The Best Show on Netflix Returns With a Bang

COURTESY OF NETFLIX The Diplomat has already killed one commander-in-chief, but Grace Penn’s ( Allison Janney ) time in the White House could be cut short after the shock events at the end of the fourth season opener.

Is Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) about to become president? Rather than save one of its biggest shocks for the finale, the first gasp-worthy moment of the Netflix political thriller occurs at the end of the first episode when Grace is— spoiler alert! —shot in the stomach by an unseen gunman.

Creator Debora Cahn is not messing around with a table-setting return, immediately placing Grace in the (literal) crosshairs after the previous season ended with another delicious twist.

Much like Slow Horses , fans aren’t left waiting years to see what happens next, which only heightens the electric pacing.

While Cahn, Janney, and Bradley Whitford (who plays Grace’s husband, Todd) all worked on The West Wing , this is not a case of The Diplomat reheating those TV nachos.

The Diplomat excels at cliffhanger endings, whether it is the premiere, finale, or even midseason.

But a show that relies only on bombshells will always leave you hungry for more.

Luckily, Cahn doesn’t rely on twisty climaxes to deliver edge-of-your-seat drama; the layered relationships and ongoing conflicts add depth amid the bonkers antics.

The premiere is a major showcase for Keri Russell as Ambassador Kate Wyler, illustrating her ability to switch gears within a scene.

Having watched the rest of the season, it is clear why Russell’s partner Matthew Rhys predicted backstage at this year’s Emmy Awards that she would get the long-overdue accolade for her work on The Diplomat’s fourth season.

Or at least, that is what should happen come next September.

Kicking off mere moments after Kate connected the dots that Grace and Hal had conspired to steal a Doomsday-level nuke from a Russian submarine that sank off the coast of the U.K. already gives a sense of urgency.

The Brits are under the impression that they are collaborating with the United States to bury the vessel in concrete so that no one can access the superweapon on board.

Now, Kate is stuck trying to spin the Penn administration lie and maintain an alliance that is close to falling apart.