“The Diplomat,” now available on Netflix, stars Keri Russell as a newly installed U.S. ambassador to the U.K. She may be great in a crisis zone, but she has no patience for dressing up or standing on ceremony. She’s a little like Sandra Bullock pre-makeover in “Miss Congeniality” — she’s not the obvious choice for the post but she’s sent to London anyway with instructions to nod solemnly and defuse a potential global conflict after a British aircraft carrier is bombed off the coast of Iran.
Instead, Cahn homes in on the energy of those shows: The political strategizing, the walking-and-talking and low-key wit of it all. The writing has a real snap to it — it’s fun — and if you’ve been experiencing “West Wing” withdrawals and are pining for some sharp-elbowed banter among high achievers, Cahn lands on a less showy but far more enjoyable stylistic approach than Aaron Sorkin ever did.
Kate Wyler is frequently disheveled — there’s a lot of offhand commentary about this — and rarely is her affect relaxed. When she does smile, it’s a wry, ironic “I warned you about my husband” kind of look. That would be Hal Wyler , chaos agent extraordinaire. When they touch down in London they’re both greeted with the honorific “Ambassador Wyler,” to which he faux modestly waves off: “Call me Hal, one ambassador is plenty.” Kate can only roll her eyes.