‘The Diplomat’ Showrunner on Why Season Three Finale Was “Terrifying” to Write
Debora Cahn, showrunner of Netflix's political thriller "The Diplomat," has spoken to The Hollywood Reporter about the show's seven Emmy nominations, including her first-ever writing nod, and why crafting the season three finale felt uniquely "terrifying." The interview explores how the series has evolved creatively across three seasons and matters to fans as the drama, led by Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell, continues to build critical recognition.
Cahn explained that after finales built around dramatic set-pieces such as an explosion and a presidential assassination, this season's ending instead hinged on a subtle shift in Kate's perception of her husband Hal, which she found far harder to pull off convincingly. She also discussed Sewell's first nomination and his central role opposite Russell this season, as well as her Emmy-nominated script for the episode "Amagansett," co-written with Peter Ackerman, which drew a parallel between Kate and Hal's marriage and that of the president and first gentleman, played by Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford.
- "The Diplomat" earned seven Emmy nominations this year
- Showrunner Cahn got her first writing nomination for "Amagansett"
- Finale's subtle marital betrayal was harder to write than explosions
New here? Start with this
The Diplomat is a Netflix political thriller starring Keri Russell as Kate Wyler, a career diplomat thrust into a high-stakes ambassadorship, and Rufus Sewell as her husband Hal, a former ambassador with his own political ambitions. Since its debut, the show has built a following for blending workplace intrigue with the personal strains of the Wylers' marriage, alongside a supporting cast that includes Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford as the US president and first gentleman.
Debora Cahn created and runs the series, overseeing its writing and creative direction across its three seasons. Each season has ended on a major cliffhanger, and the show has increasingly drawn awards attention, including recognition at the Emmys, the US television industry's leading honours.
This piece centres on an interview with Cahn about the show's latest awards recognition and her reflections on writing the show, offering insight into how she approaches the series' plotting and character relationships rather than reporting a new development in the story itself.