The Diplomat (S3): Is It Still Excellent?

The Diplomat (Season 3, USA, 2025) series has entered its third season, but it is not letting go of the cowboy-style diplomacy in the fast-changing world of modern geopolitics. Please note, it is a purely fictional tale.

However, it draws heavily from the present day geo-political realities in the world, but certainly not enough. Moreover, the contemporary political tale focuses on the USA and the UK, primarily.

Series Review [Spoiler-Free]: The Diplomat (Season 3, USA, 2025) English

In FOCUS: The Old Relationships Are on the Wringer, Once Again in the Diplomat

Series Synopsis

Amid an international crisis, a US diplomat, Kate Wyler (Keri Russell), contends with her high-profile job as ambassador to the UK and her strained marriage to a political star, Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell).

Personal Relationships

Firstly, the plotline works on the personal Level and the changing power dynamics

In the first two seasons, we have seen the complicated relationship status shared by the US Diplomat, Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) and her politically ambitious husband Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), up close and personal.

In the first two seasons, Kate Wyler was in a powerful position vis-à-vis her husband, Hal Wyler. But, then…

Now, in the third season, their power dynamics take a 360° degree turn. Wherein, Hal emerges as the occupant of the senior and more powerful position in the US political establishment. In fact, Hal becomes her political boss.

While Kate remains the Diplomat of the USA. And clearly, it affects their married life.

“To be America’s enemy is dangerous, but to be America’s friend is fatal.“

Henry Kissinger

International Relationships

Secondly, it also tells us that the Power Dynamics at the international geopolitical level have changed

But that is not all. It also focuses on the present-day Superpower, the United States of America, and the former colonial Superpower, the United Kingdom. Furthermore, although they are divided by the Atlantic Ocean, it seems that they are united by the idea of bossing around. It is worth noting that all the (check the above picture and the facial expressions of each character) back-stabbing events point towards the deepening ongoing power struggles between the USA and the UK.

And once again, the diplomatic relationship between two frenemies, the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK), is in focus in the third season. Fascinatingly, in this new world order, their power dynamics have once again taken a 360-degree turn. The USA is a powerful world leader. And the UK is simply asked to follow them.

However, unlike the real-life scenario, these two nations, the USA, and UK, engage in one-upmanship in this series.

Therefore, it is riveting to watch the ongoing power tussle between the two Western nations, where the UK is fighting back (unlike the real-world scenario) against the USA. A gentle reminder, it is a work of fiction.

Series Poster

Actors & Actresses

Both the actors Keri Russell (Kate Wyler) and Rufus Sewell (Hal Wyler) have portrayed the power couple very well. They can breathe life into their conflicted and complicated marital characters, indeed.

Are the ups and downs in their relationship and their open marriage idea linked with their professional growth path?

On the other hand, another wife and husband team, Allison Janney (Grace Penn) and Bradley Whitford (Todd Penn), are not willing to be left behind in the matters of power-tussle. Both Allison and Bradley not only bring back the sense of nostalgia (from their The West Wing days), but they also add another layer to the marital issues faced by the top political leaders. Now, let us go further down the proverbial totem pole of social and political hierarchy. The on-off relationship between Ali Ahn (Eidra Park) and Ato Essandoh (Stuart Heyford) only sums up the confusing relationship status of the US diplomatic staff and others.

The two British actors in the show, Rory Kinnear (Nicol Trowbridge) and David Gyasi (Austin Dennison), have been very impressive.

In almost all ways, they have silently brought out the challenges faced by the top British Politicians in contemporary times. More often than not, the UK political leaders are expected to toe the US top leaders’ line.

Series Rating

Conclusion

But the on-screen UK PM, Nicol Trowbridge, has different sets of ideas. And, is it because the USA has a Madam President while the UK has a Gentleman PM, so to speak? Or, is there more to its storylines? As of now, we do not know. Maybe his reasons will be revealed in the next season as to why he is defying the USA. Moreover, there is another shocking cliff-hanger ending in the third season finale episode.

This truth is like a ticking time bomb, one more time. In a way, the Russian nuclear submarine and Poseidon cases could act as the final straw. We do not know. Perhaps, it is a little bit like **Schrodinger’s Wife (check its definition shared below). But it certainly draws curtains to an excellent third season of the Diplomat series. And leave us wanting more of this intriguing and slow-burning geopolitical drama.

However, we wish this show to borrow more real-life geopolitical incidents from the world around us. Make it more realistic and aligned to the emerging multi-polar world.

A bit more truth will certainly not hurt its popularity.

Key Details

Series Trailer

No alliance lasts forever. Caught in a whirlwind of crisis diplomacy, Kate must navigate a fragile new administration and a deadly threat with world-shaping consequences.

[Also, check out the YouTube Video clip link - The Diplomat Season 2 Recap | Netflix.]

Bonus Info.

We are sharing the explanation of the following 2 Terms, which are used in this series.

• “PNG” can mean persona-non-grata, a Latin phrase for an “unwelcome person” in a diplomatic context.

• “**Schrodinger’s Wife” term describes a situation or individual that is in an undefined or conflicting state until it is observed or a decision is reached, such as being both “alive and dead simultaneously” until the “box is opened”. This expression is frequently utilised metaphorically to convey a state of being unresolved or uncertain.

[Lastly, if you have not seen this American Political Drama, then read the FM Series Reviews in our Focus Magazine: The Diplomat (Season 1, 2023) Series & The Diplomat (Season 2, 2024) Series.]

Poster, Featured and Other Images of The Diplomat (Season 3/USA/2025) Series | Pictures Credit: Netflix.