Will There Be ‘The Diplomat’ Season 3? How Season 2’s Finale Sets Up What’s Next

The Diplomat

The Diplomat features Keri Russell in the role of Kate Wyler in episode 206. Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix © ... [+] 2024

The highly anticipated second season of Netflix's hit political drama, The Diplomat, premiered on October 31, and it certainly lived up to expectations. Featuring a new antagonist and numerous surprising developments, viewers may be curious about whether The Diplomat has been greenlit for a third season and how the season finale might influence future storylines.

The second season of The Diplomat continues the story right after Kate Wyler’s (Keri Russell) shocking revelation at the end of Season 1. It turns out that the attack on a British warship, which was the reason for the ambassador's trip, was not carried out by an enemy country but was orchestrated by the British prime minister himself. Now, Kate has to find a way to demonstrate his involvement in the conspiracy, with the help of her estranged husband, who narrowly survived the events of the first season.

Forbes: When Is the Release Time for Season 2 of 'The Diplomat' on Netflix? By Monica Mercuri

In Season 2, Kate faces a major challenge with the introduction of Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney), who becomes more connected to the situation than Kate initially thought. Russell shared with Netflix’s Tudum that Kate experiences a range of emotions regarding Penn: she feels anxious, intimidated, impressed, protective, and ultimately frustrated.

Keep reading for all the details about the surprising Season 2 finale, the current situation regarding Season 3, and what to anticipate if the series comes back for another season.

Caution: This section contains spoilers for the conclusion of The Diplomat Season 2.

What Was The Finale Of The Diplomat Season 2?

The Diplomat features Allison Janney portraying the character Grace in the show's fifth episode. Image credit: Netflix © 2024.

The second season of The Diplomat wraps up with Vice President Grace Penn unexpectedly stepping into the role of President of the United States after President Rayburn passes away. Prior to this surprising development, Kate and Hal had intended to share their findings with the Secretary of State regarding Penn's involvement in a scheme aimed at a British warship. They had stumbled upon this information earlier in the season when they initially thought the British prime minister was behind it.

Once Kate discovers what Penn did during the attack, she understands that the current Vice President cannot remain in her position. This means that Kate will need to step in and take on her responsibilities. "Grace Penn believes she is acting in the most responsible way possible. However, she has crossed into a morally ambiguous territory that Kate finds troubling," Cahn shared with Tudum.

Hal visits the embassy by himself to make a confidential call to the secretary of state. However, just as the call is about to go through, he has a change of heart and requests to speak with the president instead. Director Alex Graves explained to Tudum, "While he’s in the car heading there, Hal is uncertain about what his next move will be. He genuinely believes he has good intentions. His aim is to support her rise to public office, but I feel his approach is more gut-driven than premeditated."

While Hal is updating Rayburn on his vice president's behavior, Grace and Kate are taking a stroll. Grace seeks Kate's promise that she won’t reveal her involvement in the incident. Kate assures her that she won’t share anything. She also emphasizes that she has no interest in the vice presidential position, but if the president requests her to step in, she would accept it—something they have differing opinions on.

At that moment, Hal rushes out of the secure room, eager to get in touch with Kate. He finally connects with her and tells her that he actually spoke with the president. “He was really angry…” he begins, just as Secret Service agents come sprinting across the lawn.

"He’s gone, Katie," Hal says on the line. "The president has passed away. Grace Penn is now the president."

Is The Diplomat Season 3 Happening?

The Diplomat. (From left to right) Rufus Sewell portraying Hal Wyler, and Keri Russell playing Kate Wyler in episode 206 of The ... [+] Diplomat. Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix © 2024

Indeed, Netflix has confirmed a third season of The Diplomat just weeks ahead of the release of season two. In the upcoming season, the diplomats will make their way back to America, and production is already in progress in both London and New York City.

“After a fantastic summer of filming in the UK, we’ve brought a bit of London back to New York,” said series creator Debora Cahn in an interview with Variety. “It’s the perfect combination—shooting in Brooklyn. We really enjoy this work, and we’re thrilled to continue on with it.”

When discussing what’s coming in the next season, Cahn hinted to Tudum that "Season 3 changes everything," and went on to say, "In this season, Kate experiences the unique nightmare of achieving her desires."

The second season was cut down to just six episodes because Cahn thought there wasn't enough time to produce eight. However, the creator assured fans that this won't happen with the upcoming season. She confirmed to TVLine in October that Season 3 will consist of eight episodes.

What's In Store For The Diplomat Season 3?

The Diplomat. (From left to right) Allison Janney portrays Grace, while Keri Russell plays Kate Wyler in episode 205 of The Diplomat. Image courtesy of Netflix © 2024

The upcoming third season of The Diplomat on Netflix is expected to feature Penn stepping in as the new President. "With the president gone, fans of the show will quickly realize how things are starting to fit together—Grace is set to become president, and that raises questions about what this means for Kate and Hal,” Graves hinted in an interview with Tudum.

At this point, Hal and Kate are the only ones aware of all of Grace's actions. However, the question remains: can they ever trust anyone else? The relationship between Kate and Grace is expected to be a major focus in the third chapter, with Kate possibly positioning herself for a role in the White House, even as she faces off against her new rival.

The first two seasons of The Diplomat are now available for streaming on Netflix. Check out the official trailer below.

Read more
Similar news
This week's most popular news