The Diplomat is a very interesting political drama. It's very well conceded and executed. The story line is somewhat farfetched but very well conceived, intricate, and developed. It's great writing, and nice to finally encounter a production were the lazy have been totally banished from the process. This is a carefully constructed series of events, situations and progression that engages from the get go. It's clear to see a lot of planning and painstaking work has gone into this one, so credit where due. Production quality, scenes, direction, cast... pretty much everything is on point.
However, good as it is, it does have a few issues and though these don't generally detract from the quality of the series, they do raise issues of their own, some of which I found a little problematic.
The first it panders to too many modern attitudes and social contermporary biases. Its a little annoying - The 'strong powerful and independant woman' (who has largely dismissed her husband) is chosen for US to UK ambassodor. Nearly all the influencial positions are held by women aside fom Denison who is black, and all the white men are useless incompentent and self serving... it's textbook Disney stuff being parroted by Netflix. Once again the American impression of the English walking around in grey pin stripe suits, bowler hats, and umbrellas comes into play, 'sigh'
Secondly the speed of the dialogue and the rapid, almost cryptic exchanges that often take place between the characters. There is a lot happening very quickly and unfortunately much of what unfolds is lost in this ridiculous psudo speech the series seems to lean on. It's dialogue only used in hollywood and contains exchanges you'd never really hear in real life. It makes the conversations problematic to follow as you mentally decrypt them, leaving you a half-step behind as you battle in earnest to keep up. It is a little taxing, and probably detracts from the enjoyment more than anything else; particularly as it happens with pretty much all the characters, though with some its exaggerated with quirks that have been detailed for reasons I can't fathom. For example, the very 'British' English spoken by some of the English characters is almost Shakespearian in its comparison to contemporary English, certainly more like 'Old English'. I mean who wrote the lines and delivery profile for Foreign Secretary Dennison? What is this Othello? His totally understated mannerisms help little to convey any understanding of his character or the monologues that spew continually from his lips. Its easier to understand an episode from 'Prime Ministers Question Time' that one of Dennison's exchanges.
The episodes, and the series in general feels not so much rushed as running on fast forward. I understand with a series like this there is a desire, even a requirement to ensure each episode has a lot of impact, tension, drama and events, but sometimes I'm just finding it difficult to keep up with the constant flow of unfolding palaver. In fact re-watching some episodes or scenes will surely be a requirement with this series, so just as well it's on Netflix. Missing a dialogue exchange, or one small aspect of development in a sequence of events, can seriously hamper your understanding of the story's complicated structure and leave you blindsided in escalating progression of enactment.
The feeling of too much happening in each episode really pervades here. I get the impression that perhaps it was scheduled for a ten or twelve episode run that had to be shaved to eight for the purposes of financial, investment or commercial viability. Whatever the reason, the episodes and the series in general suffers from it... Not immensely, but noticeably. At any rate, the condensation of screenplay into such a short series is somewhat detrimental to overall outcome.
I wonder if the desire for drama has overshadowed the need for logic and moderation. I mean Yes it is fantastically written but does everything need to be quite so farfetched. It's a little like a going out with a drama queen; everything's an event... except perhaps the Wylers' marriage which has as much dimension as a sheet of A4 paper.
This is the biggest joke of the series in my estimation. They're getting a divorce! Really! Why? Because he's a conniving manipulator with notions of grandeur and world domination? Ridiculous! It's made clear they were previously a power couple and she facilitated his diplomatic and career efforts from the outset. She's always known who and what he is... so it can't be a shock he has aspirations of his own now, and even though he's certainly a Maverick she knows his capabilities and seems to handle him as much as he tests her. There is absolutely no question she is an exceptionally capable woman, and her understanding of how he functions is nothing short of clairvoyant. There isn't any real bitterness or tangible animosity between them, and if anything the communication displayed between them as a couple is nothing short of spectacular. They are both physically appealing, intimate, passionate, and communicative. And are still having sex for Christ sake! Good Sex too it would seem. Even when giving the opportunity he doesn't cheat, something of which she is well aware, and he clearly loves her.
Half the married people I know would give a right arm (some a leg too) for a marriage this good. This is way more than a little ridiculous. They have shown nothing here that reflects the desire, attitude or necessity for divorce at all... What, because he's tried to manipulate her into becoming the VICE PRESIDENT of the United States of America? Are you kidding me! Half the global female population is fighting for a man like this and the other half is praying! The whole notion is preposterous. It's just written in the script and were expected to buy it. Nonsense.
Anyway, the series has clearly laid the groundwork for her to have at least a liaison with our Foreign Secretary Dennison in Season 2, so perhaps this is part of the logic in attempting to put the marriage on an unsteady foundation, but the slight of hand is clumsy.
There is a similar problem with the Prime minister's ultimately responsibility for the naval attack. It works as a cliff-hanger or a mind-blowing plot twist, but contradicts much of his earlier behaviour in prior episodes. I think the series is already good enough without gimmicky plot points that smell like cheap wine.
ANYWAY that's my two pence. I'd better wrap this up as this is already twice as long as I intended. As I said I enjoyed it, but will be watching it again (could that be their intention) just to ensure I know whose who, and what's what before Season two.
A firm 7/10 for me but as its so enjoyable, despite the drawbacks I'm giving it 8.