BRB: Today We Have Lost Our President...

     The series Designated Survivor takes place in a current America after the capitol building was bombed killing over 1,000 people including the president, vice-president, and many other high ranking government officials however, there is one who survived. Besides that, the one designated survivor named Tom Kirkman is a low level cabinet member somehow ended up the president of the United States, leaving everyone terrified, frustrated, skeptical, and outraged. Despite everything seeming to come crashing down for the American government, Tom Kirkman throughout the series gets them back on their feet after the worst tragedy since 9/11. The show uses many elements of mise-en-scene like screen density, composition, and shot framing to create very tense moments, grave situations, but also leaving room for uplifting, and exhilarating moments in the series. In the very first episode of Designated Survivor, Tom Kirkman is shown throwing up after being swore in for presidency. The shot composition is vertical showing the toilet and the floor almost creating a kind of nauseating experience which Kirkman is feeling. As he throws up the shot framing is tight, making him the dominant feature, showing him finally realizing that he's the leader of the nation. This scene probably  also shows the uneasiness and uncertainty residing in the nation knowing that their capital was taken down. This series goes through the presidency of Tom Kirkman as he leads the nation coming from the lowest position in the cabinet. Using many real life figures and situation going on in American like ISIS, and Al-Queda, gun control laws, as well as racism and corruption and makes the show really interesting involving all branches of government and adds intense action scenes as well. 

     One specific scene that I liked, a FBI agent Hannah Wells finds information that the survivor of the Capitol Bombing is tied with people who bombed which is pressumed to be Al-Sakar, was soon to be believe false because the leader Majid Nassar says he was paid to take blame for the bombing before being killed. So before the survivor Peter MacLeish, is voted to be Vice-President she wants to provide the evidence he was involved in order to stop just that. However she is t-boned before being able to do that. She was almost killed by the person who t-boned her, he appeared to be helping her but then reached in the car to choke her out. I believe the use of tight shot framing and the moderate detailed screen density as the car is wrecked and there's many people around who don't know anything create a sense of dread. However, she was able to escape, but unfortunately she wasn't able to stop Peter MacLeish from becoming Vice-President. I really like this series because of how detailed they're making the show. At first they had us believe that a terrorist group did this. However, as the show gets more and more in depth, you start to realize how deep and rooted the conspiracy becomes. As one thing is figured out about the Capitol Bombing, something new comes up that thwarts the progress, or someone who knows a lot is killed or dies. However, Kirkman and his staff slowly come in on the case and realize this is a deep, rooted, and deranged attack by the leader of Homeland Security. I believe they do a really good job keeping suspense within the show. For example, the president was giving his inauguration speech and as the VP was speaking, we could see that someone was trying to assassinate him, and it was dragging pretty long creating that feeling of suspense on whether or not another president would die in front of the nation. Overall the show is really good and worth the watch. The only bad thing I can say about the series is how we know certain things but it takes the characters longer to figure it out making it kind of irritating. But it adds that dramatic irony that all shows really need. I'd recommend Designated Survivor for anyone who enjoys thrilling, suspenseful, and action filled shows.