Eidra feels betrayed by this, recalling Heyford had previously persuaded her to refuse a posting in Cairo, and ends their relationship.

In Paris, Kate receives approval from the French government for the arrest of Lenkov but learns that the operation will actually be a British-led assassination.

[7] In April 2022, David Gyasi, Ato Essandoh, Rory Kinnear, Miguel Sandoval, Nana Mensah, Michael McKean, Celia Imrie and Penny Downie joined the cast.

[14][15] Other filming locations included the Old Royal Naval College, One Great George Street, Inveraray Castle, Ardkinglas, RAF Halton, Wilton House and Blenheim Palace.

The website's critics consensus reads, "Keri Russell's scrappy performance negotiates the best possible terms for The Diplomat, a soapy take on statecraft that manages to make geopolitical crises highly bingeable entertainment.

[25] Julian Borger wrote in The Guardian that there "is a fair amount to be incredulous about", with Netflix having "taken a lot of liberties to keep The Diplomat racing along like a thriller."

Nevertheless, Borger noted that some felt that the series was a "missed opportunity" that "carries on a long tradition of shows that put a foreign policy focus in the title, and then veer completely off into something that has nothing or little to do with actual diplomacy.

"[10] The Evening Standard described the first series as "an interesting take on the time-honoured political drama" that "doesn't reach the lofty heights of The West Wing" but "does have a refreshing lack of the moral high ground.

"[26] The Radio Times was more critical, calling it a "simplistic, bland, and easily digestible political drama" that "isn't particularly thrilling or complex" and "never feels particularly high stakes.

"[27] Meanwhile, the Financial Times lamented that the series "spurns the opportunity to provide a considered look at international relations in favour of a generic and improbably-plotted yarn" and "lacks delicacy and nuance."

The website's critics consensus reads, "Maintaining explosive momentum with Keri Russell as the arresting eye of the storm, The Diplomat's sophomore season solidifies it as among television's most entertaining dramas.

[30] The Guardian was enthusiastic about the second season, calling it "several great shows all at once" and concluding that "The Diplomat should slot effortlessly into any list of the best dramas of the year.