Keri Russell followers rejoice — The Diplomat is again, however is it higher than ever, or coasting by on what made it so addictive in season one?
The Netflix unique collection follows Russell’s Kate Wyler, just lately appointed United States ambassador to the UK, who faces struggles juggling her high-profile new job and her turbulent marriage to a outstanding politician.
Season 2 led to a cliffhanger shocker that left followers craving extra. Now the newest season is streaming, and it’s one in all Netflix’s hottest reveals proper now.
Watch With Us breaks down whether or not The Diplomat season 3 is value watching or if the drama is previous its glory days.
Is ‘The Diplomat’ Season 3 Any Good?
Sure. Whereas the primary two seasons of The Diplomat acquired largely constructive critiques, critics nonetheless gave it some flak for the dramatic licenses taken, extreme melodrama and overly “talky” nature. The collection was seen extra as soapy, entertaining fluff than actual, intelligently written political drama, however it appears like season 3 is thrashing these allegations. The present has efficiently constructed off of the inspiration it laid out with better-established characters and pacing, whereas getting again to its core strengths and turning into one thing new.
That is partially due to the place season 2 left off, with the president of the US dying from a coronary heart assault, his VP (Allison Janney) taking up and selecting Kate’s husband, Hal (Rufus Sewell), as a substitute of Kate to be the brand new vice chairman. This provides further layers of battle to Kate’s life — not solely is she coping with defusing worldwide tensions, she additionally should cope with battle from the brand new president who handed on her and her more and more crumbling marriage. With a lavish narrative backdrop to intensify the stakes, the present actually excels as an erotically-charged story about love and work.
Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell’s Chemistry Ups the Ante
Sewell performs Kate’s husband Hal, a profession diplomat identical to his spouse. Nevertheless, he’s launched to the present whereas unemployed. Initially, he’s merely the former U.S. ambassador to Lebanon and finds himself struggling to cope with his lack of an official job title. That every one adjustments on the outset of season 3, having been just lately promoted to vice chairman of the US and now ready that doesn’t simply overshadow his spouse, however straight steps on her toes.
Whereas some critics felt that the push-and-pull dynamic between Sewell and Russell within the first two seasons turned considerably repetitive, Hal’s new job and their separation deliver their relationship into brand-new territory, and Hal manages to develop into a extra likable character within the course of. It additionally permits Kate’s trysts with a pair sof uitors to develop into extra realized, whereas flashbacks to earlier instances in Hal and Kate’s relationship add extra depth to their dynamic, and the 2 actors play off each other fantastically.
The Narrative Is Even Sharper and Sooner
Season 1 had the onerous job of getting to spend further time build up its characters, and whereas season 2 bore a extra welcome, sooner tempo, it was slightly too brisk at solely six episodes. With season 3, the collection returns to its unique size of eight episodes, and now with all its gamers established — together with that sooner pacing — the present confidently explodes into an professional equilibrium of tone, character and high-stakes thrills.
The Diplomat expertly weaves genres, navigating between romance, comedy, thriller and political drama with ease. With so many parts, characters and plot threads concerned, it might be simple for the third season to really feel prefer it’s bitten off greater than it could actually chew. As an alternative, the writers pull off a wonderful balancing act, with every episode ending on a satisfying notice, and the characters are nicely fleshed out to be flawed however empathetic. Season 3 is in the end a implausible rollercoaster trip.
The Tone Is Darker, And It’s Just for the Present’s Profit
Along with the official separation between Hal and Kate, a number of issues are going unsuitable in season 3 of The Diplomat. For one, the president simply died (whom Hal could have unintentionally killed), his successor selected Kate’s husband over her, and Kate accused this new president of hatching a terrorist plot. Plus, a large worldwide disaster raises the stakes of doable nuclear annihilation from a rogue state.
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Season 3 turns into a pure powder keg of catastrophe, and Hal and Kate’s separation could appear to be on the backside of the “downside totem pole.” Nevertheless, this new relationship dynamic solely provides to the emotional depth of the present because it considers one of many collection’ most basic questions: what’s the private price of political management? Maybe the private and emotional sacrifices made within the title of energy are extra disastrous than the politics themselves.
