The Diplomat Season 3 (Netflix)

[Romulan_spy]

The Diplomat season 3 dropped on Netflix last week. Anyone watching it?

I just finished it. It was ok but probably not as good as Season 2. There were a couple good WTF moments like

Spoiler: Hal

President Penn picks Hal to be her VP. That genuinely surprised me.

. I feel like the season took a bit too long to get to the "big crisis". But once we got there, the last couple of eps were very good. The ending leaves the door open for a season 4. But nothing beats the amazing cliffhanger of season 2.

Spoiler: The season big crisis

The big crisis this season kicks off when a Russian tells the CIA that he knows about the false flag op that destroyed the HMS Courageous. The White House goes into damage control. They decide to confess to the public about Roylin but blame the idea on former President Rayburn who died at the end of season 2 to cover for Penn. But the British PM backstabs the US and in the press conference, never mentions Roylin and just blames Rayburn for the whole thing. This ruins US-UK relations, causes the stock market to crash, causes massive anti-American protests and causes other allies to distance themselves from the US. Things further escalate when the Russians lose a sub off the coast of the UK that was carrying a Poseidon doomsday weapon, a nuclear powered underwater drone that carries a nuclear warhead. The British PM, pissed off at the US, wants to turn to China to recover the Russian sub. Kate has to find a way to convince the British PM to let the US retrieve the Poseidon before the Russians or the Chinese get it.

---

The plot twist at the end of the season was a bit of let down imo. Kate convinces the British PM to bury the Russian sub in concrete so nobody can get Poseidon, but she is unaware that US President Penn and her husband, the VP, secretly decided for the US to send a sub to take Poseidon. So basically, the US screwed over the UK again, stealing a weapon in their territorial waters, days after admitting to being part of the false flag plot. And she lied to the British PM again. So the season ends with UK, US, Russia or China, potentially going to war over the Poseidon weapon if the truth ever comes out.

I was glad to see Hal and Kate reconcile at the end of the season. The season does wrap up the relationships between the main characters pretty well.

 

[1001001]

It’s on my list.

Loved the first two seasons.

 

[tenmei]

Re - spoilers above ...

Spoiler: Crisis

The Poseidon is scarily a real weapon though the veracity on its capabilities is unclear -

Status-6 Oceanic Multipurpose System - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[John Clark]

We're planning on starting episode 4 later this week. Enjoyed the previous two seasons.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Our household didn't really care for the first season, so we never went back to it for Season 2.

 

[Romulan_spy]

Our household didn't really care for the first season, so we never went back to it for Season 2.

Personally, I think S2 is better. So you might want to try it.

 

[Owain Taggart]

^ Eh, maybe. What we didn't like was how the relationship squabbles kept taking over the narrative. They had become very distracting for us.

 

[tenmei]

^ Eh, maybe. What we didn't like was how the relationship squabbles kept taking over the narrative. They had become very distracting for us.

I think they relationship squabbles become fairly integral to the narrative, especially in the third season.

 

[Romulan_spy]

^ Eh, maybe. What we didn't like was how the relationship squabbles kept taking over the narrative. They had become very distracting for us.

Yeah, I can see that. If you are just interested in the geopolitical stuff, having Kate and Hal argue about their marriage could be distracting. And there is a lot more personal troubles in S3. But I think the relationship troubles between Kate and Hal are an important character arc in season 3. We get some big character development.

Spoilers if you want to know:

Spoiler: Kate and Hal

In S3, Kate and Hal's marriage is basically over. They agree to stay married in public because of their high profile jobs but to separate in their private lives. Kate has an affair. Hal fights with Kate about it. But in the end, they learn about why their marriage is not working. Kate ends her affair and her and Hal reconcile.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Yeah, I can see that. If you are just interested in the geopolitical stuff, having Kate and Hal argue about their marriage could be distracting.

I don't generally mind that kind of stuff. But we were all put off in how much emphasis was put on it. In the end, we just found it really tiring to see them always bicker. It really took the enjoyment of the show away from us.

 

[Romulan_spy]

I don't generally mind that kind of stuff. But we were all put off in how much emphasis was put on it. In the end, we just found it really tiring to see them always bicker. It really took the enjoyment of the show away from us.

There is definitely more of that in S2 and S3. So S2 and S3 might be rough for you to get through. But it does lead to some nice character development and resolution by the end of S3 IMO.

 

[Owain Taggart]

See, in terms of political dramas, I prefer Borgen, and while where were relationship issues in that series as well, it was much more organically done, and it all came away feeling very believable. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it. I consider it one of the best ever political dramas.