Designated Survivor season 3 spoilers: Kiefer Sutherland on election plot

Moving into Designated Survivor season 3, there are going to be a high number of components that are different from anything that you’ve seen on the show before. Take, for example, a streamlined ten-episode run that is going to feel rather serialized, as opposed to the semi-procedural turn that you got for much of the show’s second season. To go along with that, Tom Kirkman is going to be facing a number of different threats on the homefront as he takes on a very different challenge than anything that he has before: Trying to find a way to win an election for the first time in his career.

On the surface, you would think that Kirkman is going to be more than capable of handling this, given what he’s gone through in his administration. Yet, being President is different than fighting to stay President, and with Kirkman making a proactive decision to stay in this post, it will fundamentally change at least some aspects of what makes this show precisely what it is. For some more on that, take a look at what Sutherland has to say within a new piece over at TVInsider:

“It’s a 180-degree shift from the first two seasons, where he felt victimized by being put in this position … It’s a very interesting place to start, and it will bring challenges. He’s not going to pass every test.”

Our hope is that through the third season, you’ll get a great opportunity to explore further some of the weird ins and outs that go into making a Presidential campaign what it is, that strange mixture of being sentimental and kind at moments and big and bold at others. You have to deal and constantly contend with the fact that everyone wants something out of you, even if you don’t know how exactly to satisfy them at every turn. It’s a lot for any person to have to deal with, but Kirkman’s going to have a slew of faces, both new and old, to help him — including a campaign manager played by ER alum Anthony Edwards who has some bold ideas.

Designated Survivor season 3 will hopefully live up to the hype and prove to be everything that we’ve been waiting for — a political thriller sure, but also a depiction of what it’s like having to be a part of Government in 2019. We’ve seen various iterations of it already, but in this chaotic political era, there are probably more opportunities for stories than ever. The real challenge is seeing if there is a way to make things even crazier in fiction than they are in real life.

Want some more coverage of Designated Survivor season 3?

If you head over to the link here, you can check out our trailer breakdown! That is going to give you a great opportunity to explore further some of what this season will bring to the table.

What intrigues you the most about Kirkman running for President on Designated Survivor season 3? Be sure to share in the comments, and come back soon for other updates. (Photo: ABC.)