Breaking Down The Diplomat Season 3’s Biggest Moments—And Most Shocking Finale Yet

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Following a highly successful second season that earned *The Diplomat* an unexpected Emmy nomination for Best Drama Series (and another nomination for Keri Russell as its lead actress), the Netflix series returned for its third season on October 16th. This season delivers plenty of surprising developments that make sticking with the political thriller worthwhile.

Debora Cahn, who created the popular Netflix series, playfully suggests the show offers a welcome distraction from current events. She describes it as being like a calm nature documentary in comparison to what’s happening in the real world.

Okay, so she’s maybe playing it up a little, but honestly, the Season 3 finale of *The Diplomat* is absolutely insane! And that’s saying something – remember the car bomb at the end of Season 1 and, wow, the President dying in Season 2? This finale really tops them all. Luckily, the creator, Carolin Cahn, is here to help us unpack all the biggest twists and turns.

A new vice president

Throughout much of the show *The Diplomat*, the story centers on Kate Wyler, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and the possibility of her becoming Vice President. However, the season finale takes a surprising turn when President William Rayburn (Michael McKean) unexpectedly dies of a heart attack. This means Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney)—whom Kate previously discovered was behind an attack that killed 41 British sailors—is now the President.

In the first episode of Season 3, President Penn surprisingly picks Kate’s husband, Hal (Rufus Sewell), as her new Vice President. While many expected Kate to get the position, the show’s creator, Cahn, explains that Hal was always the intended choice. He acknowledges the appeal of a female presidency, particularly with Allison Janney in the role, but felt that having two women in the White House currently wasn’t realistic. The writers wanted to portray a hopeful view of government while still acknowledging the realities of the world, and felt it was believable that Kate would come so close to the VP position only to be passed over.

When questioned about whether Kate could have become Vice President if Kamala Harris had won the 2024 election, Cahn explained that the show’s focus is on Kate Wyler and the world of diplomacy. He emphasized that the show isn’t about a political campaign, but rather about life within the embassy and the experiences of those working in the Foreign Service – what it means to represent and negotiate for the United States on a global scale.

Like the show *The West Wing*, where both the creator and Janney first gained recognition, *The Diplomat* is usually fast-paced and filled with conversations. However, the second episode takes a different approach. When Kate learns her husband got the job she wanted, the show slows down, using silence to emphasize her emotional distress and give the audience time to understand her difficult situation.

Cahn explains they intentionally changed the show’s mood to reflect a disorienting experience. He describes a personal fall where time seemed to slow down, and they aimed to recreate that feeling for a character, as if she were falling from a great height with everything around her becoming blurred. Meanwhile, Kate publicly embraces her husband’s new role, becoming the Second Lady, but they’ve secretly decided to separate. They will maintain the appearance of a devoted couple dedicated to serving the country, despite privately ending their marriage.

A betrayal in Amagansett

Kate, juggling her duties as Second Lady and a diplomat, is dealing with a new crisis. Someone with access to reliable Russian intelligence is threatening to reveal that the U.S. was involved in an aircraft strike – a disclosure that could damage relations between the U.S. and the U.K., and have global consequences. In the latest episode, Kate, Hal, Penn, and Chief of Staff Billie Appiah meet at Penn’s home in Amagansett, NY, to decide how to respond. Kate proposes a risky plan: blame the late President Rayburn, who was completely uninvolved and unable to defend himself.

The plan was for Penn to reveal that Rayburn had requested the attack when Prime Minister Trowbridge and Foreign Secretary Dennison arrived in Amagansett. While initially furious, Trowbridge agreed to a joint press conference where he’d conceal the truth, hoping to secure a valuable trade deal for the U.K. after Brexit. However, at the last moment, he went back on his word, publicly blaming Rayburn and the United States for the attack that killed many British citizens.

Cahn explains that a key concern is understanding the implications of having a president who acts on impulse. Trowbridge’s recent decision isn’t an isolated incident; he’s repeatedly acted based on emotion rather than logic. And this time, as with others, his actions are causing far more damage than he expected.

Before the big reveal to the press, I watched Kate and Dennison clash over what this whole situation means for the relationship between the U.K. and the U.S. Dennison was convinced this betrayal would give America total leverage – he basically said we’d get an automatic ‘yes’ to anything we asked for, forever. But Kate quickly shut that down, letting him know she’s working tirelessly, but even she has her limits.

