We’re only a minute or two into the first scene between Keri Russell as Kate Wyler and Rufus Sewell as her husband Hal in the Netflix limited series “The Diplomat” when we’re sure of it: These two are magnetic together. They could be the anchors for a multi-season run of an instantly engrossing, beautifully filmed, sharply written and wonderfully acted political drama.
Over the course of the eight-episode first season, which ends on a huge reveal/cliffhanger, our initial instincts are confirmed, with showrunner Debora Cahn (“The West Wing,” “Homeland”) creating a rich, textured and sometimes dense and labyrinthine high-stakes thriller featuring outstanding performances by Russell and Sewell, and fine work from the expansive supporting cast.
