Commander in ChiefWife. Mother. Leader of the free world.
Mackenzie Allen has a lot on her plate -- she has twin teenagers, a 6-year-old at home and an ambitious husband at the office, and she is about to become the first female president of the United States. Before that happens, however; Mackenzie, who serves as vice president, has to decide whether or not to go against the dying wishes of the current president, who has asked her to step down and let someone "more appropriate" fill his shoes in the Oval Office. Not only does the president want her to resign, so does the entire party that elected her in the first place. But when the moment of truth arrives, Mackenzie isn't willing to be a mere footnote in history. Instead of allowing her detractors to keep her down, she decides to trust her instincts and accept the most powerful job in the world.
CreatorRod Lurie
Pilot
Sep 27, 2005
Mackenzie Allen, who serves as Vice President of the United States, has a tough decision to make, whether or not to go against the wishes of the dying current President. He has asked her to step down and let someone a little more appropriate take his place in the Oval Office. However, it's not only the President that is calling for her resignation, it's her entire party which elected her as the Vice President to start with.
First Choice
Oct 4, 2005
As Mackenzie begins the transition into the office of President, she has to select a Vice President, a situation in which Nathan Templeton tries using to his advantage. Mackenzie's daughter, Rebecca, faces a crisis when her diary goes missing, which contains information about her mother that could hurt her.
First Strike
Oct 11, 2005
Faced with her first national crisis - the death of nine DEA agents in Latin America - Mackenzie shows strength and resolve in dealing with a corrupt leader. Meanwhile, Nathan Templeton is approached by an ambitious congressman who served with Mac's Vice Presidential candidate, Warren Keaton, and is eager to divulge potentially damaging info in an effort to derail his nomination. Mac's teenage twins resume public school, only this time it's complete with secret service detail and press spectacle, and while popular Horace welcomes the attention, shy Rebecca finds it overwhelming.
First Dance
Oct 18, 2005
All eyes are on Mackenzie Allen as she hosts her first official summit with the Russian President -- which is threatened to be overshadowed by Nathan Templeton's plan to engineer a series of cabinet resignations to coincide with the summit. Templeton goes after Mac with a vengeance, vowing to run - and win - against her in the next presidential election. Meanwhile, as First Gentleman, Rod must host his first state dinner for the Russian President and his wife.
First... Do No Harm
Oct 25, 2005
In the middle of the announcement of her new National Security Advisor, Anthony Prado, Mac is caught off guard by the breaking news of a terrorist smuggling explosives across the Canadian border. The way in which Mac and her Attorney General deal with the situation pits them squarely against each other, and Nathan Templeton takes great pleasure in publicly second-guessing Mac's every move. Meanwhile, it's Halloween, and Amy - who desperately wants to go trick-or-treating like a normal kid - is disappointed to learn that, due to security concerns, she may have to settle for a party this year instead. When Rod as First Gentleman finds himself fodder for late-night comics, it hits his son Horace especially hard.
First Disaster
Nov 1, 2005
When a destructive hurricane hits Florida, Mac and Templeton fly to Florida to survey the damage. While there, Mac learns of an emergency situation with an oil tanker off the Florida coast which could have devastating consequences. Meanwhile, Rod is seriously considering an offer to become Commissioner of Baseball.
First Scandal
Nov 8, 2005
When a tell-all book is published about Mackenzie Allen that contains confidential information suspicions arise. Meanwhile, the confirmation hearings for Vice Presidential nominee Warren Keaton begin, but raise questions about his past.
Rubie Dubidoux and the Brown Bound Express
Nov 15, 2005
After she announces new direction for her administration, President Allen finds herself in need of allies within the West Wing and decides that she needs to appoint her closest adviser, Rod, to an official position.
The Mom Who Came to Dinner
Nov 29, 2005
Mac has more than Thanksgiving turkey on her plate. She juggles military base closures in her home town, a death penalty case the Supreme Court will not hear and a visit with Mom. Joining her team is a young and savvy media strategist/advisor.
Sub Enchanted Evening
Jan 10, 2006
A submarine strikes a seamount just off North Korean waters and Mac must ask the Chinese for help. Meanwhile, Dickie's constant need for information has begun to irritate everyone. Meanwhile the first family deals with the question of reelection.
No Nukes is Good Nukes
Jan 17, 2006
While trying to coordinate the rescue of the crew of a damaged U.S. submarine off the coast of North Korea with help from Chinese, Mac must deal with war fever among her advisors and a leak from China to the North Korean government that threatens to start a nuclear war. Meanwhile, Speaker Templeton’s wife secretly encourages Jayne Murray to accept Nathan’s offer to rejoin his office as chief of Staff.
Wind Beneath My Wing
Jan 24, 2006
Mac and Templeton head out west to pay tribute to the dedication of former President Bridges' Presidential Library. While there Air Force One is held hostage by a guy who wants to speak with Mac. Meanwhile Horace and Rebecca have some friends for a party.
State of the Unions
Apr 13, 2006
While Mac is busy working on her first State of the Union address, Rod becomes a tad tipsy and is found in compromising position with an intern for all the world to see. Meanwhile, Templeton sets out to find a way to sabotage Mac's Homeless Initiative Bill. Plus, Dickie and Jayne, who has gone back to being Templeton's chief-of-staff, go out on a dinner date.
