After24, Kiefer Sutherland appeared in another political thriller TV series, this one with a 71% rating onRotten Tomatoes.Jack Bauer in24is 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 therole that Kiefer Sutherland will always be known for, and it helped make24one 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
After24ended in 2014, Kiefer Sutherland waited two years before joining another big project. That project wasDesignated 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 Americaat 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 Survivorhas the political thriller aspects of24, and terrorism plays a major part in both TV shows, but they are still quite different.There are few shows like24, 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 betweenDesignated Survivorand24that will make the former feel fresh and not simply a retread of24. 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 Survivoris not nearly as grim as24. There is a bit more optimism inDesignated 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 Survivorhas a 71% onRotten 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 as24. For one thing, that’s a high bar to set.24is considered one of the consummate political thriller TV showsand is often counted among thebest TV shows of the 21st century.Designated Survivordid not capture the audience and critical imagination in the same way.24raised the bar for TV, whileDesignated Survivorswam in its wake.
Designated Survivorhas 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.24is fast-paced and intense, but never feels phony, whileDesignated Survivorcan feel a bit more melodramatic. Essentially,Designated Survivoris an excellent idea with good execution, while24is a good idea with fantastic execution. Kiefer Sutherland is fantastic in both, however, so no worries on that end.
