'The Diplomat' Episode 1: What is the real motive behind Kate's visit to London?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Making a political drama is never easy because it needs a lot of research even if it is not based on a real-life event. Netflix’s latest series, titled ‘The Diplomat’, is one of those rare political dramas that mixes all the elements of life and presents us with a riveting story that keeps you at the edge of your seats. So, the first episode of ‘The Diplomat’ starts with a deadly attack on a British warship named HMS Courageous. The ship attacked off the coast of Iran and the explosion manages to kill several British sailors. A lot of people believe that this attack was a message to the American administration for something they did in the past. Without any guesses, the USA wants someone to go there and represent the country as an ambassador.
So, in response to this attack, the President of the US and his chief of staff call Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) to the White House for a meeting. She’s been working as an ambassador for a while now and is supposed to go to Kabul. However, things take a u-turn when President Rayburn asks her to go to London and help the British government in this matter. Kate is shocked to learn that and thought of saying no at first, but she is sitting in front of the President, how could she have said no? So, she reluctantly says yes. Now, she and her husband and former ambassador Hal (Rufus Sewell) are going to London to diffuse the situation.
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What is the reality behind Kate's visit to London?
But a pretty weird thing happens before Kate reaches London. President Rayburn’s (Michael McKean) chief of staff, Billie (Nana Mensah), calls her Deputy Chief of Mission, to tell him the real reason why Kate is being sent to London. Making her an Ambassador to London is just a gimmick as they want to check if she can handle such pressure situations because she’s being groomed as a potential Vice-President. Yes, that’s the main reason why Kate has been sent to London.
During the call, Billie says that the Vice-President will be resigning and the White House is looking for someone experienced to sit in that position now.
When Kate reaches London, she realizes that she needs to present her credentials to the Foreign Office and the Monarchy if she has to do anything in London. The politics have begun and there are some people in the UK government who don’t want Kate to be in such a prestigious position. So, Kate decides to do something that will make her popular among the people. What does she do? She does a photoshoot for British Vogue and becomes an overnight darling. But the episode ends on an ominous note for Kate and her husband Hal because something sinister has happened.
Is Hal okay?
The episode concludes with Hal being drugged and taken away in the back of a car while Kate smiles for the cameras. On the other hand, the details of their troubled marriage have also emerged, making things really hard for Kate and the US administration.
Who could have kidnapped Hal? Is it an inside job? Or it has to do something with the people who attacked the ship? Well, things are looking really bleak for Hal and Kate, both.