The Diplomat Finale Is Testing the Limits of My Feminism Again

As a seasoned political analyst with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that “The Diplomat” left me rather perplexed. The show’s protagonist, Wyler, seems to be a character who is as elusive as a chameleon, constantly shifting and adapting in a way that feels less like growth and more like the wind carrying her wherever it pleases.

As a devoted cinephile, I must share my insights about the gripping second season of “The Diplomat,” which made its grand entrance on Netflix last Halloween.

It’s not surprising that Kate Wyler ends up scowling in the last moments of this season of The Diplomat, given her confrontation with a fresh adversary, Grace Penn, the American vice-president known for her impeccably tailored suits and biting disdain towards Wyler. Keri Russell excels at portraying disapproval or bewilderment with a grimace, a talent she’s perfected over six seasons as Elizabeth Jennings, the principled Soviet spy on The Americans. Here, she reprises this skill as Wyler, the American ambassador to the U.K., who is being considered as Penn’s replacement by the president. As these two women debate about who should rise to a more powerful position, Russell delivers a weary demeanor that mirrors Wyler’s scowl. It’s unclear exactly what Wyler’s frown is about, beyond this potential threat to her own aspirations.

In its second season, the show The Diplomat has become known for its intricate plotlines that switch between thriller and soap opera elements. The series revolves around Wyler, a character with extensive diplomatic experience worldwide, particularly in the Middle East, due to her husband Hal (Rufus Sewell) serving as the American ambassador to Lebanon. There are hints of Wyler’s past work in Kabul and Beirut, and her worries about Afghan women following the U.S. withdrawal from the country. However, it’s unexpected when the president asks Wyler to serve as ambassador to the U.K., and later considers her as a replacement for his embattled VP, as Wyler perceives herself as an outsider. The show expresses this through Wyler’s simple fashion choices and her disregard for the formalities of the ambassadorship; she’s uninterested in such matters because she’s focused on her work (and finds it distasteful when a former colleague labels her as “geo-strategy Barbie” due to wearing a blue suit instead of a black one). In the latter half of season two, The Diplomat introduces Penn, who was only hinted at in the first season, as a counterpoint to Wyler. This woman, like Wyler, can hold her own in male-dominated settings, but unlike potential replacement Wyler, she does so with elegance, a stylish haircut, and a captivating smile. The series aims to portray Penn as a contrast, making her smooth maneuvering appear artificial compared to Wyler’s passionate conviction. However, Penn’s presence ends up highlighting how shallow Wyler’s character appears to be instead.

In the season-two finale of “The Diplomat,” I found myself torn between options regarding Penn’s involvement in a plot to attack British civilians for the sake of preventing Scottish secession and preserving an American nuclear-weapons base in Europe. Should I act on my knowledge, potentially jeopardizing the bond I’ve formed with Penn due to our shared experiences as women in public service? Or should I keep quiet to avoid appearing motivated by ambition? Could these two opposing figures, each with their distinct methodologies and personalities, find common ground, or are we destined for conflict, given that my character arc over the past seasons has revolved around questioning whether I want Penn’s role?

As a follower, I find myself drawn into the complex web of relationships portrayed in this series, where The Diplomat skillfully navigates her intricate ties with her almost-ex-husband and the British foreign secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi). The narrative deftly alternates between these relationship threads to build tension. Wyler expresses admiration for Dennison, calling him “the best person, like… truly decent man I’ve ever known in politics,” which in turn stirs Hal’s jealousy.

In its abridged second season, the show “The Diplomat” continues to enshroud viewers in the enigma surrounding the individual responsible for the attacks that ignited the series (the naval explosion causing the demise of numerous British sailors), with the cliffhanger being a car bomb leading to the deaths of an American agent and a British Member of Parliament. The initial three episodes portray Wyler’s endeavor to ensnare Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) in a confession, a plan that backfires dramatically due to a string of misguided intuitions on her part. She orders the CIA to intercept Trowbridge’s phone calls, a significant ethical violation; she prevents the apprehension of a Russian mercenary linked to the attacks, thereby granting Trowbridge time to execute him; she is deceived by Trowbridge into exposing her suspicions about him, which leads to a deep rift in U.S.-U.K. relations – not to mention that she unwittingly offers refuge to Margaret Roylin, the real mastermind behind the bombings.

