The Cinderella Thing – As the episode opens, HMS Courageous, a British aircraft carrier, off the coast of Iran explodes. Katherine “Kate” Wyler (Keri Russell) is packing for Kabul when a call comes in about the explosion. A news report says 25 servicemen aboard the ship are confirmed dead. Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) says the White House wants her to give a briefing.
US President William Rayburn (Michael Mckean) believes the strike is a message from Iran. Kate tells him there is no proof Iran ordered the strike. Billie Appiah (Nana Mensah) says they want her to be the ambassador in London. Kate reminds them of her duty in Kabul. Billie promises to handle it. President Rayburn says Hal won’t be going anywhere after calling the Secretary of State a “war criminal.”
Hal suggests Iran ordered the strike on the British aircraft carrier. Kate tries to assure him that Iran just wants to get their oil back. She says ISIS, China, or Russia may be responsible. He tells her there is no way Russia would blow up a British aircraft carrier.
Billie warns Deputy Chief of Mission, Stuart Hayford (Ato Essandoh) that the vice president will resign in six months. She asks him to check out one of their replacement prospects, Kate Wyler. He and Gwen Hempill (Christine Kavanagh) from the Foreign Office greet Kate and Hal as they step off the plane in London. (The number of casualties is now 28). They’re greeted by Frances Munning (Penny Downie) upon arrival at Winfield House.
Hayford watches a news report about the vice president skipping the Situation Room meeting. Ronnie (Jess Chanliau) says Prime Minister Nicol Towbridge (Rory Kinnear) requests Kate to sit in on a 12:00 conference call with the US President. She says if Secretary of State Ganon isn’t on the call, she shouldn’t be either. They notify her of the official credential presentation at Buckingham Palace. Hal suggests embracing the “Cinderella Thing.” Refusing to play the part, she says her black suit will do. Hayford agrees to scratch it before inviting them to a briefing at the embassy. She says Hal won’t be going with them.
Kate tells Hal the memorial for the naval casualties is set for 3pm before. He smells her armpits several times before she is satisfied. He suggests staying focused on fixing things with the British even though President Rayburn will want to discuss NATO. She says her approach will be different than his.
Embassy London – CIA Chief of Station London, Eidra Park (Ali Ahn) shows Kate drone footage of the damaged HMS Courageous. She says instability in a propeller was detected en route to join the United States for military exercises in the Indian Ocean. The aircraft carrier shifted course to the Royal Navy Base in Bahrain to be repaired. Hayford suggests it wasn’t planned. Kate asks if any weapon fragments have been found. Park says the investigation hasn’t been intensified while bodies are being pulled out of the water. Kate listens while President Rayburn describes the impact of the strike as a “horror show.”
After explaining how Ronald Vayle because an American ambassador, Hal asks Pippa (Anna Francolini) where his driver is at. She says he doesn’t have a designated driver before offering to call him a taxi.
Kate tells Hayford that President Rayburn suggested carpet-bombing Tehran. The casualties are now 32. She describes the PM’s response as “polite” before promising to try to tone it down a notch. He says Secretary Ganon will probably speak with UAE and Saudi officials before calling British officials. Hal calls to complain about not having a driver. She tells him Ganon hasn’t spoken with the Brits yet because he is stirring up strive within the Sunni coalition. He says Ganon is a “moron” who shouldn’t be her boss. She voices concern about Ganon’s inaction in Kabul. He suggests bringing it to the British Foreign Secretary, Austin Dennison (David Gyasi) attention. She reminds him of the order of succession. He accuses her of covering Ganon’s ass.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – Kate tells Dennison that Ganon wants to be fully prepared before calling him. He warns the aircraft carrier is unfortunately drifting toward Iran. He pulls her into a briefing with Prime Minister Trowbridge.
Failing to convince a police officer (David Buttle) to give him a lift, Hal steps out in front of a vehicle. The officer agrees to give him a lift to the memorial.
Kate tells Hayford the Brits want President Rayburn to remain on the sideline while they set the tone. Hayford tells her to let Ganon deal with it. She says they expect her to do it. He reminds her that Dennison tracked her down. She suggests Hal set it up which is risky.
Kate tells Ganon the prime minister has concerns about the message President Rayburn may send to the public. He reminds her the president was calling to express condolence for the 30 servicemen killed in the strike. She says more specifically, the threat to light up Iran. He denies the president made the statement. She says it was his exact words. When he asks for a readout, she admits to being on the call. He tells her to assure the British Prime Minister, the president isn’t going to “light up” Iran. She suggests it would be better coming from him.
Greenwich Naval Memorial – Kate places a wreath at the memorial when Hayford informs her of Hal speaking with Meg Roylin (Celia Imrie). He says Trowbridge fired her after she helped build his campaign. She tries to stop Hal but he insists she meets Roylin. Hayford calls for Kate to be immediately escorted to her vehicle. Hal apologizes to Roylin before approaching the memorial.
Embassy London – Ronny says social media shows Kate leaving the memorial in a police cruiser. Kate questions if they are referring to Hal. Eidra says their hasty exit raised security concerns. Israeli satellite detected a fast boat potentially belonging to Iran near Sirik, an Iranian coastal village. Kate informs them of Ganon’s promise to keep President Rayburn quiet for 24 hours. She orders Hayford to cancel her Town Hall speech so she can talk to Dennison before leaving. Eidra tells Hayford that Ganon requests Kate’s clearance be slow-rolled. They agree Ganon wants to get rid of Kate. Park and Hayford are intimately involved.
