'The Diplomat' season 3 is sharp, sexy and savage - but one character detail nearly ruins everything

After being constantly nagged by a friend, who is a die-hard fan of Netflix’s “The Diplomat” and Keri Russell, of course, I decided to give it a watch. 

Now, I enjoy a good political/ espionage thriller. “Homeland”, “House of Cards”, “The West Wing”, “The Night Agent” and “The Recruit” have certainly heightened the appeal of the genre. 

Given the overwhelming amount of reality TV available on streaming platforms, the idea of immersing myself in something more thought-provoking was very appealing.

I didn’t have the patience to start from season one and dived straight into the third instalment, which has been trending on the streaming platform. 

There were parts of the show I thoroughly enjoyed, and parts that frustrated me. 

Let’s get into it. 

At the heart of the story is the ultimate power couple: Katherine "Kate" Wyler (Russell), newly appointed US Ambassador to the UK and her husband, Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), a former US Ambassador to Lebanon and Iraq, who is in a limbo moment in his career. 

The eight-part series opens on a tense note with Hal on a call with President William Rayburn, who dies after being informed of some disturbing news about Vice President Grace Hagen Penn (Allison Janney).

This incident creates a frenzied atmosphere as plans are afoot to secure Penn before she is sworn in. 

Meanwhile, Kate appears to be the frontrunner for the Vice President post. Amid weighing in on protocol, she works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that there is no backlash on Hal. 

However, President Penn chose Hal as her right hand, leaving Kate thrown for a loop and forced to accept that she’s now the Second Lady of the United States. 

Hal and Kate worked as a couple because she not only understood legislation, but she also knew how to finesse situations to ensure favourable outcomes. 

Hal’s impetuousness, on the other hand, made him a wild card. 

However, recent developments exposed the cracks in their marriage. Kate has grown weary of cleaning up her husband’s mess and playing second fiddle.

As such, they agree to a secret divorce but keep a united front for the cameras. Also, Kate decides to remain in London in her ambassador role.

Several story arcs run parallel to the woes of Hal and Kate. The main one involves a precarious relationship with the UK Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear), who, after being thrown to the wolves in another incident, is wary of all engagements with them. 

Although he has a soft spot for Kate, a situation involving a Russian submarine being found 12 miles off the UK coast, carrying a nuclear warhead, the "Poseidon", becomes a contentious issue for both countries. 

Much of the latter episodes centres on the back and forth around this issue and the political subterfuge in play. 

It doesn’t help that Kate’s new love interest is from the opposing side. 

The casting in this series is phenomenal. While Janney is celebrated for her comedic clout in “Mom”, she delivers a formidable performance in this serious role. 

She exudes confidence and proves quite the ballbuster, whether plotting strategies with her team or calling out her jealous and bored husband, Todd Penn (Bradley Whitford). 

The supporting story arcs that feed into the suspense include that of Austin Dennison (David Gyasi), UK Foreign Secretary; Eidra Park, CIA London Station Chief; Stuart Hayford (Ato Essandoh), Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in London; and Billie Appiah (Nana Mensah), White House Chief of Staff.

The writing is gripping. It includes all the angst of high-pressure situations in the political arena. At the same time, it has two protagonists that straddle that fine line between soap-esque drama and being a tour de force. 

Sewell, an industry veteran, masterfully colours outside the line in his role. Quietly cunning, he is both assertive and bold.

Now we get to the parts of the show that frustrated me - and it involves Russell, who, at 49, looks absolutely incredible, like time hasn’t passed since “Felicity”. She’s a phenomenal actress - that’s not in question.  

While her character is awe-inspiring when addressing politics and problem-solving, her sexual escapades are downright annoying. She comes across as indecisive and shallow in those intimate pursuits, which is incongruous with her overall personality. 

The ending of season three, where Kate, with all her best intentions, is blindsided in the worst way, certainly sets the tone for the next instalment. 

Rating: *** solid and enjoyable, though not groundbreaking.