[The following story contains spoilers for season two of The Diplomat.]
As Netflix viewers The diplomat you know, the second season of the series ends with a shocking moment for both the characters and the viewers.
As Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) tells his British ambassador wife Kate (Keri Russell), the president (William Rayburn) died after becoming very angry when he learned of his vice president Grace Penn's (Allison Janney) involvement in the attack on the British war that launched the series. This moment means Penn has been elevated to president and her staff rushes to protect her.
Janney was astonished by the turn of events when she read the final script, as viewers likely were when they saw it unfold.
“I literally threw the script across the room,” Janney said, introducing that remark by pointing out that it had “never happened to her” previously in her career, in Monday's episode. Jimmy Kimmel Live! “It was like what? … It's a truly spectacular ending, it gives me chills thinking about it.”
The diplomat showrunner Debora Cahn previously said it The Hollywood journalist that the idea for the season 2 finale was tied to knowing Janney would be joining the series.
“Once we knew that Allison Janney was coming, it became clear that we wanted her to be a strong center of gravity in the story. And at that point, it seemed obvious that that was the right move,” Cahn said.
Janney previously told Kimmel that she “loosely” based her character on Hillary Clinton, “because of her experience as a politician and all the experience that she has.”
Janney added: “And I love Hillary, but she doesn't seem like a very warm and fuzzy person. I thought it would be good for Grace Penn.
Clinton, and the superficial scrutiny she faced during her political campaigns, also served as the inspiration behind Season 2's memorable scene in which Penn criticizes Kate's appearance, part of which was played Jimmy Kimmel Live!
“Just talking about the level of granularity in your life, in yourself, in your body that occurs when you are made into a product for the public, I found it so amazing that I had been waiting for two seasons to find a place to put is walked in and it finally happened,” Cahn said, adding that the comments about Kate's hair and bra came from things people had actually said.
Production is already underway on the third season of The diplomatand Sewell told THR that things will get even more complicated and exciting next season.
“The end of season two is one thing, but very quickly even more amazing things happen,” he said. “Allison Janney, the dynamics of the story after what happens at the end of season two really gives us amazing things. It also changes dynamics that might have been in danger of playing out. And it's getting really complex.”