“Designated Survivor” Returns In Midseason Premiere: [Spoiler] Got Shot; Hannah And President Kirkman Finally Meet

Just like waiting for the final results of the 2016 Presidential Election, the fall finale of political drama-thriller “Designated Survivor” left fans hanging. So that when the show returned with a midseason “Warrior” episode, it boosted “Designated Survivor”’s ratings significantly.

To recap: “At the end of the December 14 episode, as Peter MacLeish (Ashley Zukerman) was being sworn in as Vice President, FBI Agent Hannah Wells (Maggie Q) noticed that a man was getting ready to shoot at president Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland). Taking her own gun out, she prepared to fire at the sniper but was pushed by a Secret Service agent, which set off her gun and startled the shooter. Bullets were sent flying from Hannah’s and the sniper’s guns, the screen faded to black, and audiences were left wondering who was shot.”

Alas, Kirkman still fell victim to Catalan’s sniper skills despite Hannah’s (Maggie Q) intervention. However, Kirkman sustained a gun shot in the left shoulder that although it required a much-needed surgery, it wasn’t as fatal as a shot in the head or in the chest, TV Guide notes. But this is TV, so Kirkman’s wounds were bound to put his health in peril, thus leading MacLeish to run the country under the 25th Amendment.

MacLeish as president was bad, even though for a few hours, as decision over decision has put the fictional US on a brink of economic collapse. MacLeish also have the capacity to tie loose ends (meaning Catalan) when he ordered feds and advisers to kill the assassin instead as opposed to bring him in for questioning. But Kirkman emerged well after a successful surgery, and rescuing the crashing Wall Street in the process.

And just as MacLeish (and maybe including his wife Beth) plan their next moves, series creator David Guggenheim and new showrunner Jeff Melvoin made true to their promise when Hannah and President Kirkman finally met. Although fans would have to wait for the next episode, one can only hope that Kirkman will let Hannah continue with her investigation as he try to manage one of the world’s superpower nations.

Catch “Designated Survivor” Wednesday nights on ABC.