The Diplomat is back, and viewers didn't waste any time. Season 4 drew 4.8 million views on Netflix between its October 15 premiere and October 18, just a month after Allison Janney won an Emmy for playing President Grace Penn. Here's where the story stands, what's new this season and what to rewatch before you press play.
A Strong Start on Netflix's Charts
All eight episodes of season 4 arrived on Netflix on Thursday, October 15. By Sunday, the new season had 4.8 million views and 33.5 million hours watched, enough for No. 5 on Netflix's global English TV chart for the week of October 12 to 18, according to Netflix's Top 10.
Critics are on board too. Season 4 opened with a 100% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, though that was based on only nine reviews as of October 19, Techloy reported. Earlier seasons scored 97%, 95% and 84%, going back from season 3 to season 1.
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Allison Janney's Emmy Win
The timing helps. In September, Allison Janney won outstanding supporting actress in a drama series at the 78th Emmys for The Diplomat. It was her eighth Emmy as a performer, tying the all-time record shared by Cloris Leachman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jean Smart, who also reached eight that night, Variety reported.
“This is not what I planned for this category at all,” Janney said on stage, before thanking co-stars Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell.
Where Season 3 Left Off
If it's been a while, here's the short version, based on Netflix's own season 3 ending breakdown with creator Debora Cahn:
- Grace Penn is president. President Rayburn died, and Grace took office knowing she had ordered the attack on the HMS Courageous, which killed 43 people.
- Hal is vice president. Grace offered Hal Wyler the job, and he moved to Washington while Kate stayed in London as ambassador.
- Kate and Hal are barely holding on. Their marriage split apart during the season. Kate eventually asked Hal to take her back, and he agreed.
- A doomsday weapon is missing. Kate learned about a lost Russian submarine carrying the Poseidon, a nuclear weapon. By the finale, the Poseidon was gone, and Kate suspected Hal and Grace had taken it.
- The cliffhanger. Hal told Kate to “tell no one,” then warned Grace that Kate knew.
What's New in Season 4
Netflix's synopsis says “two marriages threaten to eat each other alive” this season. A catastrophic moment shatters the peace Kate brokered between the US and the UK, along with the marriage she's trying to save. Meanwhile, Grace and Hal's plan to steal Russia's most powerful weapon “hurtles the United States toward war.”
That pushes Kate into an unlikely partnership with Todd Penn, the president's husband, played by Bradley Whitford. Netflix calls them “at best an uneasy pair,” united to stop the Grace and Hal alliance.
A few other changes:
- Italy joins the map. For the first time, the show filmed in Italy, in Lucca and Florence, according to What's on Netflix.
- A G7 summit. Netflix says a fictional G7 summit plays out in the season's final two episodes.
- Bigger roles. Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford and Nana Mensah were promoted to series regulars.
Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ato Essandoh, Ali Ahn and Rory Kinnear are all back.
What to Rewatch Before Season 4
Season 4 picks up from season 3's nuclear cliffhanger, so the season 3 finale is the one episode worth revisiting if you're short on time. Pay attention to the Poseidon, Hal's last conversation with Kate and his call to Grace.
If you have a weekend, a full season 3 rewatch is the better plan. It sets up the split between Kate and Hal and the working relationship between Hal and Grace that Todd and Kate now want to break up. Season 4 runs 7 hours and 2 minutes, according to Netflix, so you can finish both in a few nights.
Will There Be a Season 5?
Netflix hasn't announced one yet, Techloy reported on October 19. The show was renewed for season 4 before season 3 premiered, so a decision could come at any time. Until then, season 4 is all there is, and it doesn't leave much room to relax.
