Netflix ‘The Diplomat’ Season 2 Review - Keri Russell Returns in this Addictive Political Thriller

I like watching shows like The Diplomat and The Lincoln Lawyer. They focus on characters who are confident, who, even when confused, speak with great clarity without taking unnecessary pauses. I often fantasize about being a smooth speaker. In my mind, I talk like the characters in The Diplomat and The Lincoln Lawyer: No errs, no ums, only clear conversations. Listening to the people in these shows is one of the many pleasures of watching them. The smooth dialogue delivery is one of the main attractions. The characters speak so fluently because that's what they do from the time they wake up until they go to bed. They talk and talk and talk. Their routine involves communicating with many people, some of whom occupy important positions. We observe these extremely busy characters with fascination. We understand their routine, and their jargon, without feeling alienated. This is the primary reason why you get addicted to shows like The Diplomat and The Lincoln Lawyer.

The second season of The Diplomat was released today on Netflix, and it has already been renewed for a third season. This is good news, given the "tell me now what will happen next!" nature of the ending of the sixth episode. But apart from such Big Moments, what charges The Diplomat with amusement is the chemistry between Keri Russell's Kate and Rufus Sewell's Hal. Look at her lying alongside him on the hospital bed, or consider what they do after an argument - he starts brushing his teeth, and she enters the bathroom and sits on the toilet seat to pee. Such casual gestures indicate how comfortable they are in each other's presence. They also prove that this couple has stayed together for a long time. Kate is familiar with Hal's body and mind and vice versa. One is perfectly capable of inflicting emotional wounds on the other person, which is why they quickly realize if they have gone too far. When they notice that they have hurt each other, a sense of regret appears on their faces.

The Diplomat Season 2 brings out humor from ordinary movements. You chuckle when Kate and Eidra (Ali Ahn) hide a whiteboard when someone interrupts their discussion. And see how normally Kate puts a paper clip on the zip to fix her pants. The series doesn't view these moments through a different comic lens. It observes everything with an infectious energy that's superbly calm and in control of its emotions. The Diplomat doesn't display some scenes by jumping with excitement and some with a solemn demeanor. Its energy is equally distributed. This makes us more responsive towards the show. We laugh and enthusiastically lean forward from our chair because The Diplomat doesn't force a reaction out of us. It trusts the characters' actions to convey the necessary emotions, and the trust pays off. You smile broadly when Kate uses that paper clip because no one grabs your collar and orders you to respond in a particular manner. Not a single note is overplayed to press the buttons of the viewer. The scene where Stuart (Ato Essandoh) shakes Kate's hands vigorously and tries to refrain from screaming with exhilaration might just be the best (visual) example that can clarify what the tone of The Diplomat actually feels like. The show doesn't need to scream for you to grasp what it's conveying to the audience.

Given her profession, Russell's Kate is almost always serious, but when she smiles, you feel as if a dark room has been lit up with many candles. She has what you would call a "megawatt smile." What's so wonderful about The Diplomat Season 2 is that it colors most of its characters with comic shades, so you receive the pleasure of watching some really nice performances. Actors like David Gyasi and Ali Ahn break their characters' solemn faces with subtle, amusing expressions. Rory Kinnear, as Trowbridge, UK's prime minister, walks and talks and sits like someone who is always aware of his VIP status. The scene where he is deceived by a group of people during a funeral is excellent, simply because of the precise choreography with which characters transport and replace someone. The Diplomat Season 2 moves with clockwork precision, yet it never appears labored. It's charming due to its effortless execution.

Final Score- [8.5/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times