The Diplomat raises the stakes in a tense, emotionally layered second season, earning Emmy nods for Best Drama and Keri Russell’s performance.

I’m a bit late to reviewing the second season, but I binged it quickly right after Derby Day in May—and let me just say, the Debora Cahn-created series is absolutely deserving of its Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, along with Keri Russell’s second nod for Lead Actress. What surprises me, though, is the lack of recognition for Allison Janney’s guest-starring role this season; her performance is a standout. The Diplomat isn’t just one of the best dramas on TV right now—it’s one of the best shows, period.

Season 2 of The Diplomat wastes no time picking up where the first season’s explosive cliffhanger left off. A deadly blast in London jolts Ambassador Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) into crisis mode as she investigates the attack that nearly killed her almost ex-husband, former Ambassador Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), and took the life of embassy staffer Ronnie Buckhurst (Jess Chanliau). But what seems at first like a foreign threat soon reveals deeper and more disturbing roots—potentially inside the British government itself. With trust in short supply and tensions high, Kate is pulled into a political firestorm that challenges her instincts, her relationships, and her role on the world stage.

While Hal survives, he’s left visibly shaken, his PTSD surfacing in moments both public and private, such as the embassy’s July 4th celebration. Their marriage may be fractured, but he remains Kate’s most reliable partner in navigating the crisis. British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi) becomes an uneasy but essential ally as the investigation deepens, and a visit from Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney) adds another layer of pressure. As the season unfolds, The Diplomat leans into its signature blend of political maneuvering and personal drama, delivering a gripping, high-stakes story where the most dangerous moves come not from foreign enemies—but from those within the halls of power.

As last season of The Diplomat came to an end, both Kate and Dennison suspected British Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) as the mastermind behind the attack. Who else could have hired Lenkov and stood to gain from a terrorist incident? After Lenkov is killed by British special forces, Dennison tells Kate he has enough votes to trigger a no-confidence motion and force Trowbridge to resign. But when the motion collapses, Dennison threatens to resign and go it alone.

Margaret Roylin (Celia Imrie) reaches out to Kate for help, prompting Eidra Park (Ali Ahn) and the CIA to take her into protection. After being smuggled into Grove’s service at St. Peter’s, Roylin confesses that British extremists opposing Scottish independence hired Lenkov to stage the attack. Everything comes to a head during a tense visit to Scotland, where Roylin confronts Trowbridge. The encounter turns violent—he slams her head to the ground. The White House responds by dispatching Vice President Penn to London, but it soon becomes clear that Penn may have her own motives, especially with her job on the line.

Like its first season, The Diplomat gains access to locations few shows can touch. Season 1 ended with a scene shot at the Louvre—how do you top that? Apparently, by filming a multi-day funeral scene at St. Peter’s Cathedral. Other season 2 locations include Old Royal Naval College, One Great George Street, Inveraray Castle, Ardkinglas, RAF Halton, Wilton House, and Blenheim Palace—yes, the one where Winston Churchill grew up. It leaves you wondering how they’ll top these sites in season 3.

Delaying my viewing may have been a blessing in disguise—otherwise I’d be stuck waiting a year and a half for the past season of The Diplomat. While season 2 is two episodes shorter, it’s no less thrilling. The twist that the call was coming from inside the house? I didn’t see that coming. Even as the series asks viewers to suspend disbelief at times, it remains a heartfelt tribute to America’s foreign service officers. And given recent budget cuts and government restructuring, who knows how many career FSOs will still have jobs by the time season 3 premieres.

In addition to honoring the work of FSOs, The Diplomat is striking in its depiction of grief and recovery. Hal Wyler isn’t the only one nearly killed in the blast. Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Heyford (Ato Essandoh) is also injured. He returns to work in episode two, but the trauma lingers—he begins resenting Kate and is visibly shaken during the July 4th fireworks. Later, he leaves the party with a woman he soon learns is a CIA officer sent by White House Chief of Staff Billie Appiah (Nana Mensah) to test his mental state.

Season 1 of The Diplomat gave us time to get to know these characters; season 2 sends them straight back into action. The Wylers remain at the story’s center, but the show’s strength lies in its full ensemble—from embassy staffers to the British leadership they constantly wrangle with (arguably more than they would in real life). Russell and Sewell are both excellent. Russell, in particular, has a gift for infusing intense scenes with perfectly timed comic notes. This season walks a tighter tonal line than the first, but even with the Wylers’ relationship on shaky ground, you can’t help but root for them.

The casting of Allison Janney as Vice President Grace Penn is not only inspired—it reunites her with The Diplomat creator/showrunner Debora Cahn, a former writer on The West Wing. Janney is every bit as sharp and commanding as you’d expect. Her Penn knows Kate is eyeing her job, and she doesn’t bother to hide it. At first, Kate sees her as a mentor, but once Penn’s involvement in the terrorist plot comes to light, it’s clear their relationship is beyond repair. And just when it seems like things might finally settle, Cahn pulls the rug out from under us: President William Rayburn (Michael McKean) dies of a heart attack and Penn ascends to the presidency.

Working on The West Wing planted the initial seed for what would eventually become The Diplomat. “I wanted to do in the foreign policy/international relations arena what that show had done with domestic politics and spent 20 years trying to figure out a good way to do it,” Cahn told me for Awards Focus. “It took that long to come up with this.” Two decades later, she’s not only succeeded—she’s built one of the most compelling political thrillers on television.

The good news for fans? Not only has The Diplomat been renewed for a third season, but a fourth has already been ordered. The bad news? I couldn’t get any scoop from my interview with Cahn about whether the series will keep ending each season with a cliffhanger. My guess? It probably will. But I’m especially excited for the season ahead. Not only will we continue to hang out with this cast, but another West Wing alum, Bradley Whitford, joins the cast as First Gentleman Todd Penn.

With sharp writing, riveting performances, and an uncanny ability to blend high-stakes diplomacy with emotional complexity, The Diplomat cements its place as one of TV’s smartest and most addictive thrillers. Season 2 doesn’t just match the intensity of its debut—it raises the stakes across the board. It’s no surprise that it’s an Emmy contender. The only question left is how long we’ll have to wait for season 3.

CREATOR/SHOWRUNNER: Debora Cahn
DIRECTORS: Alex Graves (Eps. 201-202, 205-206), Tucker Gates (Eps. 203-204)
WRITERS: Anna Hagen & Debora Cahn (201), Peter Ackerman (202), Peter Noah (203), Debora Cahn (204, 206), Anna Hagen (205)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Debora Cahn, Janice Williams, Keri Russell, Peter Noah, Alex Graves
CAST: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ali Ahn, Rory Kinnear, and Ato Essandoh
GUEST STARRING: Celia Imrie, Michael McKean, Nana Mensah, Miguel Sandoval, Allison Janney

Netflix released all six episodes of The Diplomat Season 1 on October 31, 2024. Grade: 5/5

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