Netflix’s The Diplomat seems realistic as it follows some familiar political storylines. Keri Russell stars as Kate Wyler in the eight-episode drama series, which has already been picked up for a second season due to its popularity. Kate is the new ambassador to the United Kingdom and is dealing with an unhappy marriage with her husband, Hal Wyler, portrayed by Rufus Sewell. The show explores the difficulties of upkeeping relationships, whether romantic, like Kate’s marriage, or the relationship between two countries. The Diplomat showcases some very real topics between countries in the real world, causing it to feel authentic.
Throughout the first season, Kate adjusts to her new place in the spotlight, a dangerous place to be, as every mistake and mishap not only in her career but also in her personal life will be aired out in front of the world. As a woman in a position of power, Kate puts up with a lot of sexism, which is one of the most realistic parts of the show as it’s seen in society quite a lot. With the very real elements The Diplomat presents and its storylines that feel all too familiar, it’s raised a lot of questions about how real it is.
Netflix’s The Diplomat Is Not Based On A True Story
While The Diplomat might seem real, mainly due to Russell’s convincing acting, it’s not based on a true story. Instead, the Netflix series is a fictionalized tale of a woman in politics and how she copes with her newfound power. However, the show does take a lot of inspiration from real-life events. The Diplomat‘s creator Debora Cahn was inspired to create the Netflix series after meeting with U.S. ambassadors while writing for the show Homeland.
While Cahn was inspired by real-life people when creating The Diplomat, Kate and Hal are not based on real people. Cahn wanted to create a couple that works together to showcase how such an intense job can affect a relationship. Though Russell and Sewell make their characters and relationship so believable, it’s easy to understand why there were questions about how fictional they are.
The Diplomat Still Includes References To Real-Life Political Events
While the show is fiction, it includes many real-life references. One, in particular, occurs during The Diplomat episode 2, when the show references the killing of Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani was an Iranian military officer assassinated in 2020 by a United States drone attack as it was believed he had plans to attack the United States. The show has also referenced more recent events like the Russian-Ukraine war. These references are tied into The Diplomat to make the show seem more real and believable. Including real-life references blurs the line between fact and fiction, further drawing audiences into the story.
