‘The Diplomat’ Season 1 Recap: Here’s Everything You Need to Remember Before Season 2 Comes to Netflix
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: “The Diplomat” quickly became a must-watch series after its debut, quickly earning a renewal for a second season. The show follows Katherine (Kate) Wyler, a crisis management expert in the complex world of international diplomacy. Initially intended to meet the challenges in Afghanistan, her trajectory takes a sudden turn when she is reassigned to London after the attack on a British naval ship.
As tensions rise, suspicion turns to Iran, giving rise to a complex web of political intrigue. Here’s a quick recap of Season 1 to catch you up before Season 2 releases.
Why was Katherine Wyler sent to England?
A still from “The Diplomat” (@netflix)
In response to the alleged Iranian attack on the HMS Courageous, U.S. President Rayburn and his Chief of Staff, Billie, summon Ambassador Katherine Wyler to the White House. Kate, who was initially posted to Kabul, is redirected to England to ease tensions with the British, as it appears the attack is retaliation against American foreign policy. Before Kate even arrives, Billie privately informs Kate’s deputy chief of mission, Stuart Hayford, of the real reason for her reassignment: she is being considered for the position of vice president. President Rayburn, both aging and a little impulsive, needs a successor. Its current vice president is expected to take a leave of absence and is considering resigning.
Only a few people know about it, including Kate’s husband, Hal Wyler, a well-known and often controversial American ambassador. He travels with Kate to England, ostensibly to support her, even though she is openly frustrated by his approach, influence and public reputation.
What’s going on with Kate and Hal Wyler’s wedding?
Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell in “The Diplomat” (@netflix)
From the start, it’s clear that Kate and Hal’s marriage is fragile. They have a comfortable relationship, but intimacy is absent. Their ongoing divorce process complicates matters, as Hal insists on staying by her side to help her pass her vice presidential exam, even as she struggles with his frustrations over her public persona and past controversies.
Hal is charming, a little arrogant, and notoriously difficult. Yet he seems to understand the dynamics of American politics. When Hayford asks him about the divorce, Hal jokes, “No one with the temperament to win a campaign should be responsible for anything” and “No one who loves power should have it.” “Essentially, Kate has to prove herself right for the vice presidency without even knowing it, whether she wants the role or not.
Why does Ganon want to have Kate removed?
Keri Russell as Kate Wyler in “The Diplomat” (@netflix)
Kate has no interest in the vice presidency. She is focused on real change, as evidenced by her repeated calls to Kabul, where she is frustrated that reducing the situation to “women’s health care” minimizes the atrocities occurring there. She also hates what Hal calls “the Cinderella thing”, referring to her whirlwind tour of London.
Her role is to smile, visit the Foreign Office, attend meetings, lay memorial wreaths and even pose for British Vogue in a horse-drawn carriage. But almost everything goes wrong along the way.
Kate cannot act officially until she presents her credentials to the Foreign Office and the monarchy. However, before she can do so, she is dragged into a meeting with Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge, who fears that President Rayburn will make a reckless public statement blaming Iran without solid evidence. The British government wants Kate to calm the American response, but Secretary of State Miguel Ganon, suspecting Hal’s influence, deliberately delays the approval of her credentials to give him reason to remove her from her post.
When CIA station chief Eidra Park informs Hayford of Ganon’s blockade, he tells Kate. In response, she relies on the “Cinderella” image, making herself an overnight media sensation to make it harder for Ganon to take her out.
Who is responsible for the explosion of the British plane in season 1 of “The Diplomat”?
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Throughout the season, Kate faces high-pressure meetings and tense negotiations as she works to resolve the issue diplomatically. As she engages with various diplomats, including British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison, she begins to sense something darker at play. The blame shifts between Iran and Russia, but Kate and Dennison eventually by discovering the truth. Russian assassin Lenkov and British Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge were behind the attack. Dennison suspects Trowbridge’s involvement and informs Kate, who pieces everything together. While Dennison reveals that Trowbridge plans to eliminate his co-conspirator, Kate focuses more on protecting her husband and other officials caught in the web of danger.
How did season 1 of “The Diplomat” end?
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Season 1 of The Diplomat ended with a dramatic cliffhanger and a second explosion, leaving many fates uncertain. After a formal event, Kate goes out with Dennison for a casual chat. During their conversation, they realized that the British Prime Minister was the mastermind behind the explosion in the first episode. He had conspired with Lenkov, the leader of a group of Russian mercenaries, to finance and carry out the attack.
Before Kate can warn anyone or reach her husband Hal, Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Hayford, office worker Ronnie, and Deputy Merrit Grove, their car explodes right in front of her. With the flames raging and the fate of her soon-to-be ex-husband unknown, the season ends without resolving these burning questions.
Is Hal Wyler Alive After ‘The Diplomat’ Season 1 Explosion?
Yes, Hal Wyler is still alive at the end of season 1 of “The Diplomat.” Although his condition was not revealed at the time, the season 2 trailer confirms his survival. In the new footage, Kate is seen rushing to a hospital after the second explosion, fearing for Hal’s life. She finds him seriously injured, with cuts, bruises and a limp that makes walking difficult. Their marriage, already strained throughout season 1, appears to be at a breaking point. The constant bickering and heated arguments had caused Kate to seriously consider ending their relationship. The survival of their marriage will be revealed in season 2 of “The Diplomat.”
Trailer for season 2 of “The Diplomat”