The Diplomat review: A caustic, hilarious political drama led excellently by Keri Russell
By Sabrina Reed
The Diplomat, the new Netflix original series that landed on the platform Thursday, April 20, is without a doubt a binge worthy show. I had intended to pace my way through the twisting plot Keri Russell’s newly instated British Ambassador Kate Wyler is thrown into and instead I watched its eight episode freshman run in two sittings.
On its face, the show’s plot is simple. Kate, who simply wanted to go to Kabul to fix the catastrophic decision her husband Hal (Rufus Sewell) made in the name of bravery, is rerouted by the White House to take over the London-based ambassadorship. Unbeknownst to her, she’s been shortlisted for Vice President and the position is meant to serve as a litmus test and vetting process overseen by former kingmaker Stuart Hayford (Ato Essandoh).
It’s Kate’s job to keep the British Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) from plunging the world into a conflict no one wants to wage and whose perpetrator may not be who everyone suspects at first. She must do this in consort with Austin Dennison (David Gyasi), the foreign secretary who’s losing his hold on the PM’s confidence and his ability to keep the trigger happy man in line.
Keri Russell shines in The Diplomat, a caustic and funny political drama
Kate absolutely does not want to be there which leads to some hilarious interactions upon her arrival. She is delightfully caustic as is everyone around her. Keri Russell seethes and glares her way through the first few episodes as Kate settles into her new position reluctantly and contends with Hal, who she was meant to be leaving and now can’t leave because of the circumstances.
What’s clear from the outset, which is pointed out by more than one character, is that Kate is who you want in power but isn’t one who’d do well on a campaign trail. She’s prickly and short, cuts straight to the point, and refuses to gladhand, but she gets the job done. And she’s not interested in being an inspiration or a revelation, she just wants for the powers that be to stop plunging the world into chaos and she’ll do what it takes to ensure that doesn’t happen.
This, at times, is made difficult by Hal who is similar to Kate in so many ways except that he’s obsessed with power when she is not. Rufus Sewell and Russell have exceptional chemistry. The marriage between Kate and her husband runs the gamut of so many emotions from a deep love and understanding of one another to jealousy, bitterness, and loathing.
They work well together and are constantly steps ahead of other players in the game, but there’s also one upmanship that Kate is tired of especially when she’s trying to keep the fragile threads of diplomacy and peace from unraveling. Her partner in this regard is Dennison, the third prong in this love triangle who is just as whip smart and manipulative, but is more like Kate in that there are lines that he won’t cross.
Russell and David Gyasi’s chemistry is palpable just like hers and Sewell’s but it adds something different to the plot. In some ways, it feels as if Kate is destined to be Dennison’s Hal. She’s brilliant and scarily good at bending those in power to her will, but she’s liable to stab you in the back if it means getting to the prospect of peace.
It’ll be interesting to see how these two dynamics play out considering the stunning cliffhanger in the finale that blows wide the conspiracy of just who ordered the attack against a British naval ship. It’s a testament to the acting on The Diplomat that the plot around that part of the storytelling doesn’t get lost for as interesting as it is, it’s really the character work that shines the brightest in this series.
Here’s hoping we get a second season.
Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more Netflix news and coverage! All eight episode of The Diplomat are available to stream now.