be would be inaccurate. It wants to…
Oct 25 2017SaveTV ReviewsDesignated Survivor10/25/17C+TV ReviewsDesignated Survivor10/25/17An uninspired Designated Survivor tries to make 'suckergate' happenAllison Shoemaker8SaveIt is not enough to decide that a character, speech, episode, or television series is inspirational. To be…
Oct 18 2017SaveTV ReviewsDesignated Survivor10/18/17C+TV ReviewsDesignated Survivor10/18/17The Designated Survivor might be a lousy bossAllison Shoemaker5Save“Equilibrium” isn’t a great hour of television. It bumbles around between its several subplots, often pivoting…
Oct 12 2017SaveTV ReviewsDesignated Survivor10/12/17C+TV ReviewsDesignated Survivor10/12/17Designated Survivor pulls itself (mostly) togetherAllison Shoemaker22Save“Outbreak” is not all that thoughtful. “Outbreak” is not particularly exciting, or funny, or daring, or or sexy. As…
Oct 4 2017SaveTV ReviewsDesignated Survivor10/4/17D+TV ReviewsDesignated Survivor10/4/17Patrick Lloyd's plan makes no sense, and neither does Designated Survivor'sAllison Shoemaker18SaveLet’s try something here. Please bear with me. This is what happens in “Sting Of The Tail,” the second episode of…
Sep 27 2017SaveTV ReviewsDesignated Survivor9/27/17B-TV ReviewsDesignated Survivor9/27/17Designated Survivor returns, now with even more The West WingAllison Shoemaker30SaveIt’s been one year since Tom Kirkman became President. In that time, he’s survived an assassination attempt, passed…