According to Cahn, the current situation sets up a conflict where one side—referred to as ‘Kate and Dennison’—predicts the actions of the other, while the other side doesn’t anticipate the consequences. Dennison is desperately trying to warn the U.S. and prevent a reaction from ‘Trowbridge,’ but the U.S. is firm in its position and unwilling to compromise. This creates a core conflict, and the story explores how this high-level decision impacts everyone involved.

The astonishing nuclear finale

The third season ends with a lot happening at once. Just as everyone is reeling from Trowbridge’s disloyalty – which was itself a reaction to American deception – a new crisis emerges. A damaged Russian submarine has been discovered off the coast of the UK. While no one survived the crash, the submarine carries a device called the Poseidon. As the President explains, the Poseidon is a nuclear-powered underwater drone equipped with a nuclear warhead, intended to cause widespread radioactive contamination.

So, the movie builds to this intense final confrontation where Penn flies all the way to the U.K. hoping to fix things with Trowbridge. He proposes getting China involved to deal with the sub, but he admits even to himself that letting them have that kind of tech would be incredibly dangerous – basically giving them a weapon that could end the world. Instead, he argues that the U.S. is the only one equipped to safely retrieve Poseidon and prevent a nuclear disaster in the U.K. It’s a pretty desperate plea, but Trowbridge just… walks out. Honestly, I was shocked! Penn was left completely stunned, and it was a really powerful moment.

The season finale features a particularly memorable and tense dinner party. Creator Debora Cahn calls it a career highlight. The scene brings together Kate and Hal Wyler, President Penn and her husband Todd, PM Trowbridge and his wife, and Dennison and his wife. Cahn loved writing it because of the complex dynamics between the couples – each trying to manage both their partners and the future of their countries. The beautiful setting, steeped in history and politeness, only heightens the tension. In The Diplomat, a show centered on the struggle for control, this dinner brilliantly showcases multiple power plays colliding at once, creating a scene that is both funny and nerve-wracking.

During a follow-up meeting, Trowbridge refuses American assistance, having lost faith in them. He doesn’t want to risk giving them control of another nuclear weapon, particularly one as sophisticated as Poseidon. However, Hal offers Kate an idea that might save the negotiations. Kate proposes to Trowbridge that they sink the submarine in cement at the ocean floor, ensuring no nation can reach it – or the weapon inside. Trowbridge accepts, and it seems their difficult relationship is improving. Afterwards, Kate opens up to Hal, hoping to revive their marriage, and they share a passionate kiss. Things are looking up!

Things quickly become complicated. Kate learns from a trusted contact that the nuclear readings at the submarine base have plummeted, suggesting someone has taken the nuclear warhead. The scene cuts to President Penn, Hal, Dennison, and Prime Minister Trowbridge posing for photos, and Todd approaches Kate, worried about how close the President and Dennison seem – he suspects they’re keeping secrets. Kate initially dismisses his concerns, but her expression quickly changes to one of alarm.

Kate has just realized her husband and the President were secretly working on a plan without her knowledge. They’ve already taken control of the Poseidon, and Trowbridge doesn’t know anything about it. This could cause a huge international crisis. Kate tells Hal that Britain will see this as an act of war. The situation is incredibly dangerous – it could even lead to nuclear war. Kate believes Russia will blame the U.K. for stealing the weapon, making Britain a scapegoat for America’s actions.

Just as Hal and Kate seemed to be getting back on track, their relationship is crumbling again. Kate angrily confronts Hal, accusing him of using her to deceive the Prime Minister. This marks a particularly low point in their often turbulent marriage, characterized by intense ups and downs. The story focuses on Kate’s growing feeling that Hal is changing into someone she doesn’t recognize. The central question is whether he truly *has* changed, or if Kate’s perception is influenced by her own issues and past experiences.

The season ends by focusing on Kate’s perspective as she realizes a major decision was made without her knowledge. The final scene shows her shocked, realizing that this decision will likely lead to a Russian attack on the U.K. and put many innocent lives at risk – a cliffhanger that sets up plenty of drama for the fourth season.

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2025-10-17 02:50