The Diplomat: Should You Commit to Catching Up on This Political Thriller?

Spoiler Warning: This review includes significant plot details that may reveal crucial moments of the first episode of season one.

The Diplomat: Navigating the Catch-Up Conundrum

If you’re like me, you can get overwhelmed with all the streaming options at your fingertips. So, when you see a popular TV series topping Netflix’s charts and realize it’s already in its second or third season, there’s this little voice that chimes in, “Wait, I have to sit through a whole season or more just to catch up?” And, well, that can feel a bit like a mountain to climb. It’s so much easier to pick a movie instead—less of a time commitment, and you’re done in a couple of hours.

Sometimes, I’ll even catch myself doing the math: “Alright, if I watch two episodes a night, I can be caught up in about three weeks…” Then I remember that life gets busy and that long catch-up session doesn’t sound as appealing anymore. The older and busier I get, the less appealing it is to invest in a multi-season show.

That’s where The Diplomat comes in. The concept immediately intrigued me because I’m a fan of shows rooted in real-world industries—be it military, legal, political, or even professional sports. There’s something fascinating about seeing fictionalized but reality-inspired glimpses into these professions and subcultures. It’s like getting an insider’s peek, even if it’s dramatized. Shows set in these worlds are always a mix of eye-opening and thrilling, giving that “insider’s view” without the real-life stakes.
However, with The Diplomat already two seasons in, I had to pause.

Sixteen hours of content to catch up on? That’s almost two full workdays! Just thinking about that time commitment makes me wonder about everything else I could do instead—finish a book, tackle some chores, or even get some extra downtime. But then I figured, I can’t be the only one out there turned off by the idea of being behind on The Diplomat, right? So I decided to take one for the team—yes, you’re welcome! I’ll watch the first episode and give you my take on whether it’s worth catching up.

Before jumping in, though, I wanted to understand what I was getting into and did a quick search to get a bit of context. Here’s what I found out: The Diplomat is a political thriller created by Debora Cahn, who’s got a strong track record in high-stakes dramas like The West Wing and Homeland. I’ve enjoyed both those shows, so learning that Cahn is the showrunner got me excited. Plus, one of the producers, Alex Graves, directed multiple episodes, and he’s known for his work on Game of Thrones and The West Wing. With a team like that, the show seems primed to be compelling and high-quality, so this discovery definitely piqued my interest.

As I looked a bit further into diplomacy itself, I realized that I didn’t know much beyond the general idea. From my quick research, I learned that real-life diplomats—people like Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright, and Kofi Annan—have had major impacts on global politics. Their efforts in building alliances and handling delicate negotiations have changed history. For instance, Kissinger’s efforts in opening U.S.-China relations in the 1970s reshaped global trade, while Albright’s work helped secure peace in Eastern Europe post-Cold War.

When diplomacy is successful, it can foster trade, promote peace, and stabilize relations. But failure in diplomacy can mean escalating tensions, as we’ve seen in situations like the Syrian Civil War, where diplomacy fell short and the humanitarian impact has been enormous.

With that extra bit of context in mind, I’m ready to jump into the first episode of The Diplomat. Let’s see if it lives up to the impressive resumes of the people behind it and if it’s worth the time commitment for those of us still debating. Here we go!

Lost and Annoyed Halfway Through Episode One

The episode opens on an empty view of the ocean, with a massive British aircraft carrier coming into frame. Suddenly, the carrier explodes in a dramatic moment that sets the tone for the stakes of international diplomacy. We shift to Washington, D.C., where Ambassador Kate Wyler, played by Keri Russell, is packing for a trip and chatting with her husband, Hal. The scene is interrupted by a phone call from someone named Tim, and then news about the attack on the British aircraft carrier breaks. This immediately raises questions: Why were the British attacked? Kate is then urgently called by the White House.

My initial reaction is that this is a fantastic way to start the series—showing the stakes of diplomacy through an explosive terrorist attack. It injects a strong sense of urgency and momentum, hooking the viewer with the real-world implications of international relations.

Kate heads to the White House, where she briefs the president and Chief of Staff Billie. They inform her that she’s being assigned as the new U.S. Ambassador to London—not her husband Hal, who had been the likely candidate until he apparently said something unfavorable. Kate doesn’t seem thrilled about the assignment, but the president insists. The scene shifts to Kate and Hal speculating about who might be behind the attack, and then we learn that the vice president is about to resign—a detail that seems thrown in without much context.

When Kate and Hal arrive in London, the first glimpse of the U.S. ambassador’s residence is stunning—a vast estate with a mansion-like quality. The set design here is impressive; the elegant foyer, sweeping staircase, and artwork on the walls give it that classic old-English grandeur. This residence setting immediately sets up the sense of prestige and responsibility tied to Kate’s role.

