The Diplomat Season-Finale Recap: Unprincipled Uncertainty

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“Schrodinger’s Wife” is packed with different kinds of betrayals. We see Trowbridge holding grudges, Todd suspecting something between Grace and Hal, Hal getting frustrated with Kate’s happiness, Stuart struggling with Billie’s secrets about Rayburn, and Kate being shocked – yet again – by Grace and Hal’s disloyalty to Trowbridge. This time, she discovers they stole the dangerous Poseidon drone! It’s a lot to take in.

Amidst the drama of the U.K./U.S. summit at Chequers, Austin Dennison and his wife, Thema Aseidu-Dennison (played by Tracy Ifeachor), seem to be having a surprisingly normal time. Kate is shocked to learn they’ve been married for a month! They have a sweet story – it’s a second chance at love for both of them, having been married previously. Austin is a good friend to Kate, which is great. However, as someone who loves a lot of drama, I can’t help but wonder how much more exciting things would be if Kate and Austin were together, especially with the Wylers potentially separating. The show is already full of suspense, but with a long wait until season four, why not really push the boundaries and go all-out with the drama?

For the third season in a row, *The Diplomat*’s finale revolves around Hal Wyler and the chaos that seems to follow him. So far, his actions have resulted in a car bombing in London, a U.S. President’s death, and now, the theft of the Poseidon. While Kate is realizing she might be the constant factor in her relationship problems, it’s probably wishful thinking to expect Hal to consider the international crises his plans often cause. I doubt he’ll ever reflect on that, honestly!

This episode of the show finally delivers the focus on Grace and Todd that viewers have been hoping for. Todd misinterprets situations, seeing infidelity where there isn’t any, while Kate consistently misses signs of betrayal until Todd reveals his worries about Grace and Hal’s strong professional connection. It’s interesting to note that, unlike previous seasons, the characters of CJ and Josh haven’t been missed much, though the chemistry between Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford still feels special. The early scene with Grace and Todd is a highlight – it’s a realistic and engaging conversation that showcases their complex dynamic, covering humor, intimacy, and even a bit of tension all at once.

Let’s talk about this scene for a minute. I’m curious about the moment Todd tries to distract Grace from her phone by playfully nuzzling her and comparing her to a fresh focaccia – a *fresh* focaccia! While I don’t want to judge anyone’s preferences, I’m genuinely wondering about the creative process behind that comparison. Did they consider other baked goods first? Were they all savory, or did they explore sweet options? And were all the potential comparisons limited to yeast-risen doughs, or did they consider things like muffins or biscuits? I also wonder how many takes it took to film this. Janney and Whitford are seasoned professionals, but I imagine the focaccia line caused quite a few laughs. It’s also worth noting that this is the second time this season a male character has expressed a very specific and unusual attraction to his partner – earlier, Dennison mentioned wanting to lick Kate until she screamed, which never actually happened. Now we have focaccia! It’s an interesting pattern.

The show cleverly transitioned from a near-intimate moment with the Penns into the season’s main love scene, featuring the Trowbridges. It’s wonderful to have Pandora Colin return as Lydia Trowbridge, and hopefully, we’ll see more of her character next season. The casting of married actors as married couples is a nice touch, and Colin skillfully portrays her character’s boredom and lack of enthusiasm, even with limited screen time, making the word ‘vigorous’ feel ironic.

After the previous conflict, the interactions between PM Trowbridge and President Penn offer a brief respite. They engage in two formal negotiation sessions, followed by a painfully awkward formal dinner with their teams. What stands out is how quickly Trowbridge loses his upper hand over Grace. Even during the first session, she manages to control the situation by cleverly using his own rigid sense of proper behavior against him. It was already a misstep for him to reveal Rayburn’s connection to the HMS *Courageous* bombing, but to do so at her private home was particularly inappropriate. It was a clear breach of etiquette, wasn’t it? A disappointing display, indeed.

The second attempt is much more ambitious and risky. It relies on the idea that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, especially given the high stakes involved. Grace pretends to be surprised that Trowbridge initially rejected help with recovering the Russian submarine and its dangerous drone, but I suspect she and Hal anticipated Kate would step in with a compromise everyone could accept. Encasing the submarine and weapon in concrete neatly solves multiple issues: it prevents radiation leaks and ensures no one can access the Poseidon drone. While they’re only dealing with this one Poseidon – and the Russians likely have more – they’re happy to secure this victory and address future concerns later.

Great job, team! Kate and Hal have managed another impressive feat – and it looks like they’re back together too. It’s not entirely clear what finally made Kate want to reconcile with Hal. It wasn’t one single thing, but rather a combination of factors. Her arguments and conversations with Callum, Hal’s heartfelt question about why she couldn’t be happy, Dennison’s wise advice about their relationship and patience, all seemed to shift her perspective. The successful international negotiation – that ‘concrete gambit’ – probably sealed the deal, as they both thrive on those moments. Even Callum noticed Kate’s reaction when Hal winked at her, making her blush and smile. Thinking about it, Hal’s funny (and slightly outrageous) description of Callum likely helped too. It’s important to have a partner who can make you laugh, especially when you’re upset with each other.

It’s devastating for Kate to realize Hal and Grace secretly plotted to steal the Poseidon submarine, even before it was scheduled to be encased in concrete. Meanwhile, Todd Penn is focusing on the wrong problem. He’s worried about whether Hal and Grace have a romantic connection, when they’re actually committing an international crime right under his nose.

What really gets to me is what Stuart is going through. He sacrificed precious time with his father, who was dying, because he believed the president was a good man. Now, to find out that president was behind something that killed 41 British sailors? And his closest friend has been lying to him about it for months, potentially even setting him up to be questioned in court? It’s a nightmare. He doesn’t know who to trust, or if anyone is even being honest with him. How can he possibly keep working for these people? Eidra suggests he might need a lawyer, but that could destroy his career. It’s all a huge mess! Except for one bright spot: Eidra, who asks him to stay and offers him comfort. Finally, a moment from my season three wish list came true – and I’m happy to have it.

Intrigue and Crumpets

The country house used as a stand-in for Chequers in this episode actually resembles Balmoral Castle due to its dark gray stone exterior. The real Chequers, a lovely red brick building, was gifted to Great Britain in 1917 by Arthur and Ruth Lee. Listen closely during the dinner scene, and you can hear a character named Trowbridge recounting its history.

I’m still craving focaccia! It’s surprisingly simple to make, but tastes so good people will assume it took ages. I always use Claire Saffitz’s recipe – it’s a lifesaver.

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2025-10-18 04:55