Keri Russell thrives under pressure

“The Diplomat,” the hit Netflix drama starring Keri Russell as a career stateswoman, has an ever-changing tone that will keep you on your toes. Creator Debora Cahn is an alum of “The West Wing” and “Homeland”; In fact, “The Diplomat” has the international intrigue of the former and the snappy workplace chatter of the former. But there's also a touch of “scandal” in Russell's highly competent, professional handling of matters of the heart and state, and a touch of true, transcendental weirdness that's entirely unique to this series. Most of this Passenger seat used to in Beirut.

In Season 1, these sometimes clashing elements might be more of a lumpy mix than a smooth blend — or perhaps this viewer simply needed time to adjust to the show's unique frequency. Season 2, which begins immediately after the London car bombing that left fans on a cliffhanger a year and a half ago, is more focused in every sense of the word: the number of episodes has been reduced to just six. But the new season is also a more confident and compelling version of itself. It's still not without its flaws, most notably its uncritical reverence for the American security state and Kate as its avatar. (The first is a political concern that may be beyond the scope of a review; the second is a dramatic and therefore fair game.) But The Diplomat fulfills its own mission now more successfully than ever before.

Some urgency helps. After the bombing that injures both Hal and Kate's deputy, Stuart (Ato Essandoh), the ambassador is in full crisis mode, which is clearly her – and apparently her show's – favorite state. Everything from her marriage to her political future is put on hold as she tries to find out who ordered the bombing and confirm her suspicions that Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear), an aggressive Tory, was planning an attack under false pretenses Flag on a British Navy ship organized to provoke war with Russia. In these early episodes, “The Diplomat” impressively succeeds in refreshing the viewer with its dense, winding plot. “Exposition” is unsexy work, but it's the kind of unique selling point that showcases Cahn's experience as a showrunner — and fits a story about an experienced hand itching to put her expertise to work.

Ball by ball, “The Diplomat” resumes its juggling act as the initial turmoil subsides. Once the embassy resumes its daily activities, “The Diplomat” can settle into situational comedy, as Kate – who once dreamed of an assignment in Kabul – is forced to deal with the social intricacies of a ceremonial post, such as planning a lavish 4th of July party. And once Hal is back on his feet, we get to see more of the Wylers' volatile marriage, as well as a performance from Sewell that runs on the same spectrum of goblin charm, grand vision and egotistical scheming as Billy Crudups in “The Morning.” Show”. ”

Some of the best scenes in “The Diplomat” involve a tense argument punctuated by unpredictable chaos. Kate makes a vulnerable confession to Hal mid-fight while urinating, and interrupts another exchange by smashing a teapot with her bare hand. Not to be outdone, one of Kate's interlocutors makes her point by dragging a giant map of unclear origin across the floor to make his point. “The Diplomat” fills the space between these moments with competence porn that is more straightforward but no less satisfying. The diplomatic jargon makes the viewer feel like they're caught up in an obscure, acronym-riddled profession, and high-level espionage is reminiscent of Russell's last starring role in “The Americans.” An informant is smuggled out of a funeral using a barrage of decoys, allowing The Diplomat to showcase both its filmmaking skills and a bloated location budget. The funeral will take place at St. Paul's Cathedral; Later, a subplot about possible Scottish secession takes the entire production north.

These pleasures distract from some of the problems with “The Diplomat” as a character study, although not indefinitely. It was never plausible to portray the radiant Russell as an unkempt tomboy who doesn't bother to brush her hair. (“The Diplomat” may not make Russell less beautiful, but it might make it a little less perfect with Kate's clothes.) More importantly, “The Diplomat” idealizes Kate in some ways, often by suggesting that she symbolizes a lack of traditional femininity her pure-hearted virtue. Season 2 entices viewers with a contrasting perspective as a traumatized Stuart begins to resent his new boss, leading to some complex debates with his recent ex, CIA station chief Eidra (Ali Ahn). All too quickly he reverses his stance and once again unites all the characters in an unrealistic and uninteresting admiration for Kate.

The most prominent addition to Season 2 is Allison Janney as acting Vice President Grace Penn, marking a reunion of sorts with her The West Wing co-star Cahn. Penn is deposed in a brewing scandal, and the search for a reluctant Kate to replace her makes her a messianic chosen one. (As with Paul Atreides in Dune, Kate's initial refusal only makes her advocates even more certain that she is the right woman for the job.) Although Penn rejects her potential successor, she is presented not as an opponent of Kate, but as a role model. Just as the series adores Kate, Kate adores this older woman who embodies the pragmatic leadership she aspires to. In their scenes together, “The Diplomat” reveals his true self. The show is less about a specific person and more about an abstract ideal of women in power. Regardless of whether one shares this ideal or not, “The Diplomat” is as serious as its characters can be cynical.

All six episodes of The Diplomat season 2 will premiere on Netflix on October 31st.