If all the talk around the water cooler has been about the Netflix hit smash The Diplomat recently, then you might be wondering if it’s time to give the show a watch. The series stars Keri Russell as Kate, a career diplomat who is unexpectedly made ambassador to the UK.
As well as dealing with a slew of political crises and forming a raft of strategic power alliances, she also must constantly manage the complex machinations of her marriage to Hal, who is also a diplomat – with a tendency to steal the show.
The Diplomat first dropped earlier this year and immediately went to the number one spot of Netflix’s most-watched shows, where it stayed for two weeks. It’s racked up a mind-boggling sixty-six million-plus viewing hours to date.
Here are the seven top reasons to watch The Diplomat, along with a little peek at what we know so far about the forthcoming season two!
You Loved Homeland and The West Wing
If Homeland and The West Wing are on your list of best series of all time, then you need to watch The Diplomat. As the natural successor to these two previous shows, it’s also packed with turbulent interpersonal relationships and tense political power struggles. Given that The Diplomat’s creator is Debora Cahn, one of Homelands’ executive producers and a writer of The West Wing, the show really can boast a strong pedigree.
Keri Russell’s Performance
The performances in The Diplomat are all fantastic, but Russell’s is particularly stellar. The actress, known for her former roles in the series The Americans and Felicity and the recently released Cocaine Bear, puts in a star turn, and possibly the performance of a lifetime, in The Diplomat. Russell’s subtle, emotionally complex delivery elevates the whole show and is definitely up there as a reason to give this Netflix series a try as soon as possible.
Beautiful Cinematography
The glossy visuals of the show further mark The Diplomat as a superior breed of political thriller. The purpose-filmed and stock footage shots of country houses and lush estates create an ambient backdrop for the on-screen intrigue, and the well-crafted visuals add to the polish of the performances.
It Takes Its Time
The writers of The Diplomat want to tell you a story, and they’re committed to crafting it as carefully as possible. According to Debora Cahn, the series creator, she’s a fan of this type of long-form storytelling that allows writers to develop character nuance and explore multiple dimensions of a situation. For the viewer, this makes for a satisfying, memorable, and thought-provoking watch rather than for a series that may be entertaining in the moment but instantly forgettable.
It’s Inspired by Real-Life Marriages
The complex relationship between Kate and Hal is at the heart of The Diplomat and is as compelling – if not more so – than the political dealings and backstabbings throughout. Interestingly, Kate and Hal’s relationship in the series was inspired by real-life power couples in the world of politics, such as Hillary and Bill Clinton, making the portrayal all the more fascinating. A former CIA official actually acted as a consultant for the show to help ensure its authenticity.
You Need a New Binge-Watch
While, at first glance, The Diplomat may not appear the most obvious binge-watch fodder, it’s actually perfect to get lost in. While the plots are satisfyingly meaty, they’re not complex to the point of brain-taxing, and the fast pace and way in which the characters’ personal relationships are spotlighted throughout will have you effortlessly segueing from one episode to the next.
To Get Ready for Season Two!
The first season of The Diplomat met with huge critical and popular response – for all the reasons listed above! The show was so successful that Netflix has already committed to another season: it’s expected to drop in the late summer or early fall of 2024. So, if you haven’t yet binge-watched The Diplomat, get started now so that you’re on top of all the action and ready to start the second season when it arrives next year.
What Can We Expect from Season Two of The Diplomat?
Before reading on – be aware major spoilers follow! Keri Russell will reprise her starring role as Kate for season two of The Diplomat – however, given the nature of the final episode of the first series and a lack of casting confirmation released to date, it’s not yet clear which other actors will be resuming their roles.
The second season of the Netflix show will almost certainly deal with the messy aftermath of the cliffhanger ending of the last series – and there’s a possibility that Kate could return to the US – or other parts of the world – in her role as ambassador. And, if Hal has survived the car crash, there are the growing complexities of the marriage to contend with.
And there’s great news for fans of the show: Cahn recently spoke on a podcast about how she’s hopeful there’ll be multiple seasons of The Diplomat commissioned: meaning there could be plenty of happy hours of binge-watching to enjoy in the near future.