Billie admits Ganon isn’t aware of the president asking Kate to take the lead. Hayford warns he is trying to force Kate out. He says Hal who believes he is Jesus Christ set up a meeting with Kate and the Trowbridge. She reminds him of the people loving Hal. She assures him it is just a test to see what she can handle.
Hayford suggests Kate apologize to Ganon to get him off her back. She says once the tone is set by the Brits, he will have already forgotten. He warns she won’t last a week once Ganon convinces everyone it was Hal. She agrees to the Buckingham credential presentation, gown, and all.
Hal assures Kate she will be famous. She admits to not wanting fame. The number of casualties has increased to 41. Hayford and Frances briefly discuss Kate checking the sheets in the guestroom. He suggests Hal and Kate sleep in separate beds. Kate informs him that Hal will leave once she is on her feet. He warns it is a two-person job. She asks at what point should she have informed the president of her failed marriage when he asked her to do him a solid.
Hayford tells Hal that Kate can’t be nominated for vice president if they’re in the process of getting divorced. Hal promises to convince Kate to take him back. Hayford threatens to tell Billie if Kate isn’t on board. Hal warns telling her will only convince her to screw it up. They climb aboard the Buckingham carriage. Pippa says Kate looks like a princess.
A woman drugs Hal before the driver pulls away. The episode comes to an end.
The Diplomat Synopsis
Kate Wyler’s mission changes when the British aircraft carrier, HMS Courageous, explodes off the coast of Iran, killing 41 servicemen. President Rayburn appoints her as US Ambassador to the United Kingdom. US officials believe the strike is linked to their confiscation of an Iranian oil tanker. White House Chief of Staff Appiah calls on Deputy Chief of Mission Hayford to keep a close eye on Kate because the president is considering her for the next vice president.
Kate’s husband and long-time diplomat, Hal Wyler pulls some strings to get Kate a sit-down with British Prime Minister Trowbridge. Rayburn’s threat to carpet-bomb Iran concerns British officials. When Kate brings it to Ganon’s attention, he says it’s an empty threat but agrees to keep the president quiet for 24 hours. Hayford and Park believe Ganon will lay the blame on Hal to drive Kate out. She changes her mind about the fancy credential presentation at Buckingham Palace.
Hayford finds out Kate and Hal are getting divorced. Hal asks him to not tell Billie because Kate will take him back. Hayford refuses to keep quiet unless she is on board.
A woman drugs Hal while Kate gets her makeup done for the credential presentation.
The Diplomat Review
The show jumps into a strike on a British aircraft carrier. Three or four scenes in, the show becomes all about Kate. She is more comfortable taking a backseat to Hal’s diplomatic career than being in the political spotlight.
Kate’s indecisiveness, lack of confidence, and dislike of publicity and glamour do not make her a good candidate for US ambassador, let alone, the vice president. If she can’t stand up to Hal, how will she ever stand up to the overconfident, aggressive, crude politician?
The flat one-liners were inappropriately timed and on the verge of vulgarity. The storyline has a myriad of predictable, cringeworthy clichés. The acting is hit-and-miss.
The episode deserves a 6. Get more The Diplomat recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Our onsite advertising buildings brand awareness.
The Diplomat Cast
- Katherine “Kate” Wyler (Kerri Russell)
- Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell)
- British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi)
- Deputy Chief of Mission Stuard Hayford (Ato Essandoh)
- CIA Chief of Station London Eidra Park (Ali Ahn)
- British Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear)
- White House Chief of Staff Billie Appiah (Nana Mensah)
- US Secretary of State Miguel Ganon (Miguel Sandoval)
- US President William Rayburn (Michael Mckean)
- Former Prime Minister advisor Margaret “Meg” Roylin (Celia Imrie)
- Cecilia Dennison (T’Nia Miller)
- Ronnie (Jess Chanliau)
- Pippa (Anna Grancolini)
Where To Watch The Diplomat
The Diplomat premiered on Netflix on April 20, 2023.
Where Was The Diplomat Filmed
Filming locations include the Cotswolds and London, including the Windfield House near Regent’s Park.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
It’s not the worst show ever. One has to get past that point where they realize it is not going to be some kind of spy thriller but it’s 30% light comedy. That was evident as soon as you hear the soundtrack and see that Lenny of Lenny amd Squiggy (Laverne and Shirley) is the president and Rory Kinnear as the stubling, bumbling Prime Minister. The gist of the show will be her relationship to Hal, and that will make it an additional 30% rom com. So the other 40% will be a mix of political and diplomatic intrigue, twists and turns, and red herrings.
Not that bad if expectations are set correctly. Believe me, I wanted it to be a Clear and Present Danger type show but it won’t be. And I guess that’s OK. As long g as Rufus Sewell continues pouring out the charisma it will be enough. Least I hope.
Yep. That sounds about right to me. I am thinking Kate and Hayford might get involved at some point with everything going on with Kate and Hal. This reminds me a bit of Madam Secretary which was enjoyable early on too. I just hope it doesn’t try to get too complicated and confusing which seems to be happening a little in episode two. We’ll see though, but the first episode was watchable enough.
Agreed that EP 2 changed the tone more than just a bit. I may ve eating my words before it’s all over. Won’t be the first time.
Will be posting the second episode recap shortly, but it is definitely getting a bit too intricate to the point where I don’t care too much. When some shows get too complicated like that, very little of it really even matters in the long run. We’ll see though. They might pull a switcheroo and make me look like an idiot who doesn’t know what they’re talking about lol.