Susan Granger’s review of “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
If you enjoyed watching Keri Russell in FXs “The Americans,” follow her as she switches sides as an insecure American Ambassador in Netflix’ “The Diplomat.”
Smart ‘n’ savvy Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) is a longtime Foreign Service officer, specializing delicate negotiations in the Middle East. Just as she’s about the leave for a new post in Kabul, she’s abruptly dispatched as Ambassador to the United Kingdom – taking up residence in Winfield House, near London’s Regent’s Park.
In the past, U.S. Ambassadors to England have not been career diplomats; instead, they’ve been big donors to whatever political party is in power, rewarded by serving in a primarily ceremonial job, filled with protocol and procedure.
But, suddenly, there’s an international incident – an attack on a British aircraft carrier – that requires Wyler’s expertise as a facilitator and, unbeknownst to her, she’s also being vetted as a potential Vice-Presidential candidate.
Perhaps a toxic thorn-in-her-side is Kate’s swaggering, manipulative husband, Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), who has also served as an Ambassador. In the past, as a tandem couple, Kate has assisted him; now it’s his turn to assist her – if he wants to stop their volatile, co-dependent marriage from unraveling.
The U.S. President (Michael McKean), his Chief of Staff (Nana Mensah) and the Secretary of State (Miguel Sandoval) need Kate to work with British Prime Minister Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) and U.K. Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi) to avoid a rapidly escalating conflict with Russia or Iran.
Coordinating the complicated mission is Kate’s deputy Stuart Hayford (Ato Essandoh) and CIA station chief Eidra Park (Ali Ahn), plus other bureaucrats. But everyone seems to have his/her own agenda.
Kudos to Debora Cahn (“West Wing,” “Homeland,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) who created this compelling series, filling it with provocative, often cheeky dialogue and surprising plot twists and turns. It’s already been renewed for Season #2.
FYI: While the exterior shots are of Winfield House, the interiors were shot at Wrotham Park in Hertfordshire, an estate that’s perhaps familiar from “Bridgerton,” “Downton Abbey,” and “The Crown.”
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Diplomat” is an engaging, explosive 8 – with all eight, hour-long episodes streaming on Netflix.
