The Diplomat is an American political thriller television series created by Debora Cahn. The series stars Keri Russell as a veteran U.S. diplomat who is unexpectedly appointed as the ambassador to the United Kingdom amid an emerging international crisis. The series premiered on Netflix on April 20, 2023. In October 2024, the series was renewed for a third season, which is premiered on October 16, 2025. In May 2025, the series was renewed for a fourth season. The Diplomat received critical acclaim for its writing, pacing, and performances, particularly that of Russell and Janney. At the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, the series was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. For Russell's role, she was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. The show has been praised for its nuanced portrayal of foreign policy and the often invisible work of diplomacy, as well as its character-driven storytelling that blends political intrigue with personal drama. == Premise == The series centers on Kate Wyler, the new United States ambassador to the United Kingdom, as she helps to defuse an international crisis, forges strategic alliances and adjusts to her new place in the spotlight. She also manages her deteriorating marriage to fellow career diplomat Hal Wyler. == Cast == === Main === Keri Russell as Katherine "Kate" Wyler, newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to the UK and Second Lady of the United States (season 3) Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler, Kate's husband and former U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and Iraq, who struggles with his lack of a posting until becoming Vice President of the United States (season 3) David Gyasi as Austin Dennison, UK Foreign Secretary Ali Ahn as Eidra Park, CIA station chief Rory Kinnear as Nicol Trowbridge, UK prime minister Ato Essandoh as Stuart Heyford, deputy chief of mission of the US embassy in London Allison Janney as Grace Hagen Penn (season 4; guest season 2; recurring season 3), Vice President of the United States and later President of the United States Bradley Whitford as Todd Penn (season 4; recurring season 3), Grace Penn's husband and First Gentleman of the United States === Recurring === Celia Imrie as Margaret "Meg" Roylin, a former campaign manager of the British Conservative Party (season 1–3) Miguel Sandoval as Miguel Ganon, United States Secretary of State Nana Mensah as Billie Appiah, White House Chief of Staff Michael McKean as William Tresselt "Bill" Rayburn (season 1–2), President of the United States T'Nia Miller as Cecilia Dennison, Austin Dennison's sister (season 1) Adrienne Warren as CIA officer, alias Georgia (season 2) Rosaline Elbay as Nora Koriem (season 2–3), Chief of Staff to the Vice President Alysia Reiner as Secret Service officer (season 2) Aidan Turner as Callum Ellis, British spy and Kate's love interest (season 3) === Supporting === Pearl Mackie as Alysse, US embassy assistant Penny Downie as Frances Munning, Winfield House residence manager Christine Kavanagh as Gwen Hempill, UK Foreign Affairs Representative Jess Chanliau as Ronnie Buckhurst (season 1), US embassy officer Anna Francolini as Pippa Richard Dillane as Tom Libby, MI6 chief Rupert Vansittart as Julian Hoope David Bark-Jones as Alistair Kemper-Waithe Simon Chandler as Sir Merritt Grove MP (season 1) Bhav Joshi as Anu Kapoor Bijan Daneshmand as Rasoul Shahin, Iranian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Adam Silver as Howard Georgie Henley as Pensy Joey Eden as Dan Reza Diako as Basir Sharif Dorani as Parham Najjar, Iranian ambassador to the UK Dana Haqjoo as Farid Namazi, deputy Iranian ambassador to the UK John Schwab as Roger Post Micky Sébastian as Brielle Fournier, French Minister of the Interior Pandora Colin as Lydia Trowbridge (season 2) Nancy Carroll as Philippa Pemberton (season 2), MI5 director general David Alan Basche as Brad Chapman (season 2) Clare Burt as Jemma Doud, First Minister of Scotland (season 2) == Episodes == === Series overview === === Season 1 (2023) === === Season 2 (2024) === === Season 3 (2025) === == Production == In January 2022, Netflix announced it had given a series order to The Diplomat from creator Debora Cahn. In February of that year, it was announced Keri Russell would star in the series. In March, it was announced Ali Ahn and Rufus Sewell joined the cast. In April 2022, David Gyasi, Ato Essandoh, Rory Kinnear, Miguel Sandoval, Nana Mensah, Michael McKean, Celia Imrie and Penny Downie joined the cast. The series was released on April 20, 2023. Filming took place at a range of locations in the UK and Paris, France. In London, producers obtained permission to film inside the American embassy in Nine Elms, and the Foreign Office in Westminster, including The Durbar Court and the Foreign Secretary's office. Outside of London, Wrotham Park in Hertfordshire doubled as Winfield House, the residence of the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom, while Ditchley Park, Oxfordshire was used to represent Chevening, the foreign secretary's country residence in Kent. Filming