It looks like we're in for a tense and turbulent series 3 of the gripping political thriller The Diplomat and we couldn't be more excited. The Netflix drama follows US ambassador to the UK, Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) as she juggles her high-powered job through international unrest and her tumultuous marriage to a fellow politician. With series 2 ending on a cliff-hanger, viewers have been waiting with baited breath for the upcoming third series.
Netflix has promised that the newest series 'flips the chessboard' as 'Kate lives the particular nightmare that is getting what you want.' With the first two series delivering twists and cliff-hangers which kept us on our toes throughout, we can't imagine what's in store next. And, in even more exciting news - a fourth series has now been confirmed.
Here's everything we know so far about the two upcoming new series and what you need to know to get up to date if you're new to the show...
What has happened in The Diplomat so far?
*Spoilers below*
In series one we meet the new US ambassador to the UK Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) who is met with a baptism of fire as she is tasked with attempting to de-escalate an international crises. Meanwhile, she's trying to forge strategic alliances wherever she can in the complicated world of international politics at work as well as home, as she navigates a turbulent marriage with former diplomat Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell). The series finale left on a nail-biting cliffhanger, leaving us wondering whether Hal had survived a deadly explosion in London.
Thankfully, series 2 revealed her did make it out although foreign service officer Ronnie Buckhurst and MP Merritt Grove lost their lives. We spent the rest of series 2 watching US ambassador Kate rebuild her broken team; try to discover the truth of who really was behind the attack that originally brought her to the UK; meet/clash with Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney) and continue to navigate her fraught marriage to Hal.
What will happen in The Diplomat series 3?
First up, will Kate become the new Vice President? The big twist in the finale of season 2 saw President Rayburn kick the bucket (Kate’s husband may have inadvertently killed him), making Vice President Grace Penn the new President of the United States. Meanwhile, Hal is on a campaign to land Kate the vice presidency role leaving her stepping 'into a role she never wanted, with a freedom she never expected, an increasingly complicated friendship with Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi), and an unnerving bond with First Gentleman Todd Penn (Whitford),' says Netflix.
Next, will Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) resign? While Kate figured out that the call was indeed coming from ‘inside the house’ when it came to the aircraft carrier explosion from series 1, it turns out Trowbridge had nothing to do with it and it was in fact the PM’s adviser Margaret Roylin (Celia Imrie) who orchestrated the attack. And now that we know Vice President Penn also had a hand in the job, will she be discovered now that she’s President?
Also, what’s the future for Kate and Hal? The will-they-won’t-they spouses have kept us on our toes for two seasons now, and while they seem more aligned now than they did at the end of series 1, surely the fiery couple will be at each other’s throats again at some point? It’s what we tune in for!
While we’re on the subject of relationships, will season 3 see a rekindling of Kate and Dennison’s romantic frisson? Things seem to have cooled between them for now, but it would be interesting to see sparks flying again between these two.
And finally, what about Stuart and Eidra? Stuart does seem to have finally got the message that things are officially over, but we’d love to see this couple restart something in season 3. Only time will tell...
Will there be a Diplomat series 4?
Yes, it's good news! It has now been confirmed that there will be a series 4 of The Diplomat, with the news coming in May ahead of the release of the third series.
Who is in The Diplomat series 3 cast?
The confirmed cast for series 3 of The Diplomat includes:
- Keri Russell as diplomat Kate Wyler
- Rufus Sewell as diplomat Hal Wyler
- David Gyasi as British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison
- Ali Ahn as CIA Station Chief Eidra Park
- Ato Essandoh as Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Hayford
- Allison Janney as President Grace Penn
- Rory Kinnear as British Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge
How can I watch The Diplomat?
The first two series of The Diplomat are available to stream on Netflix, with series due this Autumn (exact date to be confirmed). A fourth series has been confirmed, but no release window has yet been announced.
