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Designated Survivor starring Kiefer Sutherland, Natasha McElhone and Maggie Q

Posted on May 21, 2017 Written by Pinar Tarhan

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Designated Survivor starring Kiefer Sutherland, Natasha McElhone, Maggie Q and Adan Canto. Image via pinterest.

With Designated Survivor renewed for a second season, and the season finale already having aired, it’s time I reviewed this engaging political drama/thriller starring Kiefer Sutherland. Watch out for a separate post dedicated to the finale.

Premise of Designated Survivor

Secretary of Urban Development and Housing Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) is an idealistic and decent man who doesn’t care about power. He’s happily married to lawyer Alex (Natasha McElhone) with two kids, little Penny (Mckenna Grace, Gifted) and teenager Leo.

But soon after he is “reassigned” from the cabinet, the unthinkable happens. First, he is addressed as the Designated Survivor during the President’s state of union address. Second, Capital Hill is blown up – killing everyone, making Tom the president of the United States.

He agrees to the job in a state of shock. His family is located to the White House, and Tom is left to handle a grieving country, a second designated survivor from the opposing party, two qualified but disagreeing candidates for Chief of Staff, a governor who is ready for a coup, a general who wants to see him gone and many, many more complicated-as-hell problems. Can Tom handle it?

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Thoughts on the show

Designated Survivor has a great premise with a cast to match. Kiefer Sutherland has always been a joy to watch. I’ve been a fan of his acting long before 24 aired, and I remain so to this day. And while 24 got us used to Kiefer saving the president and the country in the field as an agent with unparalleled skills and perseverance, he definitely has the voice, attitude and looks to make one hell of a president, even though he is initially unprepared for the job.

This is my second time watching Adan Canto (who plays Aaron Shore) in a regular and much more likeable role. Sure, he can stab you in the back any moment as he has his own plans for his career, but a politically ambitious and succesful young man is still more likable than a serial killer groupie, like the one he played in The Following.

Maggie Q returns as an FBI agent. Sure, Nikita was not FBI, but she enforced law, justice, or both, one way or the other. However, she makes sure she adds subtle nuances and lets us know Hannah Wells is a different, albeit still impressive, badass character that holds her own. She’s immune to bullshit, and she won’t let public perception betray her gut. She is, however, still a human being, occasionally influenced by her grief and questions her own abilities.

I always rejoice when we have a fictional president who is a loyal and loving family man. We haven’t seen that enough in real life, and we surely haven’t seen it enough on TV.

The show also does a good job with strong female characters. Hannah is one. Natasha McElhone’s Alex is a good lawyer, and a dedicated wife and mother who does her best to make sure her family adapts to this unique situation. She tries her best so that her clients, immigrants or immigrant candidates in difficult situations, aren’t negatively affected by her change in circumstance. She is not drunk by her new status, but she is not afraid to call in favors if it means she will massively help someone in need.

Then we have Emily (Italia Ricci), Tom’s assitant and friend who is totally the opposite of the political warrior Aaron is. She is direct, honest and cares more about doing what’s right than what’s convenient. This of course hinders her career advancement in the White House, but she is not completely without ambition . She is also not shy in reminding Aaron that staff changes happen all the time.

And let’s not forget our antagonist, congresswoman Kimble (Virgina Madsen). She is confident, pretty honest for a politician and ambitious. She wants to be president next term, right after the country will, according to her, have gone to hell under the Kirkman presidency. While she pisses off us of as viewers, she pleases me as a writer. She is strong. She steals scenes. We know she can’t be trusted, but yet, we can’t predict her every move. It also helps that so far she has proven that, while she is not to be trusted, she is not evil.

Who are the villains that blew up the capital? Well, they are way too close to home for us to ever be comfortable…

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Conflicts and Antagonists

Luckily for the audience, Tom’s marriage is the only place where his abilities and whether he is the rightful person to be the president aren’t questioned every second.

Right now, apart from Emily, and of course appearances can be deceptive, everyone seems to be out to get him. Aaron does research and collects dirt behind Tom’s back, the general wants to replace Tom, the governor of Michigan’s practically given the police to do whatever they want to Muslims, other governors are sceptical and we can see the second survivor’s supporting attitude is just initial smoke screen. Oh, and many more problems and crises to come, personal, professional and nationwide.

