'The Diplomat' Episode 2: Who kidnapped Hal? Kate's life turns upside down with bombshell information

Hal has finally been released and Kate is angry at him for doing such dangerous work, but Kate's life is about to turn upside down
Keri Russell as Kate Wyler in 'The Diplomat' (Netflix)
Keri Russell as Kate Wyler in 'The Diplomat' (Netflix)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kate never wanted to go to London as an Ambassador, but now that she is there, she is doing everything to diffuse the problem between a few nations. Some people in the British administration don’t like Kate (Keri Russell) and they don’t want her to get her credentials. She thinks of doing something that would make her an overnight darling and she does that by shooting for British Vogue. However, while she is busy in the shoot, her husband Hal gets kidnapped and taken to an unknown location. If the first episode was all about Kate’s itinerary, then the second episode is all about her getting tangled in dirty politics.

At the beginning of Episode 2 of 'The Diplomat', Kate finally learns that her husband has been kidnapped and this is not the first time that something like this has happened. Hal (Rufus Sewell) has been kidnapped before because there’s an Islamic commander who hates him because he was able to escape when the commander abducted him previously. But things get really intense when viewers get to learn that Hal has been kidnapped on the behalf of Iran’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rasoul Shahin. Even though he wanted to talk to Hal, he never wanted his people to drug him. Shahin makes Hal understand that Iran had nothing to do with the attack that took place on the British warship. He also makes it clear that if Iran is bombed, it will be taken as an unprovoked act of war and Iran won’t shy away from responding to it.

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'The Diplomat' Episode 1: What is the real motive behind Kate's visit to London?

Rory Kinnear as Nicol Trowbridge in 'The Diplomat' Episode 2 (Netflix)
Rory Kinnear as Nicol Trowbridge in 'The Diplomat' Episode 2 (Netflix)

UK Prime Minister assures 'hellfire' on enemy

Meanwhile, Kate attends the funeral of the sailors who lost their lives in the attack, and UK Prime Minister Trowbridge gives a fiery speech at the funeral after the widow of one of the sailors calls him a coward. He realizes that he needs to do something that would keep the people on his side. So, he assures everyone and promises to rain hellfire on Tehran if it turns out that they were behind the attack. However, things get worse in the UK when anti-Islamic violence spikes immediately. In the middle of these controversial things taking place, Kate is wondering where is Hal and she knows him too well. She knows he will do anything to be the hero and it turns out she is right. Kate gets to know that her husband used a burner phone to call someone in Italy who can get him in contact with Shahin.

In the ending moments of the episode, Kate pays a surprise visit to Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison, much to Hayford's disapproval. Without divulging any specifics, she asserts that Iran is not accountable for the situation and proposes that Trowbridge should provide more clarity on his "hellfire" comment to ensure a smoother visit for Rayburn.

However, the Prime Minister is adamant that he is not going to retract anything he said.

Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler, Ali Ahn as Eidra Park, Jess Chanliau as Ronnie, Ato Essandoh as Stuart Heyford, Keri Russell as Kate Wyler in 'The Diplomat' (Netflix)
Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler, Ali Ahn as Eidra Park, Jess Chanliau as Ronnie, Ato Essandoh as Stuart Heyford, Keri Russell as Kate Wyler in 'The Diplomat' (Netflix)

Kate finds out the real reason behind her London visit

Kate vents her frustration on Hal, insisting that he depart the country as his calls to hostile powers are causing irritation and hindering investigations. While aboard Marine One flying over Winfield House, Hal takes the opportunity to inform Kate that she cannot divorce him and that he cannot leave since she will become the next Vice President of the United States.

How would she react to this situation? She never knew that she is being groomed to be the next Vice-President and this new information is going to change everything for her. EVERYTHING!

What an awful time to drop such bombshell information on Kate.

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