Directed by Timothy Busfield
Written by Bill Chais, Ashley Gable, Pierluigi Cothran, Patrick Cunnane, & Tracey Rice
The Republicans and Democrats jointly use a key defence spending measure to arm-twist Tom Kirkman into choosing to become a presidential candidate for one of their parties. Kendra Daynes is threatened when an old murder case resurfaces at the hands of vengeful family members. Kirkman's administration co-opts Ethan West to investigate Cornelius Moss' leaks of classified information, while Agent Hannah Wells receives Damian Rennett's last wishes.
Tropes in this episode:
- Bedmate Reveal: Only to the audience — Trey addresses someone in the bedroom, and it is revealed to be Kendra.
- Cliffhanger: Emily Rhodes is shot by a sniper who mistakes her for Kendra.
- Enemy Mine: Both the Republican and Democratic Senate leaders team up to put pressure on Kirkman during critical budget negotiations.
- It's Quiet… Too Quiet: Trey casually returns to Kendra's house to retrieve his wallet, and initially thinks nothing is wrong until he gets no answer at the door, whereupon he enters and finds the wreckage left by a home invasion. Kendra, fortunately, is unhurt after barricading herself in a bedroom.
- Last-Minute Hookup: The second season is coming to a close, so Kendra and Trey are suddenly revealed to be a couple. May be a case of Pair the Spares, but there's no lack of singles among the main characters.
- Let's You and Him Fight: The main characters initially think it's a great idea to have Ethan West investigating Cornelius Moss.
- The Main Characters Do Everything: Ethan West lampshades this when he asks why Agent Wells has taken on so many high-pressure roles while answering only to the President.
- Mass "Oh, Crap!": Kirkman's White House staff collectively have one when Moss announces he is running for the Republican nomination for president, seeing as Moss is still a Universally Beloved Leader, in contrast to Kirkman's scandal-ridden presidency (by Moss' design, of course).
- No Party Given: Averted for Cornelius Moss, who runs for the Republican presidential nomination. Viewers could be forgiven for thinking Moss was actually a Democrat, given his willing service in Kirkman's administration before becoming The Starscream. In the Alternate History of the show, apparently George W. Bush's two terms were followed by another Republican president.
- Old Shame: Kendra's old murder case, as the culprit had to go free.
- Paranoia Fuel: In-universe, as Kendra is understandably terrified of another home invasion.
- The Reveal: Damian Rennett's recording reveals that he has a daughter, and he asks Hannah to save her life.
- Take a Third Option: Kirkman, not surprisingly, rejects both parties' calls and announces he will remain an independent.
- Time Skip: Of several months, apparently. Two episodes ago in "Capacity", Vice-President Darby noted that Kirkman had been President for twenty months, and with the Capitol bombing occurring in early 2017 at about the start of Richmond's second term, that set the episode and the Cabinet hearing at around the fall of 2018. Here, it is stated that Election Day is sixteen months away, and if the characters are referring to the scheduled 2020 presidential election, "Target" takes place in June or July of 2019.
- Video Wills: Damian left a recording for Hannah in the event of his death, asking her to safeguard his daughter.
- Villain with Good Publicity: Moss has been leaking classified information for much of the season to undermine Kirkman, but the American public has no idea and he remains a widely respected political figure. This in turn fuels his comeback to seek a second term as President.