Obviously, you expect a show set in Washington and around a new, inexperienced president to be full of conflicts, but writers are taking great advantage of a premise, and sort of a metaphorically post-apocalyptic America. Only the congress is in ruins, but anything and everything can go wrong any second. And it does.

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Check out Designated Survivor if:

1) You like quality political dramas
2) You are a fan of the cast, especially Kiefer Sutherland.
3) You are a fan of 24, and want to watch Kiefer take on a role with less action and more conflicts.

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Created by David Guggenheim.

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Filed Under: TV shows Tagged With: adan canto, david guggenheim, designated survivor, designated survivor cast, designated survivor plot, designated survivor review, designated survivor tv series, drama, italia ricci, Kiefer Sutherland, kiefer Sutherland designated survivor, Mckenna Grace, natasha mcelhone, thriller, virgina madsen

24 starring Kiefer Sutherland

Posted on August 1, 2010 Written by ripitup

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24 starring Kiefer Sutherland
24 starring Kiefer Sutherland. Image via 22dakika.org/

When 24 came out first in 2001, it soon gained a very loyal following and high ratings that let the show go on for 8 seasons.

It’s admirable when any show goes on for so long in the highly competitive TV industry. But it is even more admirable when that show is not a sitcom or a soap but a high-budget action/thriller/drama. But of course 24 wasn’t another CSI show. It had a unique and refreshing concept: the name 24 literally comes from a day having 24 hours. The show is set in real time and each episode takes place within an hour. We see the clock ticking numerous times during the show and with the inevitable but highly earned commercial breaks, it lasts an hour. The beginning of each episode starts with Kiefer Sutherland’s voice over, telling between which hour-zone that episode will take place. And appropriately, one season lasts for 24 episodes-it ends when that particular day is over.

The plot and the main characters are just as intriguing as the show, with the most central element & character being Kiefer Surtherland’s Jack Bauer. Jack Bauer is a CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit) agent in the Los Angeles branch. He is the toughest, smartest and resilient agent and a most valuable assets. What sets him unique is that while he believes in the organization he is working for, he is much more concerned about justice and catching terrorists more than the rules or any bureaucracy. And while this makes him brilliant, it also gets him into a lot of trouble throughout all seasons.

Season 1 starts on an eventful night. Jack’s devotion to his dangerous work has caused him problems in his family life but he has finally moved back in with his beloved wife Teri (Leslie Hope) and beautiful, intelligent but highly rebellious daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert). Jack’s plans for a peaceful family doesn’t last long as Kim has run away for the night around the same United States’s first black President David Palmer’s (Dennis Haysbert) life might be in danger. Not having a clue where their daughter is, Terry sets out to find her and Jack goes to work if the threats are real.

Meanwhile, Kim has gone out with her best friend Janet (Jacqui Maxwell) to two boys from college. It is supposed to be a sexy, fun night out- but soon Kim realizes that the boys have an ulterior agenda, and it has a lot to the with Kim’s father Jack and the men who are planning to get David Palmer killed…

I was so lucky when I caught season 1, because the network was on the reruns, 4 episodes in a row and they weren’t giving any commercials during the episodes, but just between them. 4 non-stop, advertising-free 24 episodes is a lot of thrilling action, full of adrenaline, lots of amazing and unpredictable twists, great insight to well-developed characters and a lot of intelligent villains. Needless to say, I was hooked. And even the finale didn’t disappoint as season 1 came with a brilliant, in-your-face finale.

I watched season 2 with the same zeal and gusto.  I now had to see the show episodes one by one and I could hardly wait to see what would happen to Jack Bauer next. After season 1, Jack was emotionally damaged and this added new depths to his character, who never showed his emotions easily in the first place. It was a brand new day and Jack was back to kick some serious butt. But he also didn’t know who to trust, not after what happened in episode 1 (and I am not going to say it. It’s brilliant – just go watch it).

