By Amelia Mower – Staff Reporter

An inside look into the daily affairs and scandal of Washington, D.C., along with the duties of President Tom Kirkman are encompassed in “Designated Survivor’s” third season, launched exclusively on Netflix. As former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, having no prior political experience, Tom Kirkman became President of the United States in the wake of tragedy. In Season Three of “Designated Survivor,” Kirkman is running for reelection as President, facing many unexpected challenges along the way. 

The 10-episode season touches on many sensitive and controversial topics that President Kirkman has to consider on his run for reelection. These topics range from bio-terrorist attacks and opioid addiction to the debate over immigration and transgender rights in the United States. The last episode of the season shows the ultimate result of Kirkman’s reelection and closes up some of the loose ends found in prior episodes. 

This season also digs deeper than ever before into the background and lives of some of the Presidential Cabinet members and people close to the President. Viewers find out about Aaron Shore’s questionable past, Emily Rhodes’ family issues, and Hannah Wells’ motivation. Affairs between colleagues and secrets between members of the Cabinet are sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. 

Although slightly different from the two seasons before it, the third season of “Designated Survivor “is definitely one to watch. It does a good job of portraying real-life issues, ones that even parallel the debates going on in our country today. One thing that is very unique to this season is the inclusion of real, non-actor people of the United States in President Kirkman’s campaign. This aspect and the input of actual people’s opinions and experiences make this season of “Designated Survivor” special.

The only downside of “Designated Survivor’s” third season is that it is the final one. Netflix cancelled the show after the third season aired in June 2019. Because of the cancellation, the last episode of the show poses many unanswered questions about the fate of Tom Kirkman and his Cabinet. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars