‘The Diplomat’ Season 2 Review: Keri Russell Is Stellar in Netflix’s Sharpest, Silliest Drama Series
“Politics.”
When CIA station chief Eidra Park (Ali Ahn) wants more information about a relationship that’s critical to ongoing negotiations, Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) has a one-word response: “Politics.” But like everything else in “The Diplomat,” Netflix’s meticulous and maniacal drama series, it’s not just what was said, but also how what’s said is said, what was said before, and, of course, what’s not said.
More from IndieWire
When Kate says “politics,” she’s being dismissive, sure, but she’s still telling her friend and ally all she needs to know. By squeezing her eyes shut before opening them to deliver a firm, unflinching gaze, Kate’s saying that’s all she’s going to share on the matter. But just a sentence before, when asked about her “unusually close” relationship with U.K. Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi), she also said, “We’re slightly less close than we were, like, a day ago.” That “like” is doing a lot of work here. Kate typically speaks with deliberate, requisite precision. Her words are chosen carefully and deployed with speed and purpose. The fact that she slows down to add a verbalized comma indicates to Eidra that her waning closeness to Secretary Dennison may be of a less professional, more personal variety. Finally, what’s not said may matter most: Kate isn’t saying she can’t speak to Dennison. She’s also not saying why, exactly, it’s going to be harder than it once was when she does speak to Dennison. She’s certainly not saying that she almost had sex with Dennison a few nights ago, her husband knows about it, and there’s still a remote chance they could still hook up.
All she says is, “Politics.” ?????♀?
Turning a single word into a cornucopia of information is, in short, what makes “The Diplomat” work. Through a melodic flow of political parlance and an impressive stable of sprightly actors, creator Debora Cahn stages a spirited play about political relationships — and relationship politics — that never feels stodgy or stupefying, despite an ungodly amount of dialogue. Much of the success is owed to Russell’s immaculate lead performance, deftly blending momentous intimations via the smallest gestures, before turning on a dime to deliver big, boisterous, off-the-cuff outbursts. She sells “The Diplomat’s” spycraft as convincingly as she does its preposterous twists, knowing both are critical to audiences enjoying their fleeting, fictional glimpse into global politics.
And In Season 2, boy oh boy, does Russell have to sell. Picking up in the aftermath of Season 1’s car bombing, Kate quickly finds herself in a number of pickles. There’s the immediate impact on her husband, Hal (Rufus Sewell), who she was preparing to leave before he nearly got blown to bits. That also carries shockwaves for her anticipated fling with Dennison, who’s outwardly understanding about her re-devotion to post-explosion Hal, but inwardly harbors noticeable hostility (clearly driven by his scorned feelings). Their fractured bond then spills over into Kate’s work life, where she needs her spurned almost-lover not only to help figure out who blew up Hal (and a few other staff members), but also to determine how it relates to the British warship attack that’s caused continued chaos for America’s top diplomat.
Clocking in at six episodes instead of eight, “The Diplomat” Season 2 feels less weighty than its original incarnation. That’s good news for anyone who immediately latched onto the love triangles and will-they-or-won’t-they pairings (not to mention those of us who never joined our high school’s model U.N.) It’s not that “The Diplomat” is unconvincing in its high-stakes, fast-moving, comms-heavy depiction of life as a U.S. ambassador — it’s just that it’s only convincing enough to go along with, rather than invest in. The romances are relatable, inferential, and fun. The diplomacy can be fun, too — especially when Allison Janney shows up as the Vice President of the United States to give her slovenly would-be replacement a literal dressing down — and keeping up with the hidden meaning behind every wink and nudge is a rewarding bit of at-home sleuthing, as well.
But the ins and outs of who did what war crime tend to mushroom beyond belief. If the twists are just fun for fun’s sake, they do the job with pizzazz. But trusting that every little detail whispered between spies actually justifies the increasingly shocking complications they encounter may be asking too much — at least when it feels like we’re expected to take every grave turn of events with the same seriousness as the characters onscreen.
“The Diplomat” is dumb-fun executed with keen acuity. Its talky theatricality and soapy melodrama is bolstered by more political jargon than a CNN Election Night roundtable (and with smarter dialogue). Meanwhile, its emphasis on political performance — conveying information through calculated verbiage, deliberate body language, and, yes, even carefully considered clothing — leaves plenty of room for the excellent cast to strut their stuff.
Russell, who earned an Emmy and a SAG nomination for the first season, understands the assignment perfectly. (I like to imagine she recognizes “The Diplomat” as a lighter, less-distressing version of “The Americans” where she can lean into her comedy chops without abandoning her signature intensity.) That she gets to be silly feels so liberating in a drama like this, and watching her tear into scenes where she goes bug-eyed over a clandestine affair is an ebullient delight. Sewell is a sturdy conspiratorial charmer, although he finds added grace this season when Hal is forced into vulnerable positions. Rory Kinnear steals some of the best lines as the conceited British prime minister, and Ato Essandoh, as Kate’s deputy chief, plays the ever-flustered man surrounded by extremely capable women with admirable humor, charm, and confidence.
Perhaps best of all, “The Diplomat” is proof that prestige dramas don’t have to strive to do too much, and that frothy entertainment doesn’t have to settle for less. There’s a happy middle-ground — even in a political show, even in a political show being released right now — that’s challenging and enjoyable, considered and carefree. Whatever way you take its message, “The Diplomat” will make it work.
Grade: B+
“The Diplomat” Season 2 premieres Thursday, October 31 on Netflix. All six episodes will be released at once.
Best of IndieWire
Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
