‘The Diplomat’ Season 3 Review: Keri Russell Reigns in Netflix’s Sharp Political Drama
The third season of the series follows the chaos that erupts in the life of the U.S. ambassador to Britain after the death of a major political figure. Starring Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell. Premieres October 16, 2025.
The professional challenges of the U.S. ambassador to Britain have gone from relatively minor in the first season to full-on matters of global politics by the end of the second. What began as a sharp and often funny look at Kate Wyler (Keri Russell)—a diplomat who despises formalities but finds herself stuck in a world defined by them—has gradually evolved into something closer to her true element: navigating the murky waters of international intrigue.
Season two ended (SPOILERS ahead) with an explosive twist: the sudden death of the U.S. President, who suffers a heart attack moments after learning—from Kate’s husband, Hal (Rufus Sewell)—about a shocking betrayal by his vice president, Grace Penn (Allison Janney). Season three picks up amid the chaos of Penn’s abrupt rise to power, while she happens to be in the U.K.—a logistical nightmare that the series mines for humor even in the midst of high-stakes drama.
Since Netflix insists on keeping the new season spoiler-free, it’s safe to say only this: Hal becomes more determined than ever to push Kate toward a new challenge—stepping down as ambassador to become the Vice President. But things, as usual, don’t go according to plan. What follows is a series of awkward turns that test their marriage, stir new romantic tension between Kate and British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi), and force both Wylers into a political and emotional distance neither expected.
On top of the shifting personal dynamics come fresh geopolitical crises, a fraught relationship between Kate and the new First Gentleman Todd Penn (Bradley Whitford), and the usual juggling act with her staff—not to mention the unpredictable antics of British Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) and a thorny extradition case involving a veteran British politician (Celia Imrie).
The show now moves with the brisk rhythm of The West Wing (helped by the Janney-Whitford combo that evokes Aaron Sorkin’s series) and expertly balances global politics, spy-world tension, and absurd workplace comedy. It’s at its best when poking fun at Kate’s social awkwardness—her inability to master an evening gown or suppress ill-timed impulses at diplomatic functions—while still keeping the stakes high.
Fast, sharp, and elegant dialogue remains the show’s greatest strength, and once again Keri Russell is its undeniable MVP. The Americans star perfectly calibrates Kate’s mix of steel and vulnerability, shifting seamlessly from tough and decisive to emotionally raw. She’s surrounded by a stellar ensemble—Sewell, Kinnear, Gyasi, Ali Ahn, Ato Essandoh, and the always-brilliant Janney and Whitford—who all rise to her level. Backed by tight, witty writing, The Diplomat remains one of Netflix’s smartest and most entertaining series—unfortunately still far less talked about than it deserves.
