Designated Survivor is a wild political thriller. It kicks off with Tom Kirkman, a nobody in cabinet, suddenly thrust into presidency after a big attack on Capitol during State of Union. Kirkman faces chaos of leading a nation and digging into conspiracy that made him President. Kiefer Sutherland plays Kirkman and people rave about its gripping story and crazy plot twists. It’s a rollercoaster, for sure!

Meet the characters from Designated Survivor

Tom Kirkman

Tom Kirkman is the kind of accidental leader fanfiction dreams about — a mild-mannered housing secretary who becomes President and tries to do the right thing even when the world is literally falling apart. He’s earnest, weirdly calm in crises (then panics for like two seconds, okay sometimes), and has a habit of explaining policy like it’s bedtime stories — boring? maybe, but also kind of endearing. He’s moral to the bone, annoyingly stubborn about transparency, and yet surprisingly pragmatic when the stakes get high. Also he eats very plain food? I could swear he is the guy who brings a sad sandwich to a press briefing; also he gives major dad-energy.

Aaron Shore

Aaron Shore is the glossy, razor-sharp political operator who smiles like a shark and somehow makes ruthless look tidy. He’s brilliant at messaging, coldly pragmatic and constantly three steps ahead, but every now and then he flashes real vulnerability — like he hates that he loves power? — it’s messy. He drinks too much coffee, owns the kind of suits that could cut glass, and collects old newspapers or maybe it’s cufflinks, I can’t remember but it’s something suspiciously chic. He will burn an ally to save a country or burn a country to save an ally depending on his mood, which is both terrifying and addictively watchable.

Emily Rhodes

Emily Rhodes is the backbone-type: unflappable, organized, emotional fortress disguised as a smiling senior aide. She manages chaos with a clipboard and a glare, fiercely loyal to Tom but also quietly withholding a tiny arsenal of sarcasm that will end you (gently). She’s a consummate professional who can juggle press crises, family stuff, and probably three spreadsheets in her head while humming something annoying — I think it’s a children’s tune? maybe not. She’s compassionate but has secret boundary issues (like she wants to help everyone but also needs to put her foot down and will, eventually), which makes her deeply human.

Seth Wright

Seth Wright is basically the show’s lightning bolt: quick-witted, filthy-smart with the tech and a walking stream of sarcasm. He’s a whiz at social media and spin, loves a good meme but also writes emotional think pieces at 3 a.m. (he’s complicated), and he’s the one who will frantically fix the live feed while cracking jokes about existential dread. He’s kind-hearted under the snark, loyal to a fault, and terrified of disappointing people even though he pretends not to care. Also has terrible taste in hats and hoards sticky notes like a squirrel — adorable and infuriating, in the best way.

Hannah Wells

Hannah Wells is the obsessive, brilliant investigator who treats each clue like a personal vendetta and wears her trauma like armor — intense, seriously intense. She’s determined, single-minded, and unafraid to ruffle feathers or go off-script to chase the truth, even when it costs her everything (and it usually does). She’s oddly tender with animals and terrible at small talk, and she keeps a battered notebook full of frantic cursive and doodles of… I dunno, maybe angry cats? Her moral compass is weirdly strict — like no grey area tolerated — but sometimes she lets paranoia lead and then backtracks with a sheepish half-apology, which makes her human and maddening.