‘Designated Survivor’: Season 2 confirmed; Kirkman in damage-control mode, while Agent Wells is a ticking time-bomb

Latest reports have confirmed that “Designated Survivor” and “American Housewife” have been renewed for a second season by ABC. While the latter has been a very successful comedy series, the Kiefer Sutherland-starrer “Designated Survivor” has broken DVR lift records and currently is one of most watched ABC show in Live+7.

The American political drama comes from Mark Gordon’s indie Mark Gordon Co and ABC Studios. In the last episode, “Bombshell,” President Thomas Adam "Tom" Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) and his team go into crisis mode to contain the fallout. They have a lot of explaining to do as New York Standard, the newspaper Abe Leonard (Rob Morrow) works for, publishes a story, “Al-Sakar Not Behind Capitol Bombing.” This results in an uproar both at home and abroad. This even derails the NATO summit agenda.

President Kirkman and his team were attending the international meeting with foreign leaders in Toronto. The episode begins with White House Press Secretary Seth Wright (Kal Penn) getting sick in the bathroom. Cornelius Moss (Geoff Pierson) is amused and takes a selfie with the nauseous secretary in the background. As the unit flies to Toronto, Moss tutors Kirkman on the international arms reduction strategy. Moss is hugely enjoying his role with the President and even nicknames themselves “The Professor and the Politician.”

In Toronto, the team meets key players for kick-off drinks. Everything seems to be going smoothly, until next morning, when the story hits the headlines and creates a wave. Kirkman, in damage control mode, addresses the issues at the full NATO meeting. Both UK and France make it very clear they were the ones who supported the US retaliation attacks after the bombing, and now they believe that their “cooperation was predicated on false pretences,” informs EW.

Meanwhile, Leonard does a TV interview that catches the attention of a Patrick Lloyd (Terry Serpico). Leonard, upon his return to office, is greeted by a lawyer. Alyssa from the legal department advises Leonard to talk to the FBI as a potential witness to avoid subpoenas on the entire newspaper. Kirkman sits down with the French Prime Minister “ his arms-reduction vision is the moral imperative of nations like theirs.” He also points out that Russia’s nuclear ambitions must be kept in check. The French PM seems convinced.

Team America flies back home .While Kirkman is in flight, Agent Wells (Maggie Q) is at sea. She is trying to get off the container ship faster than Captain Phillips. Evading her enemies, she comes across a radio and sends a distress signal. However, she is soon apprehended by the villains. The Navy receives her distress call though and Assistant Director Foretell sends FBI Special Forces to seize the ship. They overpower and arrest the villains. But Wells is nowhere to be found.

Wells is not on the ship and has already been relocated. She finds herself inside a fan in the parking garage of FBI headquarters. The van is full of explosives, which will explode in just 3 minutes. The “Designated Survivor” Season 1, Episode 20 ends on a cliff-hanger.