The greatest thing about The Diplomat is that it’s completely aware of itself and doesn’t give a fuck about what anyone thinks. It’s going to be honest, it’s going to have situations that you are like WTF, and it’s also got a dry sense of humor. It’s actors are diverse, their attitudes different, and their matter-of-fact personas make you not able to look away from each and every one of them.
Not to mention the fact that it stars Keri Russell and we worship at the altar of her existence. What can we say, Felicity was life changing for some of us and Keri Russell will always be an acting goddess.
The Diplomat is a tale of diplomats and people in government who are trying to solve issues, but the issues are some of their own making, some of regimes trying to cause huge issues, and some of people just doing stupid shit. It’s a show that will leave you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next.
But also asking yourself – damn, what is the government not telling us.
Let us be frank from the beginning, The Diplomat is a great show. It is one that we feel is Netflix’s biggest hit. It’s also a hit because of its casting. I’ll stand by the statement that casting is 60% of what makes a show good. If an actor can’t deliver a line and convince us that they are the character, we’re not going to hear anything that they have to say. Keri Russell, Ato Essandoh, Ali Ahn, Rufus Sewell, and David Gyasi are perfection.
Ambassador Kate Wyler has always played second fiddle to her husband, Hal. Hal has been the Ambassador previously, but now – he’s having to adjust. Adjusting to being the one behind the scenes. It’s definitely not that easy for him, because he’s got an attitude the size of Texas and an ego to match.
While Kate was supposed to head to Kabul, after a British aircraft carrier was bombed, the President calls her to the White House. They have decided to send her to London as her station, instead of Kabul. Where as she doesn’t really want to go, she accepts, because “it’s a pleasure to serve” or some crap like that. I know it’s the right thing to say, but also it’s feeding a mans ego, in my opinion.
Kate wants to change the world. She doesn’t want to be a ceremonial figure. She wants to make a change for the better. The path of making changes and making things better for the women of Afghanistan is what she is striving for. It’s path that she prefers.
Reluctantly her and Hal head to London, but before they arrive we learn one thing. The chief of staff reaches out to Stuart Heyford, who basically runs all things in London at the embassy. She informs him that the VP is resigning and they want to see if Kate is up for the challenge. She doesn’t know it’s a possibility.
Kate wants to get to work, but in a briefing she’s basically told of all the ceremonial crap she has to do, but in the same respect everyone is given an inside look to how she is. She’s not all frills, doesn’t get the point of pomp and circumstance, and wants to just work. She wants to know who is responsible for the bombing and she thinks that is Iran. None of the things they are briefing her on are things that she wants to hear.
Unless it is making a solid change in the world, she’s not interested in it.
Everyone is expecting Hal to be right by her side, but she’s making it clear that she doesn’t need that. She can and will stand on her own,. It’s the whole misogyny of the situation for me. It’s annoying. Hal doesn’t know how to be second fiddle, but it’s also the way that ever single person in this show seems to be kissing his ass.
Kate wants to get past the pomp and circumstance, but soon realizes that is a part of what she needs to do. She believes in rules, but before she can stop herself from breaking them, she’s pulled away during a tour and inadvertently ends up talking to the prime minister. That being said, it’s a big no no. Especially because the Secretary of State hasn’t spoken to him yet.
And let us just say that the Secretary of State is an asshole and is threatened by Kate when he finds out that she was on a call with the President that he wasn’t. He’s also threatened when the Prime Minister wants to her to be the one to talk to the Secretary of State and hold off the President.
The thing about Kate is that she’s not fearful of anything or anyone. She knows that she has to play a game, even when she doesn’t want to be playing one. London was not on her list of places that she wanted to be, but here we are and she is there.
She goes to lay a wreath for all the fallen soldiers, and of course Hal is there. He’s talking to someone that he shouldn’t be talking to and isn’t listening to anyone, so Heyford has her pulled. I have to say, Heyford has got to be one of my favorite people – because he is a puppet master. He knows all of the people that are important and all of those that are political suicide.
I really hate that Hal doesn’t get his place. He thinks that he’s going to help Kate and get her to where she needs to be, but I personally think that she’s going to propel him forward also. They will change each other.
Secretary of State Miguel Ganon wants her gone. She’s been there for a few hours and he wants her gone. Heyford is asking the Chief of Staff for help, but she’s not going to give that help. It’s a test. A big test.
Heyford’s going to make sure that she passes it.
Kate doesn’t like the fact that Ganon wants her gone, but also she thinks about how to make sure that Ganon doesn’t win. She agrees to a photo shoot – styled and all the things that she hates. It’s going to be in British Vogue, and released that day. This way, they can’t do anything – she’ll be cemented in the position.
And Kate, she plays the part well. It may not be what she wants, but it’s what she needs to do. She plays a part – even though that part makes her uncomfortable. She takes the pictures, she does the things. She does one concerning thing though.
She tells Heyford that soon Hal will be gone. Now Hal believe that he’ll be able to make her change her mind, and maybe he will. It’s a possibility.
We’re only on episode one, so we shall see.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Hal is an entitled dick, but he’s definitely charming as f***
- The President is creepy
- Hal knowing that she’s being vetted for VP, but not telling her… she is gonna kick his ass.
- Hal and the police car to take him around… well, that should go over well with the press.
- Wait, why was Hal kidnapped? And how did no one notice that he was leaving? I’m so confused.
- Why is that Hal is talking to the Tory member? Doesn’t he get what’s happening?
- How does Hal get away with the shit he pulls?
