The Diplomat Creator Understands Hal’s Actions



The Diplomat’s characters have always been somewhat broken, and a lot of their actions are questionable to say the least. However, the show’s creator, Debora Cahn, recently revealed why she believes that the decisions they made in the third season’s finale are completely justifiable.
The Diplomats season 3’s dramatic last episode sees Kate and Hal Wyler (Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell) reconcile as they decide to give their marriage another chance. However, this seemingly happy moment is shattered almost immediately. Shortly after their reunion, Kate found out that Hal had betrayed her by using her to steal the Poseidon, a Russian nuclear weapon.
In a discussion with VarietyCahn was asked if Hal’s resentment for Kate was what made him use her and if he pretended to want her back out of spite. Surprisingly, the creator explained that while his motives are murky, he ultimately did care about his wife despite his actions. She said that he wasn’t just using her to obtain the dangerous weapon, he genuinely wanted their marriage to work.
Hal used Kate to make the deal where they’d bury the empty sub. But he wanted her back. He accepts her back fully. I have a lot of empathy for Hal; he’s tried so hard to let her go.
Cahn added that she could understand the reasoning behind Hal’s actions. She stated, “There’s nothing a character in this show does that we can’t justify.“
The creator’s comments imply that while Hal did some despicable things throughout the entire series, he wasn’t written to be an evil mastermind or a villain. He is supposed to be a flawed character who was overpowered by his ego. He might not have manipulated Kate solely out of malice, it could have been his deluded way of trying to prove his worth and stay relevant in the world of politics.
It is also important to understand that Cahn saying “justifiable” doesn’t necessarily mean “good.” The creator almost certainly was not condoning his actions. She has even described the character’s choices in The Diplomats nor terrible in the past. It could just mean that she can see what led him to betray Kate in the way he did, but it’s by no means an ethical thing to do.
All eight episodes of The Diplomats season 3 are now available to stream on Netflix.

- Release Date
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April 20, 2023
- NETWORKS
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Deborah Cahn
- Directors
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Alex Graves, Andrew Bernstein, Simon Cellan Jones, Tucker Gates
- Writers
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Peter Noah
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Keri Russell
Ambassador Kate Wyler
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