_The Diplomat_ is an absolute triumph of storytelling. Debora Cahn's brilliant political thriller incorporates the best elements of her most high-profile TV work to date, mixing the relentless pacing of _Homeland_, the complex relationship portrayals of _Grey's Anatomy_, and the resolutely smart dialogue & sky-high audience expectations of the Sorkin years of _The West Wing_. Throw that into a brew along with a flawless cast and you get a show that is nigh impossible to stop watching mid-binge. Keri Russell's return to TV after her iconic run on _The Americans_ does not disappoint, as she portrays yet another strong, brilliant woman in a position of power whose femininity is as often an asset as is can be a hinderance- but is simply and effortlessly incorporated into the character as fact. Even as she grapples with imposter syndrome she never loses sight of her strengths. She knows that she can stand toe-to-toe with her legendary-in-diplomatic-circles husband. (In fact, she warns her new colleagues that she's the only one who can help them decode or resist his charms.) Watching their sometimes partnership / sometimes rivalry unfold across the 8 episodes is mesmerizing as both she & Rufus Sewell mercilessly chew up every scene, their competition-mixed-with-collaboration showing up not just in the words that they speak, but in a showcase of two preternatural acting talents who are used to stealing scenes from other actors trying to outdo each other. And Sewell more than holds his own. He shines as the other Ambassador in their marriage who's grappling with a crumbling relationship that he wants to save, but doesn't seem to know whether it's because he loves his wife or if she offers him a new pathway to power. The overarching mystery of the series blends seamlessly with the evolution of their relationship, with neither feeling forced or unrealistic. And the area where so many shows can falter - the supporting roles - is yet another where this one rises above expectations. All of the secondary players shine, with the only ding against the series being the underutilization of Jess Chanliau's Ronnie. But, the again, the hallmark of the series seems to be making sure that you always want to see more. Here's hoping that we get to see more of Ronnie in (a hoped-for) season 2.

**Watch it now**

"The Diplomat" is the best thing to watch in April 2023; and I'm being specific about the when, because this is one of the very rare cases in which the political situation _today_ is both correctly presented and an important part of the plot.

An ambassador couple for arabic-and-middle-east-fuss is pulled in to current dramatic developments, and must do their best, and then some, to keep the situation from escalating even further.

The mix of real-life politics, power dynamics, couple dynamics, quick dialogues, cunning trickery and intrigues, psychological games and the instable balances of everything in between work really well. I have rarely seen an couple like the Wylers since the Powell/Loy 1930's Thin Man movies. And should there be a second season, I'm very curious about Hal's dark secret.

Yes, it is a fantasy; but the real-world context adds a lot of spice.

The serious topics are peppered with dry humour, wrangling, moments of vivid characterizations; and most of all: it is quick. It moves fast, as the real actors in real life must do in crises. You don't have time for perfection, but you must achieve success, or else lots of people die. The tone keeps the balance between the pressure, and the human side.

I strongly recommend this series, with minimal caveat.


Ronnie is a pleasant part of the cast, and although I'm afraid someone did a "representation casting" here - the character and performance work really well.

But when it came to colour of skin, the casting department was overzealous, and that bothers.
It makes perfect sense individually - siblings having the same colour of skin, and the Park/Hayford couple is a nice counter to the Wyler couple. A black Foreign Secretary, any time - David Gyasi brings all the right bearing and demeanor, it is entirely convincing. But a PoC running for PM in the UK? Which party? With ~3% of population, that's not "representation"; it sticks out, and would've been a bigger issue than the series allows it to be. And the moment the core characters are together in the same room, half of them are black. That's not representation, far from it - that is a visualization of the right-wing fears of being overrun. Not helpful.

The small bit of PC nonsense aside, this is a good series. It is intelligent, well-written, contemporary, dramatic, with some realism to it, beautiful locations, nimble and clever dialogue.

Watch it while it's fresh!

When I started watching this Netflix series, I thought I was watching the 2023 British series with the exact same title. I quickly realized I was wrong, as that series involves a more regional story of a diplomat who assists British citizens who get into trouble in Barcelona. This version, of course, involves world politics at the highest echelons.

In any case, this series grabbed me and hung on for dear life. It’s rapid fire dialogue and conflict reminded me of The West Wing, and that is not a bad thing. There are a lot of balls in the air here, plot wise, so you shouldn’t watch it too close to nap time, if such a thing exists for you.

The fifty minutes episodes seem about fifteen minutes long, so don’t be shocked if you binge-watch it. It felt to me like they saved too much for the final cliffhanger scene, considering that Netflix still hasn’t announced a second season. But it seems likely there will be ione, since the streaming g service indicates this was the favorite program of views right now, I will look forward to seeing it.