As season 3 started, 24 was proving to be a very good but very risky project for the actors involved. Because aside from Jack Bauer, any character- no matter how big/significant the role, could just be killed that season. Any man, apart from Jack, could be a villain or helping out a villain. And women could hardly be trusted as well. So far, the other male actor who got the most frequent screen time was Carlos Bernard who played Tony Almedia for 7 seasons. Yes, some agents/bosses changed or resigned or reassigned but mostly, if a character left the show, it was because they died. I have to go back to the series to check what happened with Elisha Cuthbert’s Kim, as she appears in only 79 episodes. I don’t remember what happened to her character. The most frequent actress was Mary Lynn Rajskub, who played Chloe from season 2 to the end of season 8. Chloe was a whiz about the technical stuff (computers) and one of Jack’s most trusted allies.

Jack Bauer’s character was never really romantically given a chance and even if he had some romantic involvements (such as with Audrey Raines played by Kim Raver), he really didn’t get to live a relationship on screen as one season only took place in one day and Jack was always busing saving America or the world all together.

But as season 4 started, my addiction to 24 faltered. It wasn’t that the show’s writing got bad, but the concept- the show’s biggest weapon- was now also becoming one of its core weaknesses. Now, no matter how smart, strong, tough, fit, whatever Jack is, there are only so many times you can sell “one man’s saving the world in a day” to the audience. And it does become annoying when one in 2 or 3 actors turn into villains.

Now, while I will always find the writing more brilliant for the first 3 seasons, 24 never does really momentum. However if you have started the show from the first season, you should try to consider each season separately. Otherwise, the show’s realistic real time attitude is just an effect. Yes, Jack Bauer managed to rock for 8 seasons. And if as long as you do isolate each season from each other when it comes to Jack’s super resume, you will enjoy them all.

Now that we are in the holiday season and all my current shows’ actors are on vacation, it just might be a time for me to revisit the seasons I loved and seasons I haven’t checked out yet.

As for some of the racism accusations, I don’t think 24 was ever racist about its villains. True, the show aired in November, 2001 and through its seasons it did involve some Muslim criminals. But 24 had so many villains- they belonged to lots of religions, races and countries. And more often than not, any foreign criminal almost always had an American ally. So, no, I don’t find 24 to be racist. But of couse each to his own. I also find it that it is trying to be against discrimination even as 24 had black male lead who played the president. 24’s later episodes also saw a female president.

IMDB Rating: 8.9/10 voted by over 39.500 people.

My rating: 10/10 for the first 3. I haven’t seen the whole of the other seasons so I will update this post afterwards. If you have your favorite Jack Bauer moments or lines or any other favorite 24 character, please share them.

Also note that 24 is going to be a movie and of course it will be starring Kiefer Sutherland.

Other Drama, Thrillers and/or Drama-Thrillers You Might Like:

Alias – this one is the J.J. Abrams hit before Lost. Starring Jennifer Garner, Michael Vartan and Bradley Cooper.

The Mentalist – serial killers, murderers, California, funny one-liners, entertainment, depression, action and chilling mystery all in one place. Starring Simon Baker and Robin Tunney.

Castle– this one has romance and comedy too. Starring Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic.

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The Three Musketeers starring Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen and Chris O’ Donnell

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Filed Under: TV shows Tagged With: 24, action, Carlos Bernard, ctu, drama, Elisha Cuthbert, Jack Bauer, Jacqui Maxwell, Kiefer Sutherland, Leslie Hope, Mary Lynn Rajskub, thriller, tv series 24, TV shows

The Three Musketeers starring Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen and Chris O’ Donnell

Posted on June 2, 2010 Written by ripitup

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The Three Musketeers starring Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Chris O'Donnell, Oliver Platt, Rebeca DeMornay and Tim Curry

