The Diplomat season 2 episode 2 recap: ‘St. Paul’s’

As a seasoned operative who has navigated through countless high-stakes situations, I must say this latest turn of events leaves me somewhat bewildered and concerned. The intricate web of deceit and treachery being unraveled before our very eyes is as complex as a fine tapestry, woven with threads of guilt, betrayal, and the ever-looming specter of political manipulation.

The second episode of “The Diplomat“‘s second season, titled “St. Paul’s,” opens with a solemn ceremony held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, which is Merritt Grove’s funeral.

Following the phone calls with Kate and the Americans at the conclusion of episode 1, Margaret Roylin (Celia Imrie) is seen in public with Eidra Park (Ali Ahn) for the first time since the bombing incident. It seems that the CIA has orchestrated a scene where numerous individuals resemble Roylin to create a diversion. The reason for this remains unclear, but it appears to be a strategy to keep her out of reach from Trowbridge’s men and the British government.

In my gaming world, let me clarify something about Roylin. I’ve got some news that might ease concerns. You see, she’s currently attending a funeral, which is why everyone seems to be on the hunt for her. But fear not, she isn’t missing; she’s simply tending to personal matters right now.

For the assurance of safety, Eidra and Kate Wyler, played by Keri Russell, seek details from Roylin. They are eager to learn what she’s aware of, and particularly, they want to identify who instills fear within her.

During his speech, Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) notices Margaret Roylin. Before he can reach her, the CIA makes their move to extract Roylin from the funeral. Roylin is escorted under and out of St. Paul’s after a quick outfit change to a CIA car where she’s taken to a safe house.

Hal learns that Kate and Dennison were likely going to have an affair

Kate’s admission after the funeral about her potential affair with Austin Dennison shocks Hal Wyler (played by Rufus Sewell). Curious, he queries Kate about it later. Although nothing had transpired due to Hal being injured, this revelation marks a significant shift in their relationship dynamics.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but wonder where this love triangle is headed. It’s going to be quite an intriguing ride for the rest of the season (and maybe even the entire series!). Don’t forget, season 3 of The Diplomat is already on its way!

When Hal steps away to use the restroom or the bathroom, which is commonly referred to as the “loo” among the British, Dennison confides in Kate that Margaret Roylin was present at the funeral, a fact that she had already been aware of. Kate then expresses her regrets for the incident in Paris, but Dennison dismisses her apology and assures her that everything is fine. However, is it truly so, Austin?

Anyway, Kate continues the pressure to get Dennison to stop the Lenkov assassination. Kate wants him alive, so they can find out who exactly hired him. She still thinks it’s Trowbridge.

Stuart returns to work after the bombing

Following the funeral, Stuart Heyford (Eto Assandoh) appears at the U.S. Embassy for work. The people there were taken aback by his appearance, but he explained that he couldn’t bear to stay at home mourning Ronnie. Instead, he needed to focus on something else.

In a cordial manner, Kate inquires about Stuart’s connection with Eidra, only to discover that she ended their relationship. There are lingering issues between them, yet it seems challenging to resolve given the current circumstances. The dynamic between them promises to be an intriguing subplot worth following throughout the season as we wait to see if they might reconcile or move on.

Hal and Stuart cross paths at work following the explosion, yet their encounter seems strained. It’s clear that Stuart harbors strong feelings, while Hal, with his unique viewpoint, feels no compulsion to express remorse.

Margaret Roylin reveals that British citizens hired Roman Lenkov to attack HMS Courageous

In the embassy’s basement, Roylin is currently under secure confinement in a designated room. Eidra mentions that Roylin remains silent and unwilling to cooperate unless she gets a meeting with Dennison, as she perceives her life depends on it.

Kate prefers not to involve Dennison due to their current relationship issues, yet she still requests his presence at the embassy; in essence, she commands or insists that he attends.

Finally, he shows up, and he’s not exactly happy to learn that Roylin is there. She tries to warn him that he’s going to get himself killed by the same people who killed Grove if he isn’t careful. She also tells Kate and Eidra that she knows who they are, but she’d be killed, as well.

Dennison still doesn’t want to play ball, but Roylin drops another bomb.

As a gamer, I’d say: “I’ve come to believe that British folks like Merritt Grove were behind the hiring of Roman Lenkov to target the ship. My theory is that it was orchestrated to create a rallying point, a ‘unifying event’, as the Scottish independence movement had been gathering momentum.

Roylin additionally mentions that the events unfolded as a result, with Kate making the initial call, and the individuals responsible for the deaths of Grove and Ronnie having traced the conversation through tapping her phone line.

Dennison was considering handing Roylin over to the authorities, but Kate and Eidra convinced him otherwise. However, Roylin asked Eidra to keep Dennison from speaking up about Lenkov, Trowbridge, and other matters, or else Roylin would find a way to have Dennison silenced.

Nicol Trowbridge surprises Dennison at the US Embassy

As they’re discussing their strategy, suddenly Trowbridge unexpectedly shows up at the U.S. Embassy for a ceremony honoring Ronnie. However, this encounter holds no significance for Trowbridge regarding Ronnie; instead, his intention is to have a private conversation with Kate, which he successfully manages.

Trowbridge found out that Kate called Roylin from Paris, and Trowbridge wants to know why.

After feigning ignorance for a while, I fibbed and claimed I’d phoned Roylin to discuss “managing” Trowbridge. I also let slip that our talk revolved around Lenkov and the French cooperating.

Trowbridge leaves after Kate says she will let him know if she hears from Roylin.

After he departs, Kate confides in Stuart about the situation, leaving him stunned. She suspects Ronnie might have been murdered by Trowbridge, but she’s not completely certain. However, she’s positive that British government officials are involved in the bombing, with Merritt Grove being one of them – he was silenced because he was about to disclose information to Hal. Furthermore, she informs Stuart that Margaret Roylin is currently at the US Embassy.

Additionally, she informs Stuart that the series of events unfolded due to her contacting Roylin, who is deeply distressed over what transpired. Roylin holds both Kate and Hal accountable for what occurred, and in this case, his accusations hold some validity.

As they journeyed to the airport for Ronnie’s funeral, Stuart expressed his displeasure towards Kate. He reminded her of his warnings regarding Roylin, but she chose to ignore them. In a serious tone, he conveyed to her that her mistake proved fatal.

Kate blames herself for Ronnie’s death and the bombing

Afterwards, I attempted to console Kate regarding our recent events, but she wasn’t interested. Instead, I mentioned, “It’s just part of the game,” and that was the last straw for her. We ended up having a heated argument over who gets which bedroom to sleep in.

Kate expresses regret for how she treated Hal at work in the past, acknowledging that the issues were more related to the nature of the job itself rather than Hal. However, their conversation takes a turn as Hal feels unappreciated by her apology, leading to another argument between them.

As a devoted viewer, I found myself reflecting on the finale’s poignant moment when Hal, amidst their disagreement, asked Kate to assist him in removing his shoes before retiring for the night. It was a raw, relatable scene that underscored the realities of their relationship. Despite their occasional misunderstandings or differences, it’s evident they are striving for something greater and more meaningful together. This instance could have unfolded quite differently with Hal, and I believe they both grasp this reality.

2024-10-31 10:58

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