'The Diplomat' Season 2 Teaser Gives Us Our First Look at Guest Star Allison Janney

Political thriller The Diplomat was one of Netflix's most unexpected hits in 2023. It was a welcome throwback-style drama that mixed the fast-paced dialogue of The West Wing with the political twists and turns of something like Homeland. The series stars Emmy winner Keri Russell (The Americans) as Kate Wyler, newly appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom. Kate, who never wanted this position in the first place, is immediately tasked with responding to an international crisis involving a bombing attack on a British warship. 

As if that weren't enough, she's also navigating the emotional tightrope of her floundering marriage to husband Hal (Rufus Sewell), a well-known former diplomatic figure who's never been very good about keeping his work advice to himself. A delightfully entertaining ride, it left viewers everywhere eager to see what comes next. 

The Diplomat's first season ended with a literal bang, and several character's lives in the balance. Thankfully, the recently released teaser trailer for Season 2 offers at least some answers to the questions raised by the first season's cliffhanger ending. It also provides the first look at Season 2 guest star Allison Janney (Palm Royale), who will play the often-mentioned (but never seen) American Vice President, Grace Penn. And it sounds as though the vice president has some misgivings of her own about Kate. "The VP thinks Kate’s after her job,” series creator Debora Cahn told Netflix's Tudum. “She’s not entirely wrong. Kate thinks she understands the VP. She is mistaken.” 

Warning: Spoilers for The Diplomat Season 1 follow.

At the end of the first season, Kate not only discovers that current British Prime Minister Nikol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) likely orchestrated the attack on the Courageous in an attempt to burnish his foreign policy credentials. However, a second explosion (this time, a car bomb) interrupts her accusations, and worse, it may have left Hal, deputy chief of mission Stuart Hayford (Ato Essandoh), office clerk Ronnie (Jess Chanliau), and MP Merritt Grove (Simon Chandler) for dead. 

First, perhaps most importantly, the trailer confirms what most fans suspected: Hal survived his close call with a car bomb. This isn't all that surprising, given that Hal and Kate's relationship is a key emotional linchpin around which the series turns. But it's a relief all the same. Stuart can also be seen alive and well in this first look at Season 2 footage, which means that the smart money's probably on poor MP Grove as having shuffled off this mortal coil. (The show's got to give us some stakes, after all, and he was the closest to the vehicle when it blew up.)

Here’s the full synopsis from Netflix: 

A deadly explosion in the heart of London shatters U.S. Ambassador Kate Wyler’s world. Struggling to rebuild the lives that broke and the team that split apart, Kate’s worst fears unfold: The attack that brought her to the U.K. didn’t come from a rival nation; it came from inside the British government. As Kate chases the truth, her only real ally is her almost ex-husband Hal Wyler, who is very much alive and very much involved. She faces a fraught marriage, a complex dynamic with British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison, and a threatening visit from Vice President Grace Penn.

Other members of the series cast include David Gyasi (Carnival Row) as UK foreign secretary Austin Dennison, Ali Ahn (The Other Two) as CIA station chief Eidra Park, Nana Mensah (The Chair) as White House chief of staff Billie Appiah, Miguel Sandoval as US secretary of state Miguel Ganon, Michael McKean (Station 19) as U.S. president William Rayburn, Celia Imrie (Keeping Faith) as Meg Roylin, and T’Nia Miller (The Fall of the House of Usher) as Dennison’s sister Cecilia. 

Cahn created The Diplomat and serves as showrunner and an executive producer. Russell also executive produces alongside Janice Wiliams, Alex Graves, and Peter Noah.

All eight episodes of The Diplomat Season 2 will drop on Thursday, October 31, 2024. Season 1 is currently streaming on Netflix.