However, it’s simple for Wyler to point the finger at Trowbridge as the suspect due to his prejudiced and traditional political views. His behavior, which resembles Boris Johnson in terms of reactionary politics and rough manners, has been criticized by many. It seems that Wyler dislikes Trowbridge not only for his loudmouth nature but also for his deeds.

In a subsequent gathering with Penn and Trowbridge, I found myself in the role of an observer as Penn quizzed Trowbridge about Britain’s strategy regarding Russia. The tension between Trowbridge, who was adamant about revealing the conspiracy, and Penn, who skillfully combined feigned innocence (her subtle, almost apologetic delivery of “Goodness, I misunderstood” hinted at her character Evelyn Rollins from ‘Palm Royale’) and firm resolve, steered Trowbridge towards a solution that kept both the U.S. and U.K.’s secrets intact. Initially, I felt uneasy about Penn’s manipulations, but as the scene unfolded, my discomfort transformed into admiration. “You were remarkable today with Trowbridge,” I expressed, “You planted the seed of his grand idea. You told him to bury it… You were leading him towards a plan.” However, I lamented that Penn was being ousted from office, signaling ‘The Diplomat’ would continue to showcase Penn and her conservative ideology schooling me throughout the rest of the season, a dynamic that gradually exposed how little effort the series had made in developing Wyler as a clear-cut character.

In my perspective, Wyler’s shift is strikingly problematic when I learn from Hal that the scheme of a false-flag attack was conceived by Penn. My repeated questions like “Who would do such a thing? … Is it us? … It’s us?” were meant to express a feeling of betrayal, but they come across as if this cunning political figure isn’t as clever as she appears. When I internalize this revelation, I express it through a frustrated “Oh, crap. I have to be the vice-president of the United States.” Essentially, this moment seems to be Wyler questioning Penn’s fitness, and The Diplomat portrays it as more proof of Wyler’s selfless dedication, her readiness to do what’s best for her country. However, it sets the stage for another instance where the show struggles to define who Wyler truly is, beyond a self-sacrificing heroine who operates behind the scenes to prevent global disasters.

In other words, while it’s not being suggested that characters shouldn’t evolve or transform, the unpredictability of Wyler’s actions seems less driven by her personal beliefs and more as a means to maintain an air of spontaneity in “The Diplomat.” This season has seen significant changes in relationships and power dynamics due to Wyler’s flexibility. However, these shifts leave us with an impression of indecisiveness rather than adaptability, which doesn’t align well with the show’s theme of complex geopolitics, as it comes across as superficial rather than thoughtful.

In a more casual and readable rephrase: The TV show, “The Diplomat,” intensifies its soap opera aspects with its finale. Instead of focusing on the VP’s immoral actions, the climactic confrontation between Wyler and Penn revolves around Penn’s role as a martyr for her country: “I don’t want your job… but if the president asks me to serve, the answer is yes.” Interestingly, this decisive conversation between the two women takes place on the same private grounds where Wyler mentions Margaret Thatcher used to go when she needed to think. However, Wyler remains unaware that Hal has secretly informed the president about Penn’s role in the bombings, which triggers a fatal heart attack. In a tense phone call, Hal informs Wyler of this development, and as they talk, Penn’s Secret Service agents rush onto the scene to protect her, now the president, making her an even greater threat to Wyler, who had just declared her intention to replace Penn. The final scenes of a smug-looking President Grace Penn and a worried-looking Wyler suggest that the power struggle is far from over. Unfortunately, despite the escalating rivalry, “The Diplomat” hasn’t managed to clearly define who Wyler really is. At least we know she’ll continue to frown.

2024-11-13 21:54

The Diplomat Finale Is Testing the Limits of My Feminism Again

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