Netflix's The Diplomat Changed My Mind About Political Thrillers

I wasn’t averse to politics in the shows I watch, but I usually wanted another genre to do the heavy lifting. I gave Netflix’s The Diplomat a try when it premiered in 2023, and now I find myself impatiently waiting between seasons. Starring Keri Russell as Kate Wyler and Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler, supported by a strong ensemble, the show has won me over.

The series is strikingly character-driven. The troubled dynamic between the central husband-and-wife power couple sits front and center, while supporting arcs augment Kate and Hal Wyler’s attempt to balance lofty professional goals with an ailing marriage. Those characters earn their place in the spotlight rather than being window dressing.

When the show turns to unavoidable politicking, the scripts make buzzwords and jargon accessible. The Diplomat straddles both UK and US politics, but the political sequences mostly landed for me and made me feel like a fly on the wall rather than out in the cold.

United States, United Kingdom

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