Review
After 24, Kiefer Sutherland appeared in another political thriller TV series, this one with a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Jack Bauer in 24 is on the long list of great TV show characters of the 21st century. One of the top agents of the fictional CTU, there’s little Bauer won’t do to get the information he needs to stop terrorist threats that threaten civilians and the government. It’s the role that Kiefer Sutherland will always be known for, and it helped make 24 one of the most successful series of the last 25 years.
Each season takes place over one 24-hour period, with each episode eating up an hour of that time; the countdown displayed on the side of the screen. Every season presents a new threat, and most of the time, Jack Bauer is the only one who can save the day. The series earned rave reviews for its entire 9-season run, picking up 20 Emmy wins out of 68 nominations and two Golden Globe wins out of 12 nominations. Sutherland received some of those wins, and if you’re interested in seeing him in another political thriller, check this show out.
Designated Survivor Was Kiefer Sutherland's Next Major TV Show After 24
Designated Survivor Takes Place In The Aftermath Of An Unexpected Terrorist Attack
After 24 ended in 2014, Kiefer Sutherland waited two years before joining another big project. That project was Designated Survivor, which premiered in 2016 and ran for three seasons. The show stars Sutherland as Tom Kirkman, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of the United States. In the first episode of the series, an unprecedented attack on the Capitol Building during the State of the Union address leads to the deaths of everyone in the line of Presidential succession above Tom, who was kept outside the building as part of the «designated survivor» protocol.
Suddenly, the relatively low-level bureaucrat is thrust into the most important position in America at a critical moment in the country’s history. Tom is forced to balance the needs of the nation and the presidency with his former career and political aspirations, which are now asked to take a backseat. His personal life also becomes as fraught as one might expect now that he has duties he and his family never foresaw. Natascha McElhone, Adan Canto, Italia Ricci, Kal Penn, and Maggie Q also star.
How Designated Survivor Was Different From 24
Designated Survivor Is A More Optimistic Show Than 24
Designated Survivor has the political thriller aspects of 24, and terrorism plays a major part in both TV shows, but they are still quite different. There are few shows like 24, and the uniqueness of its conceit makes it difficult to compare anything to it, but beyond not taking place over such a short period of time, there are also plenty of thematic differences between Designated Survivor and 24 that will make the former feel fresh and not simply a retread of 24. For one, Jack Bauer and Tom Kirkman are very different.
While Jack is confident to the point of being foolhardy, Tom constantly struggles with his inferiority complex.
While Jack is confident to the point of being foolhardy, Tom constantly struggles with his inferiority complex. The path that led him to the highest office in the land was a result of a freak accident, and he’s rarely sure if he’s doing the right thing in any given situation. While terrorism figures into both shows, as does political maneuvering and backstabbing, Designated Survivor is not nearly as grim as 24. There is a bit more optimism in Designated Survivor. It’s still a serious drama, but the audience is usually sure Tom has the moral high ground.
Why Designated Survivor Was Not As Successful As 24
Designated Survivor's Execution Could Not Live Up To The Show's Pilot
Designated Survivor has a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the series never earned a nomination from any major awards body. Reviews for the show also steadily declined over three seasons. It simply wasn’t as good as 24. For one thing, that’s a high bar to set. 24 is considered one of the consummate political thriller TV shows and is often counted among the best TV shows of the 21st century. Designated Survivor did not capture the audience and critical imagination in the same way. 24 raised the bar for TV, while Designated Survivor swam in its wake.
Designated Survivor has a fantastic premise, but the story does not always live up to those high expectations set by the pilot. The dialogue between the two shows is also on different levels. 24 is fast-paced and intense, but never feels phony, while Designated Survivor can feel a bit more melodramatic. Essentially, Designated Survivor is an excellent idea with good execution, while 24 is a good idea with fantastic execution. Kiefer Sutherland is fantastic in both, however, so no worries on that end.
