I Got Into The Diplomat Solely For Season 3’s Upcoming West Wing Reunion, But There Are Definitely Reasons I Should Have Been Watching Already
It’s been a quarter-century since Aaron Sorkin launched us to President Jed Bartlet and his senior workers on The West Wing, and to this present day that is still one of the crucial rewatchable collection in tv historical past. So when I heard that The Diplomat Season 3, premiering this fall on the 2025 TV schedule, would function a reunion between Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford, I knew I needed to see it. I’m now via Season 1, and I’m kicking myself for not stepping into this Netflix collection sooner.
The West Wing is such a comfort-watch for me. So far as I’m involved, there are few issues higher than Aaron Sorkin’s sensible, fast dialogue being delivered by sensible actors enjoying well-intentioned characters whose solely objective is to go away the world a bit higher than they discovered it. The Diplomat doesn’t fairly rise to that degree of idealism, however it’s an excellent enjoyable experience that I in all probability ought to have gotten on earlier.
Allison Janney And Bradley Whitford Taking part in Spouses Excited Me As A West Wing Fan
In terms of political collection basically, I’ve dipped greater than a toe into the style, having fun with reveals like Scandal, Veep and Home of Playing cards however by no means trying to take the time to look at every thing obtainable. Keri Russell’s collection The Diplomat all the time fell on my record alongside issues like The People and Designated Survivor as one thing I figured I would take pleasure in however by no means was a precedence.
Then, hastily, The Diplomat turned a precedence. Allison Janney’s casting in Season 2 had gotten my consideration, however with Bradley Whitford becoming a member of Season 3 — as Janney’s character’s husband! — yeah, that sealed the deal.
I’ve now streamed the 8-episode first season with my Netflix subscription, and despite the fact that neither of The West Wing actors have appeared but, I’m all-in for this thriller starring Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell.
The Diplomat Has Some Similarities To The West Wing, But It’s Nice In Its Personal Means
I received’t get into any spoilers about The Diplomat, however the story facilities round Keri Russell’s Kate Wyler, who unexpectedly will get appointed to function the US ambassador to the UK following an assault on a British plane service that killed dozens. She doesn’t understand it, however she’s additionally interviewing to take over as vice chairman of america.
There are undoubtedly elements of the Netflix collection that really feel like The West Wing — notably once they get into the weeds of worldwide relations. Jargon is spit backwards and forwards throughout a convention desk and knowledge is rapidly delivered to Kate as she walks unexpectedly from one assembly to the subsequent, walk-and-talk fashion. Each reveals additionally inject loads of humor into in any other case critical or mundane conditions.
The Diplomat is a thriller, although, full with plot twists, tons of behind-the-scenes scheming and a significant cliffhanger on the finish of Season 1. Now, The West Wing has offered among the finest cliffhangers in TV historical past, however I’m extra more likely to really feel a way of satisfaction over some laws being handed on than to get bamboozled over who double-crossed whom to trigger a global incident.
I’d additionally argue that no relationship on The West Wing is as difficult, infuriating and satisfying because the one between Kate Wyler and her (generally estranged?) husband Hal.
The Diplomat Is Keri Russell’s Present, But Rufus Sewell Threatens To Steal It
Kate Wyler is form of a multitude — she spills meals on her garments, she doesn’t give speeches, her hair is commonly in every single place (Keri Russell’s hair is all the time its personal character, is it not?), and generally she doesn’t even attempt to conceal her hangover. I assume she’s nice, however it may be fairly onerous to compete with what Rufus Sewell is doing as Hal.
Hal Wyler is a former US ambassador himself, who has been politically hamstrung after calling the Secretary of State a struggle prison. As formidable as ever, although, he appears to all the time be about three steps forward of all people else, enacting schemes to learn Kate or, extra typically, himself.
Simply as Hal constantly finds methods to upstage his spouse as he seemingly positions himself for a return to energy, Rufus Sewell does threaten to steal the present from Keri Russell at instances. He brings an power to each scene, as a result of it’s so onerous to know what he’s as much as, and what has he already finished that we received’t find out about till later?
For occasion, Kate has already determined to divorce Hal, and he’s going together with it. Nonetheless, he additionally is aware of {that a} divorce would finish her possibilities of changing into VP, and he’d favor to remain married anyway. How does she really feel about that? It’s tremendous difficult.
Romances Add A Layer To The Diplomat’s Characters That The West Wing Lacked
Kate and Hal’s chemistry is hearth, however so is her attraction to UK International Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi). Within the eight episodes I’ve seen to date, Keri Russell’s character is caught up in two “will they/received’t they” conditions, and that is merely not one thing The West Wing ever spent an excessive amount of time with.
Certain, there was Josh Lyman and Donna Moss (Bradley Whitford and Janel Moloney), however they didn’t go previous inappropriate office flirtation till the very finish of the collection (and so they actually misplaced their luster after they did get collectively).
CJ Cregg (Allison Janney) sporadically fought the chemistry between her and White Home correspondent Danny Concannon (Timothy Busfield) on the grounds of it being a battle of curiosity, and naturally we bought some good moments between Martin Sheen’s President Bartlet and first girl Abbey (Stockard Channing) — “J’accuse mon petit fromage!”
Nonetheless, the way in which the relationships in The Diplomat are weaved into the day-to-day happenings makes for an entire new layer of messy. As a result of along with Hal noticing the chemistry between his spouse and the UK international secretary, he additionally clocked Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Heyford’s (Ato Essandoh) relationship with the CIA station chief.
The Forged Is Unbelievable, And I Haven’t Even Seen Allison Janney Or Bradley Whitford But
It ought to go with out saying, however I’ll say it anyway — The Diplomat’s forged is unquestionably a part of what makes this price watching. Keri Russell is even nominated for a 2025 Emmy Award after additionally receiving a nod final 12 months. You’ve additionally bought Rory Kinnear because the prime minister, Michael McKean because the president and so many extra. I can undoubtedly see Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford becoming proper in.
It’s humorous to me that The West Wing is what lastly made me hit Play on The Diplomat, and I’m utterly bought on the present earlier than both of the 2 Aaron Sorkin gamers even make an look. I know showrunner Debora Cahn was afraid casting Whitford would flip her present right into a “West Wing cowl band,” however I need to assume there are extra individuals like me who will discover The Diplomat via that.
I’ll undoubtedly be tuning into Season 3 when it hits the 2025 Netflix schedule on Thursday, October 16 (after I watch the 6-episode second season, in fact), and when I do, will probably be as a result of I am into the present, not JUST due to The West Wing reunion.