The Price You Pay
Apr 20, 2006
Mac decides to stand by her friend and Attorney General nominee, Carl Brantley, after he gets hammered in his confirmation hearings. A cargo plane which contains military weapons goes missing over Pakistan and it's up to Vice President Keaton to resolve the situation. Meanwhile, Rod tries to settle in the domestic life, but soon faces a crisis when Kate is nowhere to be found.
Ties That Bind
Apr 27, 2006
Mac wants her Attorney General to look into an urban situation in Maryland because it's where Gardner is from. Mac is also briefed on the situation of the missing surface-to-air missiles that went down in a military plane crash over Pakistan and has to make sure that the weapons do not end up in the hands of terrorists. Templeton is ralling support for the Templeton Act which focuses on domestic crime and Mac is threatening to use her veto power in the hopes for more law enforcement and education over the bill's calls for tougher sentencing. Dickie learns that Vince is planning a commitment ceremony with his partner and he warns him not to invite Mac because it might hurt her in the polls.
The Elephant in the Room
May 31, 2006
Mac suffers a burst appendix while aboard Air Force One. Since there is no Vice President in place, Templeton becomes acting President since he is the Speaker of the House and next in line. Meanwhile, there is an air strike that is crippling travel on Memorial Day weekend and Templeton ends up overstepping his bounds and handles the situation the way he wants to.
Happy Birthday, Madam President
Jun 7, 2006
On Mac's birthday, she is faced with the fact that there are American hostages being held in Turkey by a militant Kurdish group. Meanwhile, she also has to interview new candidates to be her Vice President and Dickie tries to convince her of the type of person she needs to choose because her choice will affect her re-election campaign.
Unfinished Business
Jun 14, 2006
After a critic of the Equal Rights Amendment passes away and his wife takes over his seat, Mac believes she can amend the Constitution and pass the ERA once and for all. Meanwhile Templeton turns a Get Out the Vote campaign meeting into a presidential debate, Rod is asked to write a story about his relationship with Mac, and Rebecca finally learns the identity of her IM buddy, and both are shocked at just who the other person is.
misubisu
@misubisu
### **Review: *Commander in Chief (2005)*** **Score: 7/10** *Commander in Chief* was a timely and boldly conceived political drama that arrived with great promise, offering a compelling "what if" scenario years before its time. The series follows Mackenzie "Mac" Allen (Geena Davis), the Vice President who ascends to the Oval Office after the President's sudden death, navigating the treacherous waters of Washington D.C. as the nation's first female Commander-in-Chief. It earns points for its landmark premise and a **star-making, award-winning central performance**, but is ultimately weighed down by network-TV conventions and a failure to fully capitalise on its own potential. **What Works & The Premise's Power:** * **Geena Davis's Commanding, Award-Winning Performance:** Davis is the undisputed anchor and highlight of the series. She brought a grounded intelligence, steely grace, and believable vulnerability to President Allen, masterfully portraying the immense weight of the office and the unique scrutiny of her position. Her work was rightfully recognised with the **Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama in 2006**, a testament to her ability to carry the show's ambitious premise. * **A Prescient & Engaging Premise:** In 2005, the concept felt both revolutionary and aspirational. The show's core conflicts—the tension with a scheming Speaker of the House (a deliciously antagonistic Donald Sutherland), the balancing of family and unimaginable duty, and the constant negotiation of respect in a male-dominated arena—were inherently dramatic and resonate even more strongly today. * **Solid Political Intrigue (Initially):** The first handful of episodes effectively set up a compelling dynamic between the idealistic, independent President and the old-guard political machinery determined to undermine her. **Why It Stumbles to a Mid-Tier Score:** * **Formulaic Network Drift:** After a strong start, the series increasingly fell into predictable, case-of-the-week patterns and melodramatic subplots (particularly involving the First Family) that diluted its sharp political edge. It often chose sentimental, tidy resolutions over the complex, gritty realism the premise demanded. * **Underwritten Adversaries & Politics:** While Sutherland chews scenery effectively, the political opposition often felt cartoonishly evil rather than strategically formidable. The show shied away from deeply exploring substantive policy or the nuanced ideological battles that define real politics, opting for more personal, soap-operatic conflicts. * **A Premature End & Unrealised Potential:** The series was canceled after one season (with a handful of unaired episodes), leaving its overarching storylines abruptly truncated. This leaves the viewer with the palpable feeling of watching a promising pilot for a much grittier, more serialised show that never got to be made. **Verdict:** *Commander in Chief* is a fascinating cultural artefact—a well-acted, important-for-its-time drama that paved the way for more sophisticated political shows. **Geena Davis's Golden Globe-winning performance** remains a powerful reason to watch, and the concept alone retains its appeal. However, its execution is ultimately hamstrung by a network television sensibility that softened its bite, resulting in a show that feels more like a noble, somewhat sanitised prototype than a fully realised masterpiece. **Watch if:** You are interested in the evolution of political TV dramas, enjoy **award-winning performances**, or are fascinated by the "first female president" narrative. **Skip if:** You prefer gritty, realistic, policy-wonk political thrillers like *The West Wing* (Sorkin era) or *House of Cards*.