also took place at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and Cotswold Airport, Gloucestershire. A number of scenes were filmed within London North Studios, located in Mill Hill, North West London, where sets for The Oval Office and US Embassy are located. In Paris, filming took place at the Palais-Royal and the Louvre, including the museum's Pyramid and Escalier Daru. On May 1, 2023, Netflix renewed the series for a second season. Filming for season 2 began in June 2023 with locations including St Paul's Cathedral. Other filming locations included the Old Royal Naval College, One Great George Street, Inveraray Castle, Ardkinglas, RAF Halton, Wilton House and Blenheim Palace. In January 2024, it was announced that Allison Janney had been cast as US Vice President Grace Penn for season two. The second season was released on October 31, 2024. On October 10, 2024, ahead of the second-season premiere, Netflix renewed the series for a third season. On January 24, 2025, Bradley Whitford had been cast as Todd Penn, the husband of Janney's Grace Penn for the third season. The third season is scheduled to premiere on October 16, 2025. On May 14, 2025, ahead of the third season premiere, Netflix renewed the series for a fourth season. On September 26, 2025, it was reported that Janney and Whitford were promoted to series regulars for the fourth season. === Title conflict === The choice of title reportedly caused frustration among the British producers of a Barcelona-set series also titled The Diplomat, which was announced in early 2020 and began airing in the UK two months before the Netflix series. Neither party has indicated a willingness to change the title to avoid confusion. == Reception == === Critical response === ==== Season 1 ==== Rotten Tomatoes reported an 84% approval rating with an average rating of 7.7/10 based on 57 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Keri Russell's scrappy performance negotiates the best possible terms for The Diplomat, a soapy take on statecraft that manages to make geopolitical crises highly bingeable entertainment." Metacritic assigned a score of 74 out of 100 based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Julian Borger wrote in The Guardian that there "is a fair amount to be incredulous about", with Netflix having "taken a lot of liberties to keep The Diplomat racing along like a thriller." However, "for all the dramatic licence taken with the plot and characters", the producers "made sure they got at least some of the details absolutely right." He argued that "most current and former diplomats were ready to overlook the impurities" and were appreciative that diplomacy was being "given its moment under the bright lights." Nevertheless, Borger noted that some felt that the series was a "missed opportunity" that "carries on a long tradition of shows that put a foreign policy focus in the title, and then veer completely off into something that has nothing or little to do with actual diplomacy." The Evening Standard described the first series as "an interesting take on the time-honoured political drama" that "doesn't reach the lofty heights of The West Wing" but "does have a refreshing lack of the moral high ground." The Radio Times was more critical, calling it a "simplistic, bland, and easily digestible political drama" that "isn't particularly thrilling or complex" and "never feels particularly high stakes." Meanwhile, the Financial Times lamented that the series "spurns the opportunity to provide a considered look at international relations in favour of a generic and improbably-plotted yarn" and "lacks delicacy and nuance." The paper described it as "so exaggerated that it has little to say about actual statecraft and so dry and insistently talky that it struggles to entertain." ==== Season 2 ==== Rotten Tomatoes reported a 96% approval rating with an average rating of 8.0/10 based on 46 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Maintaining explosive momentum with Keri Russell as the arresting eye of the storm, The Diplomat's sophomore season solidifies it as among television's most entertaining dramas." Metacritic assigned a score of 76 out of 100 based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The Guardian was enthusiastic about the second season, calling it "several great shows all at once" and concluding that "The Diplomat should slot effortlessly into any list of the best dramas of the year." ==== Season 3 ==== Rotten Tomatoes reported a 95% approval rating based on 20 critic reviews. Metacritic assigned a score of 84 out of 100 based on 13 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Variety's Alison Herman praised the third season and wrote, "In Season 3, The Diplomat recommits to this core mission, a pivot that pays dividends." == Accolades == == Viewership == Season 1 featured in the global Netflix top 10s for four weeks, picking up 173.46 million hours watched. The season featured in the Nielsen top 10 charts for two weeks in the US picking up 44.90 million hours watched. == References == == External links == The Diplomat on Netflix The Diplomat at IMDb