It may be coincidence, but I caught two possible Deus Ex (video game, 2000) references. The first is in the first scene, with the alarm clock showing the time as 0451. It's such a random time, but it's also the first code you learn, and it's referenced in the game's reboot, Human Revolution, as well, so it is a 'thing.' Also the soldier named John Denton. The first name of the main character is never revealed in canon (you can actually set it to whatever) but your code name is JC, itself a direct reference to Jesus Christ, but it also implies it's your first and middle initial. Deus Ex is a game about a counter-terrorism operator who unravels a global conspiracy after terrorists blew the head off of the Statue of Liberty (among other transgressions). The writers of Designated Survivor may have become aware of the game and decided to drop a couple references to it. Or maybe it is entirely coincidence, who knows.
But I'll tell you what, I was pulling for the John Denton character, and even though we barely knew him, I was relieved to find out he wasn't the one who died, and though he was injured, he will make a full recovery. He could be JC and Paul's dad for all we know!
Review by DeletedBlockedParent2018-12-13T12:50:09Z
It may be coincidence, but I caught two possible Deus Ex (video game, 2000) references. The first is in the first scene, with the alarm clock showing the time as 0451. It's such a random time, but it's also the first code you learn, and it's referenced in the game's reboot, Human Revolution, as well, so it is a 'thing.' Also the soldier named John Denton. The first name of the main character is never revealed in canon (you can actually set it to whatever) but your code name is JC, itself a direct reference to Jesus Christ, but it also implies it's your first and middle initial. Deus Ex is a game about a counter-terrorism operator who unravels a global conspiracy after terrorists blew the head off of the Statue of Liberty (among other transgressions). The writers of Designated Survivor may have become aware of the game and decided to drop a couple references to it. Or maybe it is entirely coincidence, who knows.
But I'll tell you what, I was pulling for the John Denton character, and even though we barely knew him, I was relieved to find out he wasn't the one who died, and though he was injured, he will make a full recovery. He could be JC and Paul's dad for all we know!