In The diplomatKate Wyler is always a little nervous. Used to being posted in war zones, she feels out of place in her new position as US ambassador to Britain, with butlers ready to serve her in a house that is almost a castle. Kate’s discomfort, thanks series star Keri Russellis palpable: she makes crumpled facial expressions, walks clearly agitated and has disdain for her outfits. (God forbid she wear colorful clothes or brush a comb through her hair.) In addition to this sloppiness, Russell also lends the character a quick wit, confidence, and tenderness. She makes Kate feel relatable and helps anchor this Netflix drama, even as it veers into very soapy territory.

Russell, of course, fully embodied the characters in her past two major TV projects: Happiness And The Americans. The diplomatfrom creator Debora Cahn, could have a surface-level similarity to the last series. After all, like Elizabeth Jennings, Kate is also mired in complex intergovernmental conflicts and a thorny marital relationship. While not almost as sharp or moving as that FX gem, The diplomat has some addictive thrills, which continue in these six new one-hour episodes that test Kate’s dedication to her job and husband Hall (Rufus Sewel).

In season two, she has marginally adapted to British life, even if that means donning a maroon pantsuit and occasionally tying her hair into a bun, and has learned how to do so. can better exercise its power. As a refresher, Kate learned in the season one finale that the terrorist attack that brought her to London in the first place was likely orchestrated by that country’s prickly Prime Minister (Rory Kinnear). So now, while she calms him down, she must find out just how far his deception goes. Are other countries such as Russia and Iran involved? Is it all a hoax? And how much can she trust the Prime Minister’s former campaign manager/current whistleblower (Celia Imrie)?

Kate’s investigation puts her on the warpath with some surprising people, pushing season two in wild directions, with not all of the plot twists landing on the intended blow. (Often these turns can feel ridiculous or trite, as if they were picked out Homeland And The West Wingboth of which Cahn wrote.) But the show’s tight pacing makes these curveballs quite fun to watch anyway. The last few episodes are especially compelling with the arrival of Allison Janney as US Vice President Grace Penn, who is about to resign due to a possible scandal. As revealed in season one, Kate is the best candidate to replace her, and the British gig is a test run to see how she fares in the public eye.

Russell and Janney chew up the landscape with many of them tête-à-têtes. Whether Kate and Grace are bickering or going on about what it’s like to be a leader fighting against misogyny, the actors are on fire here. Plus, it’s hard to tell right away where Grace’s intentions really lie, since projects don’t cast Janney in one-note roles (unless it’s Apple TV+). Palm Royale). Like Russell, she immediately brings layers to her character, which bodes well for the show recently announced third season.

Despite this cool new addition, the core of The diplomat still lies in Kate and Hal’s relationship. Their marriage is constantly on the rocks, and the duo can turn a sweet conversation into a bitter argument within minutes. The intense back-and-forth between the couple may seem abrasive and repetitive, but maybe that’s the point. They’re just two regular people who, even in the face of power, struggle with communication issues and tumultuous feelings (and a little bit of infidelity).

It’s a messy band which Kate refers to at one point in season two as a “magic trick,” where both partners manipulate their history to their advantage. And that’s what makes the show so much fun. She knows that Hal, with his cunning tactics as a former diplomat, can obtain information that she cannot. And he’s aware that Kate is his last attempt at relevance. Beneath the lies, back-channeling and mind games lies a strange kind of respect and love.

That said, by merging their relationship with larger political conspiracies, The diplomat makes some crazy choices, especially in the season’s eye-popping finale. But the fast-paced storylines, while perhaps not grounded in reality, result in an entertaining, easy-to-watch thriller with a great Russell performance.

The diplomat season two premieres on Netflix on October 31