How to continue a streaming Netflix series like The Diplomat in its 4th season of edge-of-your-seat American, British, and therefore world political intrigue and turmoil when the real world we see on our news screens is beset by an American President, Donald Trump, who creates crises home and abroad, with our allies and friends and enemies almost every time he opens his mouth?
You tell a story of an American President who embarks on a course of action even more dangerous than Trump's.
[And there will be some spoilers ahead ...]
Grace Penn (Allison Janney) became US President when the elected President died in office, and Penn as per our Constitution assumed the office. At the end of season 3, she appointed Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) Vice President, and his wife Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) continued as our ambassador to the United Kingdom. This season, President Penn is shot during a visit to London. It turns out out that she wasn't very badly wounded -- physically -- and is back up and working as President in lightning-fast time.
Not badly wounded physically. But we soon learn that her close brush with death did something to her mind, soul, brain, or whatever you want to call it. And she makes a series of decisions that amazingly pit the United States not only against Russia, but the UK, NATO, and some crucial members of her cabinet.
Kate and Hal and a variety people -- including Grace's husband Todd (Bradley Whitford, who plays a welcome larger role this season) -- increasingly try, in their disparate ways, to bring the President to her senses. I won't spoil this season any further by telling you how that worked out, but I will say that wouldn't it be wonderful if people in the current Trump administration tried to do some of that with Trump and his policies of getting us into economic conflicts with our friends in Canada, setting ICE on murderous rampages in the US, starting an ill-conceived war with Iran, and the rest of his depredations.
I guess that's the difference between riveting fiction like The Diplomat and the harrowing reality of Trump. But, optimist that I am, who knows, maybe watching this season of The Diplomat on Netflix will give some people in his administration a little more courage.
See also The Diplomat 1: West Wing Meets Bond ... The Diplomat 2: West Wing Meets Bond Part 2 ... The Diplomat 3: Thriller in More Ways Than One
My 2021 in-depth interview with Rufus Sewell about The Man in the High Castle
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