I love a good what-if story, and I’m excited to see if tvN’s Designated Survivor can live up to the high stakes of its story. This cast certainly has my expectations way up, with Ji Jin-hee (Misty), Lee Jun-hyuk (Are You Human Too), Heo Jun-ho (Kingdom), and Bae Jong-ok (Live) leading an impressive ensemble cast. All four feature in the second teaser released for the show, and I’m looking forward to watching all of them on the small screen come July.
The teaser begins by following three individuals from behind as they hurriedly walk to their destination. In voice-over, an anchorman informs the public that there has been a terrorist bombing at the National Assembly while the President was addressing the legislature, and goes on to haltingly say that the building as collapsed. We see Bae Jong-ok, playing the opposition party leader, being told by her bodyguard of the news that the National Assembly has exploded.
Lee Jun-hyuk’s character is curiously a member of the National Assembly who ran as an independent. I’m looking forward to know how he becomes a key figure in this story, especially because most of the major players hold prominent positions in the government. He is told by an aide that there is a “sole survivor,” as Heo Jun-ho, who plays the Korean equivalent of the Chief of Staff, informs a room full of officials of the President’s death.
The screen turns to the President’s office and a terrified-looking Ji Jin-hee, playing the Minister of Environment who suddenly finds himself as acting head-of-state. The teaser ends with quick shots of the burning National Assembly, Ji Jin-hee’s character’ signature on the document naming him President, and a chess board with all our main players’ faces taped to the pieces.
Designated Survivor will premiere on July 1.
