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Commander in Chief
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COLLECTION · Series · 2005

Commander in Chief

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.

Source: TMDB
* 7.6 (40)DramaUnited States
Creators
Rod Lurie
Countries
United States
Studios
ABC · Battleplan Productions · Touchstone Television · Steven Bochco Productions
Runtime
42 min/ep
Age rating
TV-PG
Release
27/09/2005
Score
7.6 / 10 (40)

Awards and nominations

  • Winner at Golden Globe Awards — Geena Davis
  • Nominated at Golden Globe Awards — Donald Sutherland
  • Nominated at Golden Globe Awards — Commander in Chief
  • Nominated at Golden Globe Awards — Episode: "Pilot"
  • Nominated at Golden Globe Awards — Harry Lennix
  • Nominated at Primetime Emmy Awards — Geena Davis
  • Nominated at Primetime Emmy Awards — Caitlin Wachs
  • Nominated at Primetime Emmy Awards — Jasmine Jessica Anthony
  • Nominated at Primetime Emmy Awards — Episode: "The Wind Beneath Her Wings"
  • Nominated at Primetime Emmy Awards — Episode: "Air Force One"
Where to watch
Buy
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Seasons and episodes
Season 1
Season 1
18 episodes · 2005
Pilot
Episode 1. Pilot
2005-09-27

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…

First Choice
Episode 2. First Choice
2005-10-04

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…

First Strike
Episode 3. First Strike
2005-10-11

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…

First Dance
Episode 4. First Dance
2005-10-18

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…

First... Do No Harm
Episode 5. First... Do No Harm
2005-10-25

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…

First Disaster
Episode 6. First Disaster
2005-11-01

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.…

First Scandal
Episode 7. First Scandal
2005-11-08

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
Episode 8. Rubie Dubidoux and the Brown Bound Express
2005-11-15

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
Episode 9. The Mom Who Came to Dinner
2005-11-29

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…

Sub Enchanted Evening
Episode 10. Sub Enchanted Evening
2006-01-10

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…

No Nukes is Good Nukes
Episode 11. No Nukes is Good Nukes
2006-01-17

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…

Wind Beneath My Wing
Episode 12. Wind Beneath My Wing
2006-01-24

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…

State of the Unions
Episode 13. State of the Unions
2006-04-13

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…

The Price You Pay
Episode 14. The Price You Pay
2006-04-20

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…

Ties That Bind
Episode 15. Ties That Bind
2006-04-27

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…

The Elephant in the Room
Episode 16. The Elephant in the Room
2006-05-31

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…

Happy Birthday, Madam President
Episode 17. Happy Birthday, Madam President
2006-06-07

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…

Unfinished Business
Episode 18. Unfinished Business
2006-06-14

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…

Cast by season
Geena Davis
Geena Davis
Mackenzie Allen
Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland
Nathan Templeton
Harry Lennix
Harry Lennix
Jim Gardner
Kyle Secor
Kyle Secor
Rod Calloway
Ever Carradine
Ever Carradine
Kelly Ludlow
Matt Lanter
Matt Lanter
Horace Calloway
Caitlin Wachs
Caitlin Wachs
Rebecca Calloway
Jasmine Jessica Anthony
Jasmine Jessica Anthony
Amy Calloway
Anthony Azizi
Anthony Azizi
Vince Taylor
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User reviews
misubisu
★ 7.0 / 10
### **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*.
TMDB
Keywords
usa presidentsenatecongresspoliticsfemale politicianvice presidentusa politicspolitical aspirationpolitical crisispolitical drama
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