Diplomat is one of the few Netflix shows that will really stick around after its premiere, as it has already been renewed for a third season before the arrival of Season 2. Amid massive cancellations and IP-driven churn, a successful, well-made original drama is balm for the soul of a TV lover. So, even if Season 2 doesn't meet the standards set by the first, Diplomat it is always a binding watch.
Things pick up quickly after last season's finale, when US ambassador to the UK Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) was dealing with the aftermath of a car bombing in London while we were in Paris. The outburst was reserved for the British MP, but her husband Hal (Rufus Sewell), deputy Stuart (Ato Essandoh) and consular officer Ronnie (Jess Chanliau) became hostages after the meeting went wrong. As Kate and British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi) concluded at the end of Season 1, all signs point to Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) as the perpetrator—not just a car bombing or an attack on a British airline. that all began, but with a great political conspiracy to strengthen the United Kingdom, no matter what the cost.
There's still a lot at play, from Tory Margaret Roylin (Celia Imrie) to the White House spying on Kate as deputy vice president training CIA officer Eidra (Ali Ahn) spying on Britain's allies. . This series has a lot of moving parts, sometimes too many, and you'll be on your toes and/or scratching your head when Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney, in platinum blonde hair) arrives on the scene.
In only six episodes (compared to last season's eight, due to a shortened production timeline), Diplomat Season 2 can feel rushed and bloated. In a series where loyalties change almost every scene, motivations and relationships are disrupted; the show explodes with beats before repeating them later, diminishing returns. Hal goes too far, Kate asks the near-impossible of Dennison, Trowbridge is a cynical politician — rinse, apply, repeat. And, unfortunately, there are only so many ways to shoot important people walking down important corridors, so despite the great filming locations, the visuals get a little old after a while. When the second season tries to move forward at high speed, it just loses its steam.
That, in part, is due to the tricky practice of jumping the shark. While this review will remain spoiler-free like the power of the Netflix app, it should be said Diplomat is taking some really big turns this season. Season 1 had its moments, what with Kate and Hal's crumbling marriage and angry politicians everywhere, but it felt appropriate and contained The West Wing kind of way. At times, Season 2 feels like a Shonda Rhimes production—not a bad thing, but it makes for a completely different, contradictory viewing experience. The season finale, in particular, feels ripped from another series entirely, setting up the third season's climax and all the shenanigans of the Ambassador's 4th of July party.
But if Season 2 is a step back, Diplomat it's definitely not a bad show for its own sake. Keri Russell continues to exude both confidence and charm as Kate, a foreign policy expert but political figure whose edges need to be smoothed. The scenes with Ahn are moving and refreshing, given that it's still a rarity to see two talented women exchange big bucks on TV. Kinnear is another standout, PM Trowbridge's role in this ever-changing saga; watching the other characters try their best to deceive him is a joy.
The personal and professional relationship between Hal and Kate also remains one of the series' biggest draws, with Hal taking everything much better than his wife. They are a tough dream team, but very productive when it comes to getting to the bottom of international conspiracies.
Everything you say, Diplomat suffers from a second down in its second season, but continues to pass. It will be interesting to see how the third season (and, hopefully, the fourth) evolves from here—whether the show continues to swing in a dramatic direction or contains more prominent political drama in it.