D’Artagnan (Chris O’ Donnell) is a young man whose father was one of musketeers protecting the king. Now he wants the honor of being a musketeer is well. Trying to shake off an idiotic guy and his brothers at his tail, D’Artagnan sets out to join the musketeers. What he doesn’t know is that the cardinal (Tim Curry) and his right arm Rochefort (Michael Wincott) have let all of them go as a war with England is approaching and they are all needed in the field to fight for France. Of course in reality, what the cardinal and Rochefort just intend to get rid of the king easily so that cardinal can take his place. What better way to leave the king unprotected? Of course not all Musketeers are that easily persuaded. The famous trio of Porthos (Oliver Platt), Athos (Kiefer Sutherland) and Aramis  (Charlie Sheen) will do what it takes it protect the king, even if it means they are declared outlaws. When D’Artagnan finally gets to his destination, he finds the musketeers gone and he doesn’t start off on good terms with the trio. But common purpose brings them together and a marvelously entertaining journey of love, friendship, comedy and adventure gets a kick start. Mind you, the movie gives us plenty of action and comedy from the very start, even before the trio becomes a quadruplet.

Now, I didn’t read the book. So I have no way of comparing the two. But I saw the movie and I loved it. It is one of the best period movies I have seen: It is a lot of fun with lots of action, comedy and just the necessary touch of romance. The setting and costumes look really good and all that sword-fighting and horse-back chasing show us a good time. Of course the fighting and chasing includes comedy as well as action. The musketeers all have distinct characters that make you either smile, grin or laugh.

The Musketeers

Porthos (Platt) loves a good time with drinks, women and fighting. He also has a good sense of humor.

Aramis (Sheen): He is a little religious- he does pray after the people who he kills. As Athos puts it: “Aramis takes that very seriously”. But religion doesn’t stand in his way when he wants to kick some serious butt, seduce women and/or get laid.

Athos (Sutherland): Athos comes with a complicated past. Although he loves a good laugh, duels and butt-kicking, he is emotionally scarred. And this scar adds a nice little touch and complication to the movie.

The Women

You might recognize the young queen (Gabrielle Anwar) from Things to do in Denver When You are dead (where the leading role was Andy Garcia’s) and For Love or Money (where she starred with Michael J. Fox). Julie Delpy is best remembered for her role as Celine in the lovely Before Sunrise and its sequel Before Sunset. They are both beautiful and although Gabrielle has a little more screen time, the girls are not seen that often. I had to pick, I’d have loved to play Rebecca De Mornay’s character Countess D’ Winter. After all as her character puts it, “she is dangerous”. De Mornay is a beautiful actress who was especially popular in the 90s. She definitely doesn’t mind playing the villain either. You might recall her thrillers The Hand That Rocks The Cradle or Never Talk to Strangers.

The Baddies

English Tim Curry makes a good villain and well, he is never boring. His most famous movie is probably the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He didn’t exactly play a sweetheart in 2001’s Attila either. But of course if there is a guy who competes with Kevin Bacon in the number of playing villains, it is Michael Wincott. I would probably be shocked to see him playing nice. Do you remember what he was up to in The Crow? Or Robin Hood: The Prince of Thieves? Strange Days?  Seraphim Falls? Exactly.

So we have a great cast in a lovely period film with just the right ingredients. It is fun to see all these actors when they are so young. After all, it was 1993. And if you grow up in the 90s- I did- you might get the nostalgia you need.

Directed by Stephen Herek. Based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas père and written for the
screen by David Loughery. Rated 6.1 on IMDB by over 16,600 votes. Well, it might be a 6-7 movie but speaking in the entertainment level, it is a 10. Even the soundtrack rocks. After all the theme song All for Love is a duet performed by rocker musketeers: Bryan Adams, Sting and Rod Stewart.

Some Favorite Quotes/Moments:

Athos: (sees the cardinal’s men approaching) Only a fool will try to arrest us twice in one day.

Cardinal’s man: You are under arrest.

Aramis: Fool.

*********************

(Athos gets the brandy from Porthos for distraction. )

Porthos: What a waste!

**********************

One of the cardinal’s men says that they will arrest them but it will be peacefull if they won’t resist.

Porthos: Oh, don’t be so stupid. Of course we intend to resist! Give us a moment, alright?

On Chris O’Donnell:

NCIS Los Angeles

Mad Love

The Bachelor

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: Bryan Adams, Charlie Sheen, Chris O'Donnell, Gabrille Anwar, Julie Delpy, Kiefer Sutherland, Michael Wincott, Oliver Platt, Rebeca DeMornay, Stephen Herek, The Three Musketeers, Tim Curry

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