'The Diplomat' Is the Political Drama To Distract You From THAT Political Drama

All of us who live in the United States are extremely aware of what’s happening in our political sphere this week, and I’m sure that most of us would rather think about anything else once we’ve done what we can. There are different ways to handle this, maybe you like dishy reality shows where you can immerse yourself in the made-up problems of strangers. Maybe you want to retreat into a comfort show, something you know the beats of like the back of your hand. However, maybe you need something a tiny bit meatier and unfamiliar to really pull your focus. Well, I’ll make the case for The Diplomat.

Small context spoilers for The Diplomat seasons one and two.

While the character at the center of The Diplomat is an American, the show is not primarily concerned with any version of American politics that would look familiar to us. For example, the overarching drama is that Keri Russell’s Kate Wyler is being evaluated to replace a Vice President who is being forced to resign in a few months because… her husband misappropriated some grant funds. There’s a scene in which the American President decides to send earthquake aid to Jakarta and it’s a problem because they haven’t asked yet! It’s all quite charming.

Additionally, everyone near Kate Wyler agrees that she would be a terrible campaigner, but they want her for the job anyway because she’s so smart and accomplished! It’s almost funny. The actors are also all great, so if you enjoyed Ali Ahn on Agatha All Along and want more of her in your life, she plays a CIA Station Chief balancing a complex work and social life with a cool competence.

Instead, the bulk of the show is spent on intrigues of UK politics, starting with a mysterious, unprovoked attack on a British warship by unknown actors, which, in a roundabout way, leads to worries about Scottish independence. Much of the plot hangs on the interaction between the Prime Minister, one of his advisors, the British Foreign Minister, and various other dignitaries completely unfamiliar to the average American. As someone trying desperately not to think too much about what might happen with the administration of my own country, it’s nice to watch the (fictional) leaders of another country fuss and fret.

There are currently two seasons on Netflix; the first season is eight episodes, and the second season is six episodes. Not enough to fully shut out the world for the next couple of days, but enough to give you a few hours of respite in the evenings while waiting to figure out what’s going on. Watching wall-to-wall news doesn’t help; ask me how I know. And if nothing else, it is very amusing to watch the makeup, hair, and wardrobe people desperately attempt to make Keri Russell look like a woman incapable of managing her own physical appearance. Truly hilarious.