Will There Be A Designated Survivor Season 2? – Drama Unni Answers
Introducing our new series: Drama Unni Answers! In these posts our own Drama Unni will answer the most popular Korean Drama or Culture related questions you send her. Have a KDrama question? Send it to her at unni@dramacurrent.com (note: questions submitted in the comments section may or may not be seen. She’ll try, but she’s only human.)
This week’s question is about Netflix’s hit 2019 KDrama Series “Designated Survivor.” After the drama’s success and acclaim, it’s no surprise that everyone is wondering if we will get to see Ji Jin-Hee, Heo Jun-Ho, Kang Han-Na, and many others reprise their roles in a Designated Survivor Season 2.
Last year it was announced that season 2 of Designated Survivor 60 days would be released in July 2020. I can’t seem to find an update and unless I’ve missed it, it isn’t on your list. Do you know anything about it?
Thanks,
Brandi
Will There Be A Designated Survivor: 60 Days Season 2?
Hi Brandi,
Thank you for your question. I’m happy to look up info on Designated Survivor Season 2 for you.
Unfortunately, the news that Designated Survivor Season 2 had been “confirmed” for season 2 was only a rumor. In an interview for the KBS Radio show 사랑하기 좋은 날 이금희입니다 on August 21st lead actor Ji Jin Hee said that he thought it wouldn’t be easy for them to create a season 2.
The most recent news I could find was from an episode of Happy Camp on January 9, 2020. In it Bae Jong Ok talked about how earnestly the entire cast of Designated Survivor wanted a season 2. It is very sweet to hear her describe how the cast still meets and practices their roles together and even writes their own versions of the script. If you’d like to watch the full episode it is subbed on Viki. Bae Jong Ok starts talking about DSS2 at 10:22.
It seems like, although nothing is confirmed, if the production team do decide to have a season 2, the cast will be on board to return.
Stay safe and well,
Drama Unni
DramaCurrent Head Writer
Do you have a drama related question? Send it to us at unni@dramacurrent.com
Drama Unni
Drama Unni is a Korean Entertainment Journalist and blogger based out of the US. She enjoys late night kdrama binges with her two dogs. Email: unni@dramacurrent.com
One Comment
Charlotte Hunter
Re: Second Season of Designated Survivor. Must say, the reason I love KDs is exactly because they most often don’t have second seasons. I watched the US version AFTER the Korean and much preferred the powerful effect of the Korean’s tense, one story arc. I did go into the second season of the American one, but it added a lot of peripheral characters and took on a lighter tone focusing more on everyone’s day to day lives and relationships alongside the new threats to America. The time sensitivity tension of both the US & Korean first season was lost for me and I stopped. Often for me, a long series loses the authenticity of their characters as the writers put them through the many new plots devised to hold audience ratings and advertising dollars each year. The goal seems to be the magic of reaching 7 seasons, which will give them the ability to sell reruns to other content providers. During those years the characters seem to morph so much from who they were at the beginning that I lose interest. The writers cycle them through marriage breakups, dark moments, breakdowns, deaths, new romances, kids and jobs etc.——all designed to keep us watching. And I realize that this is ALL the stuff of great drama, and love it , but I much prefer watching the beginning, middle and end of a 16 episode Korean drama and then moving on to the new world of characters in other dramas (and genres) with a fresh mix of different people who live in different neighborhoods & houses, with different backstories, family & work relationships, and a whole new overarching story of challenges to overcome that is resolved with a good ending or even a sad one. As others have said, it’s like reading a book and then reaching for another one. So whenever I see “season two please” in a comment section, I cringe and think ‘no, please don’t ruin a good story by heaping more on it’s plate.’ Somewhat like I feel after a second big helping of pasta. The first plate is always the tastiest. Of course I realize that everyone who watches our awesome KD’s from around the world have different tastes, (after 5 yrs I’ve watched 561 of them) but thank you for allowing me to share mine.