The Diplomat Recap: How Do You Solve a Problem like Hal Wyler?

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Okay, I’m probably repeating myself, but seriously, I just want Hal and Kate Wyler to get a real divorce. This whole ‘stay married publicly but live separately’ thing isn’t going to work, and they even admit it! They know they’ll probably end up back in bed together, and no amount of rules will change that—it’ll just make everything messier. Honestly, they’re wasting so much energy trying to figure out what’s allowed and who needs to know. And divorce isn’t something to be ashamed of anymore, especially when you look at who’s currently in the White House! Hal and Kate are smart people, they could totally handle a mature, conscious uncoupling. They could even frame it as doing what’s best for the country, and you know what? It actually *would* be! I just wish they’d rip off the band-aid.

Getting divorced would finally put an end to the painful and awkward conversations they constantly have, like the ones with Billie about pretending their marriage is tied to their jobs and how often Kate will travel to Washington D.C. It would also prevent unwanted and personal questions about starting a family, like the one Kate endured with a senator eager to connect her with his husband, who supposedly knows all the best schools in London. Eventually, they need to find a way to separate their personal lives from their public duties and stop subjecting themselves to these kinds of intrusive interactions.

Hal and Kate Wyler are a strong team when they’re working together, and we see that dynamic in “The Riderless Horse.” Hal listens to Kate’s advice, and she defends him to Grace after Bill Rayburn’s funeral. Hal also demonstrates both his strengths and weaknesses as a possible Vice President. He decisively defeated his main competitor, Pennsylvania Governor Seiler, and nearly secured enough votes to ratify The Law of the Sea Treaty – a treaty the U.S. follows but hasn’t formally joined.

This scene highlights Hal’s fierce competitive spirit, but more importantly, his unwavering loyalty to Grace. While he still isn’t thrilled about Grace being president, he insists her Vice President should be someone more qualified than a governor desperate for the position, and willing to compromise principles to get it. Hal’s sudden and forceful criticism of Grace’s suggestion – a governor who runs a factory making flawed but surprisingly effective fighter jets coveted by countries like China and Turkey – shows he’s willing to take risks. Grace will have to decide if she accepts this approach or distances herself from him.

During a frank discussion about Hal’s strengths and weaknesses, Kate is completely honest about his flaws. He’s difficult to like at first, and often frustrating because he talks to absolutely everyone – even people with offensive views who oppose the administration he wants to be a part of – and he insists on managing his own schedule and making things up as he goes along. Kate knows these habits will drive his colleagues crazy, but she also knows he has a knack for achieving remarkable results that ultimately make it all worthwhile.

There’s a give and take here, and Hal has a certain charming confidence – a bit like the character in *Fantastic Mr. Fox* – that suggests he’ll somehow pull things off. Grace will likely need to repeatedly tell him that if her suspicions are correct, it would be a serious problem, but if she can deal with that, they could be a very effective team. The big question is whether he’s secured enough support to actually pass the Law of the Sea Treaty – that would be a major accomplishment! It’s also wise for Grace to have someone like Hal, who isn’t afraid to fight for her, on her side. His willingness to be assertive and outspoken will save her from being unfairly labeled as aggressive.

Kate and Hal, despite being divorced, have a history of working well together, with Kate usually supporting Hal’s leadership. We see both the good and bad sides of this pattern in this episode. Kate becomes so focused on helping Hal with Grace that she misses an important meeting with the CIA Director about Eidra, making a difficult situation even worse – a problem she’d promised to fix. Back at the embassy, Howard reads angry and confused texts from a friend at the CIA who works for the Director, who believes Kate has created conflict between two powerful women. It’s a messy situation, and Eidra deserves better.

Honestly, things aren’t looking great for Eidra. Her MI6 contact, Tom, is still really upset he wasn’t told Roylin was in CIA custody until after she died, and he’s not sharing what he *could* have done to help. Plus, he knows his ultimate boss was likely involved in the *Courageous* bombing, which complicates things even further. To make matters worse, Roylin’s autopsy showed nothing unusual, so everyone’s buying the story that she took her own life. Basically, we’re stuck. Tom wants to help Eidra, but he’s walking a tightrope, trying to avoid getting Trowbridge’s attention, and frankly, he doesn’t seem all that motivated anyway. It feels like this whole situation is just…stalled.

While Kate was campaigning for Hal to be her Vice President back in Virginia, we also see Billie starting to accept the idea. Considering everything Billie knew about the Wyler family and her own efforts to replace Grace with Kate as VP – she originally preferred Governor Seinar as a running mate to Hal. It’s a bit puzzling why Billie is still working for Grace as Chief of Staff. You’d think Grace would want her close ally Nora by her side, and Billie wouldn’t want to work with Grace at all. Billie should be in high demand, with companies and nonprofits across the country eager to hire her.

With Grace reconsidering Hal as her running mate, Hal and Billie are cautiously starting to work together again. Hal values Billie sharing information about the former president’s secret stash of snacks, and Billie believes those treats contributed to his health problems. While I’m not sure she’s right, it’s heartwarming to see them honor the late president’s memory with a snack of their own.

Watching the last scene of “Riderless Horse” really hit me. It reminded me so much of how “Last Dance at the Country Club” ended. Hal was leaving again, all alone this time in Grace’s SUV, heading back to the White House. It felt like another step toward the future Kate imagined for herself just a few days before. But this time, it was different. They didn’t seem sad or torn, and Kate was excited about her newfound freedom in London. Their hug was genuinely sweet, and when Hal started to pull away and she pulled him back in, it was clear she still cared deeply for him. Throughout everything, Kate consistently chooses to prioritize her love and respect for Hal, even if it’s not the easiest path for either of them. It leaves you wondering if it’s truly the right choice, but it’s her choice to make.

Kate previously chose to stay in London on a whim, but this time she’s been wholeheartedly supporting his move to D.C. She seems as proud as ever watching him pursue this new opportunity, with a touch of sadness as he embarks on it. However, this time around, she’s focusing on her own important goals, independently.

Intrigue and Crumpets

There’s a sweet moment when Grace curiously asks Kate about Hal, knowing it could bring more complications and deepen their already complex relationship. Kate’s reply – whether planned or not – feels like more than just an agreement; it’s a promise, a definite “I do.”

Todd Penn and Carolyn Rayburn don’t appear much in this episode – they’re at the Rayburn house having a private conversation upstairs. It’s a bit disappointing, as this seemed like our best opportunity to introduce Mrs. Rayburn, but scheduling conflicts and story priorities made it difficult.

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2025-10-16 15:55