Since the scares of entire areas being wiped out during the Cold War, one cabinet member must sit out of every big event at the capital, so if a catastrophe were to occur while the many Washington bigwigs were gathered in one spot, someone would be able to take over the presidency. This person is called the designated survivor.

In the fictional ABC show, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) was the designated survivor for the State of the Union address. But it would be his last as a cabinet member.

As Kirkman is watching the event from a comfy chair at an undisclosed location, as the designated survivor normally does, the screen goes blank. He and his wife, Alex (Natascha McElhone), an immigration lawyer, are quickly shuffled from the room to the White House, his two children soon to follow.

The Capitol Building was bombed, and Kirkman is now the acting president. All in a matter of 30 minutes.

While “Designated Survivor” has the same government-breakdown basis as many other series and movies, the new show is anything but ordinary. It is touching on something that has never been seen on the screen before: a designated survivor’s transition from an unelected cabinet position to the presidency.

In just the first five episodes, Kirkman and his team have proven themselves worthy of the nation’s appreciation, both on and off the screen. Kirkman transforms from a stuffy, nerdy man on the verge of unemployment to the most important person in the free world. And the journey has been interesting, even though it may seem unrealistic. Going from Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the 11th person in line, to President is highly unconventional, but it is that unlikely transition that makes it so fascinating to watch.

A dynamic set of actors makes up the leading cast. Alex offers a romanticized glimpse into the situation, while the new White House chief of staff Aaron Shore (Adan Canto) and senior adviser Emily Rhodes (Italia Ricci) serve as his competitive, hard-working aides who view the situation through critical lenses. Republican Congresswoman Kimble Hookstraten (Virginia Madsen) is on the fence about Kirkman, but is always politically correct, even when the country is in turmoil. But, her we’re-all-in-this-together ideology disappears as soon as Kirkman disagrees with her. It seems blue and red don’t mix after all.

The characters help formulate a layered plot that is nicely paced throughout the different episodes. The FBI investigation into the explosion paired with Kirkman trying to run the country with no substantial experience and high opposition make for an exciting and entertaining Wednesday night.

Will Kirkman flake under pressure, or will he rise to the challenge? Was the lone survivor of the attack really in on it? “Designated Survivor” is just what this country needs: a fresh take on an always-interesting idea about realistic-yet-fictional government trials.