Knit to This
Knit to this: The Diplomat
My taste for tense TV evaporates once the end-of-year holiday hoopla starts. From November through mid January, I don’t have the extra bandwidth to handle anything with any real stakes. While I might have the time to binge The Bear, I do not have enough emotional capacity to enjoy it.
Which is why I’m just straight-up shocked I’ve fallen so hard for The Diplomat, the Netflix series that just launched its second season. Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) is the titular diplomat who is tapped to lead the U.S. embassy in the U.K., which is very much not a role she wants. Kate’s more about action, not tea.
To add to Kate’s plate, her husband Hal (Rufus Sewell), a showboat whose diplomatic skills have long been on display, is forced to be the trailing spouse. Before this, their marriage was falling apart. But now? Oy.
Chuck into that stew an unfolding global crisis, full of hidden agendas and the occasional Russian. There are suspicious deaths and fabulous parties. And just when it feels like too much tension for a tired human to bear, the writers toss in moments of playfulness, humanity, and humor, which assure you that they know exactly what they’re doing.
There’s a lot going on underneath the surface, including a not-so-veiled commentary on how many non-white, non-male people have to compensate for the egos of their very white, very male bosses. Plus, nearly all of us have felt like a Kate a time or two where we’ve been tossed into the deep end of a professional pool and expected to be Esther Williams.
But those are the tidbits you notice once you stop to think about the show. During any given episode, you’re too engrossed in all The Diplomat has to offer as Kate untangles the mysteries of marriage and of protocol.
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They are filming the next season in my town, Oyster Bay. NY. I want all the stars to come into Theodore’s Books while working. The set director came in and bought books for the set !!!
Excellent series!!! AND, great to knit to. I hope they will produce another season!!
Can’t wait to see Season 3.
Was at a seminar with Steve a few weeks ago. Really want to get to LI to see the store live.
The first time I watched Season 1 I just didn’t get it. I don’t think I even made it through. Then I went for round 2 and much to my surprise I had binged through both seasons in no time and I can’t wait for Season 3!
The consensus in my knitting group is that this is a great show but there is way too much happening on the screen to allow much knitting. Maybe on the second or third watch!
We’re officially hooked here. We LOVE great writing any time, but add the great Allison Janney and Keri Russell and –poof– magic!
As a former US diplomat, I have to say I have never been able to watch any tv show or movie about being a diplomat because every single one has been so far from any reality as to make me laugh, cringe, shout in frustration….we are/were loyal federal employees doing a thankless job, often in sub-standard conditions where you counted yourself lucky if–despite extreme care–you got dysentery only once in a two-year tour. I’m tempted by your description to watch at least one episode, then retreat in high dudgeon (typed with a laugh at myself) because they Never. Ever. depict real life–in this one starting with the premise that anyone who doesn’t want to be Ambassador to the UK would ever get such a position, and the fact that this job ALWAYS goes to a political appointee. Some of the political appointees (Caroline Kennedy is one) actually do a good job and understand the responsibility and the structure of representing the US abroad. But….. do I dare watch? The dealing with white-male-privelege thing as a woman and/or minority is absolutely an issue, but my innards are cringing LOL! Got any alternate recommendations that won’t make me froth (and please grin with me as I write this)!?
I understand! I spent my early working life on Capitol Hill, and usually cannot watch many political/Congressional/campaign dramas. I did love ‘The Americans’ spy series and her performance (although admittedly her husband’s character had the more nuance to play), so I have given this one a shot for some strong female characters (and excitement)!
^campaign
I have the same issue with watching shows/movies with journalists in them–but I’ve gotten better about just letting it go and falling into the story. Still, tho. It’s hard.
I’d love to hear your take on The Diplomat, if you decide to give it a whirl.
If you don’t, we have a gazillion other suggestions: https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/?s=%22knit+to+this%22
Like Vicki above, I’d like to know what you think of it after viewing . . . but am betting that you won’t find anything to change your mind.
You MUST watch it, because now, with your experience, I’m dying to hear what you think of it!
I started watching this when Henry Louis Gates said he was hooked on it. I loved Season 1, haven’t started Season 2 yet, though.
I forgot about this show, thanks for the reminder! I also have no mental & emotional bandwidth this time of year, but the reruns of backing competitions are getting old. I’ll try this one again.
Baking, not backing!
Great show although sometimes hard to follow while knitting. I rewatched Season One before getting into the latest and it really helped. If the future president’s people have to deal with this kind of stuff, good luck to us all.
Sarah, please watch and report in!
Fairghum!
I’m with cha’. As a retired federal employee, managing the previous administration’s transition was crazy. I loved the show, can’t wait for season three next year.
Can’t wait to watch this! It sounds great.
I’ve probably knit this one sleeve, incorrectly, 7 times, which means it’s become the Sleeve to Be Avoided… but after reading this I put Season 1 on this morning and now the Sleeve (Formerly) to Be Avoided is nearly (correctly!) complete.
Amazing. Thank you so much. 🙂
This is such an excellent show on so many levels: a smart show with excellent writing and acting. The chemistry among multiple characters. And the humor. I binge watched the entire 1st season again to prepare for the 2nd and enjoyed it just as much as the 1st time around. The 2nd season does not disappoint. The problem with knitting while watching is that you do not want to take your eyes off the show. Maybe some vanilla knitting like stockinette or knitting every row. LOL. Highly recommend.
I’ve been enjoying Season 1, but at times it is just too intense and I have to step away. I did notice though, that the female characters seem – many times – to be the ones ‘running the show’, doing the heavy lifting, and being the smartest.
This is not the type of show I usually watch, but my husband and I are both hooked. And seriously, I’d watch Rufus Sewell read the phone book…..
Here in Australia we have been very lucky to have had Caroline Kennedy as the US Ambassador for the last couple of years. Sadly her term is nearly up and she will be leaving our shores soon. She has represented all that is good about your country and I hope she has enjoyed her time with us – it certainly hasn’t been as eventful as a UK posting!
Excellent series!!! AND, great to knit to. I hope they will produce another season!!
It is a fabulous series and the little things that they point out when it comes to decorum and how she fights it are so spot on. We usually think only about the immediate space around us and here are people who have to move chess pieces on a global level. Many of us get stuck in the minutiae while others cannot afford to do so.
That sure looks good…. but i dont think my current WIPs would get a lot of concentration! (Sigh… ) I’ll just have to start another pair of vanilla socks…