Netflix’s original series The Diplomat ,season one episode eight entitled “The James Bond Clause,” kicks off with Keri Russell’s Kate Wyler as she helps make some final preparations for dealing with the Russian issue. However, as she talks to Rufus Sewell’s Hal Wyler, the viewer finds out that she has some regrets. This is due to her feeling as if she left her friend from her old department to deal with other matters. In her mind, she feels as if she acted like every other government official who gets rid of diplomats. Deep down that is something that worries her as she wants to be different from how everyone else acts. Not to mention that she also has to deal with the issue of trying to work things out with Hal. In his mind, he wants things to get better with Kate as he still loves her. Unfortunately, he feels as if he has no value given as how he does nothing but sit around and wait for Kate to get home.
Additionally, things don’t go as planned as a result of the representative of France not agreeing to go along with the plan. From what the viewer can see it is understandable that France does not want to create friction between them and Russia, especially when they want to be involved in their reign conflicts. The interesting part about this is how David Gyasi’s Foreign Secretary Dennison ends up creating an opening for Kate to talk to the representative by acting as if she is unimportant due to her being a woman. In her mind, she sees that Dennison is someone she is starting to like as he is as clever as she is. Deep down she is finding it harder for her to keep her feelings in check when it comes to him and to Hal. The viewer can see that she is torn between two people and it’s getting harder for her to decide.
Towards the end of the episode, Kate finds out that Hal talked to a Tory M.P about speaking to a White House representative. This is due to him possibly seeking to be the next Secretary of State behind her back. From the look on Hal’s face the viewer can see that he is hurt that Kate thinks the worst of him. However, it could also be interpreted as him feeling guilty for possibly doing what Kate is suggesting. Deep down he probably is doing what Kate said subconsciously as he does not like sitting around doing nothing all day and wants to be useful. From the look on Kate’s face, it can be assumed that she is done with Hal and his constant backstabbing. However, there could be a chance that she is wrong and is just trying to find an out with him. This is a result of her seeing that things are good between them until the cycle of issues repeats itself. Perhaps that is why she is quick to judge him without letting him talk.
At the end of the episode, the series comes to a dramatic end as a new culprit is discovered due to an official seeking to meet Kate and ends up dying in an explosion. Thanks to the fantastic acting by Keri Russell and David Gyasi, the viewer enters a state of shock when the culprit is revealed to be Rory Kinnear’s Prime Minister Trowbridge as the explosion was a way for him to cover his tracks. This changes everything as he caused the whole crisis to happen in the beginning. Not to mention that would mean he has been playing everyone for his own benefit. Also, in the viewers’ eyes, that would make a lot of sense as to why he kept undermining Kate’s efforts to deal with the crisis at every turn. Only time will tell what will happen going into the next season.
Rating: 9.5/10