Keri Russell and Debora Cahn have crafted a compelling series with The Diplomat that, if they so choose, deserves to be an ongoing fixture in our entertainment landscape. The third season stands as a testament to their ability to maintain and even elevate the quality of storytelling, keeping audiences engaged year after year.

In a television landscape once saturated with political dramas that often failed to innovate, The Diplomat emerges as a refreshing exception. This series manages to inject excitement and authenticity into the complex world of geopolitics, proving once again in its third season that it is both captivating and expertly crafted.

From the outset, The Diplomat has been a riveting exploration of the intricacies of political life, as seen through the eyes of U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Kate Wyler, portrayed by Russell. The show has consistently struck a delicate balance between Kate’s personal challenges and her professional duties. This equilibrium is something many political dramas have struggled to achieve, yet The Diplomat handles it with remarkable finesse.

Season 3 picks up in the aftermath of a dramatic conclusion to the previous season, where the unexpected death of President Rayburn, played by Michael McKean, sets the stage for new political dynamics. Vice President Grace Penn, portrayed by Allison Janney, ascends to the presidency, which complicates matters for Kate and her husband Hal, played by Rufus Sewell. They are aware that Penn orchestrated the attack on the HMS Courageous and conspired with Meg Roylin, played by Celia Imrie, to falsely implicate the Russians in the tragic event that claimed the lives of numerous British sailors.

While avoiding specific spoilers, it is worth noting that Season 3 cleverly defies viewer expectations, steering away from the predictable narrative of a simple power struggle between Hal, Kate, and President Penn. Instead, the series introduces new complexities, especially as a fresh vice-presidential candidate is needed, shifting the political landscape even further. This season continues to build on the momentum of its predecessors, offering a thrilling and unpredictable ride for its audience.

That is just one of the things that makes The Diplomat not only the most thrilling political drama on television, but the most cunning, as well. From start to finish, all eight episodes breeze by with alacrity as Cahn makes a compelling argument about the way that we interact with our allies and adversaries, both on a global scale and on a much more molecular level. Smartly, the series avoids the pitfall of series that came before, somehow ensuring that 24 episodes centered around the same political issue can still be interesting.

In keeping the story focused on the attack of the HMS Courageous, albeit different aspects of the lead-up and the aftermath, The Diplomat becomes a masterclass in storytelling and keeping the audience interested, even in the face of a story that should feel played out. At no point, however, will viewers reach for the remote to turn off the show as the gripping narrative involving the professional and personal struggles of the titular character digs it claws into you and does not let go. It’s a shock that this show keeps hitting the bullseye season after season and still remains largely unnoticed by audiences who complain about a lack of compelling TV.

There’s also the matter of Season 3’s inclusion of Bradley Whitford, a casting that initially felt like a stunt intended to appease nostalgic fans of The West Wing. I get it, we’re all desperate to get a fix of that feel-good political energy, but if I can be completely honest, a part of me initially rolled my eyes at the thought of Whitford stepping in to play Todd Penn, the husband of Janney’s character.

Reader, I am thrilled to admit that my first instinct was wrong. WAY wrong. Not only does Cahn, whose IMDB page reports The West Wing as one of her earliest writing gigs, expertly weave in Whitford’s FGOTUS character — side note: what a horrible acronym — but writes for him in a way that feels so lived in and experienced. Upon watching even a brief scene, it’s easy to understand why this show pulled in an ace like Whitford to not only deliver a quiet and powerful performance, but a necessary and comfortable dynamic with Janney. These two have it and they always have.

Whitford’s casting speaks not only to the care and consideration that goes into each role, but the time and effort put into every aspect of one of the best shows on television. The Diplomat remains on top, even if its primary protagonist lives in a constant state of crisis. It’s disheartening that everyone and their mother is not watching this show. Their loss.

The Diplomat Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

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