The season opens exactly where it left off: in the wake of the wild twists that defined the previous finale.

The Diplomat remains a show for those who find politics sexy — and not in a metaphorical sense. Here, power is an aphrodisiac, and the dialogue, fast and razor-sharp, unfolds like a choreography of seduction and manipulation. Strategies, betrayals, alliances, and counterattacks intertwine as if everything were part of one big bedroom game… with flags flying high.

Does it work? Absolutely — especially because the charm of The Diplomat lies precisely in Kate Wyler’s (Keri Russell) apparent unsuitability for her role as U.S. ambassador to the U.K. From the beginning, that’s been the heart of the series: a competent yet chaotically displaced woman trying to survive in an environment where political and personal intrigues blend seamlessly.

Still, let’s be honest — after so many tragic incidents during her tenure in London, it’s downright implausible that anyone would even consider her — let alone herself — for the vice presidency.

With the death of the U.S. president, Grace Penn (Alison Janney) assumes the role and emerges as a potential antagonist. Meanwhile, Kate and Hal (Rufus Sewell) do what they always do: scheme, manipulate, and test the limits of loyalty and patience. Kate believes she’s finally about to secure the position she’s longed for… until the inevitable happens.

Hal is chosen.

And once again, Kate ends the episode staring into the abyss of her own failure — disappointed for believing that, this time, it might have been different.