Kiefer Sutherland is back on the small screen…and all of America cheered!!! At least I imagined a mighty roar across the nation as the clock ticked to 10/9c and we finally got Kiefer back. This time, he’s Tom and he’s protecting the nation in an entirely different way…as the President of the United States when his Designated Survivor status must be enacted after the U.S. Capitol is bombed. Talk about high stakes!

The show opens right before the big bang and then continues 15 hours earlier, the morning of the State of the Union, detailing the events of Tom’s day leading up to the moment his entire life changes forever. It’s quite eerie watching Tom live his life, almost as carefree as any other American, before his life is turned upside down and he is literally thrust into the position as leader of the nation. And it was executed flawlessly.

Personally and on a more grander scale, this journey that we get to see is really quite phenomenal. But the personal is what gets the viewer, since, after all, we’re all tuning in for Kiefer Sutherland. His character is just as compelling and captivating as you imagine it to be. Kiefer brings his A game, ensuring one heck of a ride this season.

Through Tom, we see just how irrelevant one feels as the designated survivor, walking into room after room with people in charge of more serious matters than him (previously), people with more experience and respect in the house that now calls him the leader whether they like it or not. A game of politics, when you’re officially the big fish but unofficially still the small fish. The small fish who, up until the Capitol was attacked, was actually getting fired from his lower level cabinet position, a made up position being made for him if he chose to stay on, working in the field.

And on top of all of this, no one has faith in his abilities to play catch up and be the President that the country needs after such a devastating tragedy, one of the greatest tragedies the nation has seen. Multiple people beside him are already plotting to have him removed from his place in office. Hello, Treason. Oh man, there are so many dynamics to play with here. So far, the tension has remained high, as it should, and I hope that it remains so. With Kiefer Sutherland as the lead, something tells me we’ll have no problem getting high stakes, quality content week after week. The writers know who they’re writing for and they are bringing it!

What’s great about this show is that it’s not just Tom’s POV. We also get a pretty intimate look at how his new position effects his family. Tom and his wife, Alex (Natascha McElhone) have a daughter and son, the son, Leo (Tanner Buchanan) being the most notable at the moment. Leo is the first gay presidential son. There’s so much to explore here and I am very excited to see where Leo’s story line goes this season.

As for the rest of the cast/characters? While a fan of Italia Ricci (I adored her on the short lived The Lying Game), I find her character on this show as Emily Rhodes quite irritating. No, that’s an understatement. More like, godawful. She’s the fly that Tom can’t seem to swat away. I get that this is what her character is supposed to feel like, but maybe they did too good a job here?

Now a round of applause for the diversity on this show. Such killer talent among Kal Penn who plays an aide in the White House as well as Maggie Q and Malik Yoba who play FBI agents. I adore them all to pieces and am so happy to see their talent shine on this show. There’s more where this comes from so great job on casting and highly anticipating what’s next for all of their characters.

As the episode concludes, Maggie Q’s character questions who is responsible for the attack and wonders if this is just the beginning. A great place to end the episode. As if we didn’t have enough to ponder and anticipate, there is also the matter of finding out who planned this catastrophe. Yeah. So there’s a lot to digest here and I absolutely love every minute of it.

I wonder what the pacing is for this show overall and how soon we’ll get answers to questions, so that’s what I’m most looking forward to next. Really settling into the rhythm of the show. Because I’m definitely keeping myself comfortable on ABC Wednesdays at 10/9c. Just need to know if I need popcorn every week or tea. For now, it’s popcorn.

Because Designated Survivor is a ride none of us ever want to take in real life, but what better a time to think about that frightening reality than now. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. So buckle in and get ready to commit to another thrilling political drama with a deeply personal touch. It’s dare I say, one of my favorite Pilots of a new drama this season and I haven’t even seen all of the dramas yet. Wednesday nights just got even better. Enjoy!

Watch Designated Survivor Wednesdays at 10/9c only on ABC.