There’s a moment with the residence manager, Frances, who makes a comment to Stuart, Kate’s Deputy Chief of Mission, about Kate inspecting the sheets in the bedroom. At this point, I’m not sure what to make of this interaction. Is this a hint at Kate’s quirky personality? Or is it setting up some conflict between Kate and Frances? It’s a bit vague.

As Kate meets her residence support team, there’s talk of a photo op involving a horse, which Kate immediately resists. This is now the third time Kate has shown a streak of stubbornness—first by pushing back on the president’s assignment, then with Frances’s comment about the sheets, and now resisting the photo op. It makes me wonder if Kate’s resistance to being “molded” for this position will be a recurring theme throughout the show.

The meeting wraps up with the support team suggesting outfit changes, further revealing how out of touch Kate is with British customs. She returns to her room, and Hal reminds her that her job is to patch things up with the Brits, as if she’s already losing focus.

Back at the embassy, Kate meets the CIA chief, who informs her that the aircraft carrier had made a recent stop in Bahrain. Meanwhile, Hal gets dragged into a conversation about art, where he pointedly remarks they aren’t politicians but career officials, subtly showing his disinterest in the ceremonial aspects of his wife’s position.

Then there’s a conversation between Kate and Stuart about Ganon, the Secretary of State. I have no idea what they’re talking about. The dialogue is dense with political details, and I feel like I’m in over my head, trying to follow a conversation without knowing the underlying dynamics. It’s frustrating, and I’m not sure if the show is intentionally leaving the audience in the dark to mimic Kate’s own sense of being overwhelmed, or if it’s just poor exposition.

Kate finally meets an important British official, though I’m not entirely sure who he is, and the scene is over before it adds any clarity. Meanwhile, Hal, trying to get a ride, pulls a stunt on the security guard to get himself driven to his destination.

Then Kate is back at the embassy, discussing Ganon with Stuart again—still without much explanation. At this point, I’m getting a bit irritated. I feel lost about who Ganon is and why he’s significant to the plot. It’s as if I’ve jumped in halfway through a season, but this is only the first episode.

Kate eventually meets Ganon, who agrees to keep the press out of the carrier explosion story for the day, but seems baffled about why Kate is in London when he intended her for a Middle Eastern assignment. It dawns on me that Ganon is the official Hal had previously offended, though the show barely clarifies this.
Finally, Kate pulls up to a memorial ceremony, and at this point, I pause the show. Am I supposed to be feeling lost, or is this just poor pacing?

I’m halfway through, and I feel like I need a road map to understand the significance of each character and detail. There’s a part of me that’s tempted to rewind and start over, but instead, I’m left annoyed. I’ll watch the remaining 22 minutes, hoping it clears things up, but so far, The Diplomat is off to a frustrating start.

Not Worth the Catch-Up Unless You’re Out of Options

As the first episode wraps up, we see Kate at a memorial, placing a wreath to honor those affected by the attack on the British carrier. Stuart approaches her, urgently informing her that Hal is talking to someone who has affiliations with racist groups. Stuart pulls Kate away, while Hal chooses to stay behind, disregarding the complications his presence might bring. I found this part intriguing—it hints at Hal as a wildcard in the story, potentially adding layers of conflict and intrigue by complicating Kate’s already challenging role.

As the plot unfolds, Kate and her team confirm that Iran was behind the attack. However, there’s a twist: the CIA chief informs Stuart that Ganon is holding up Kate’s clearance. This prompts Stuart to call Billie, who reveals that Ganon is unaware of a secret plan to groom Kate as the next vice president. Stuart notes this is a problem since Ganon seems intent on removing her.

This setup—the stakes for Kate as she’s tested for a potential future as vice president—is interesting, but it feels overly complex for a first episode. Stuart urges her to apologize to Ganon, nudging Kate into a reluctant photo op to maintain her position.

More about Kate’s personal life starts surfacing, adding new dimensions. We learn that Kate and Hal have propped up Hal’s career rather than hers, and their marriage is strained to the point of sleeping in separate beds. In an unexpected twist, it turns out that Hal is in on the plan to groom Kate for vice president, even though their marriage is rocky; he believes he can still win her back. The episode closes with a jarring moment: Hal is sedated by a blonde woman and driven away while Kate is occupied getting her makeup done.

My reaction to this final scene? Wow! I genuinely didn’t see that coming. Up until that moment, I’d felt a bit bored and even frustrated by the dense information and fast-paced political jargon that left me feeling lost. But this twist definitely piqued my interest. I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of The Diplomat—it has the hallmarks of a slow-burn thriller with political tension akin to House of Cards meets Homeland, but without the gripping engagement I’d hoped for.

So, my final verdict? If you have time on your hands and enjoy slow-burn political dramas, The Diplomat seems to hint at ramping up the stakes and intrigue in future episodes. However, the first episode didn’t hook me enough to commit to catching up. While I enjoyed certain parts and am somewhat curious about what happens next with Hal, I’m not invested enough to continue watching right now. This is one of those shows I’d return to only if I need something to watch and don’t have other options.

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