Warning: spoilers ahead for The Diplomat 2nd season.The Diplomat season 2 ends with a major plot twist that will certainly impact the plot of the political drama’s next season, but it remains to be seen whether the finale’s biggest moment was just smoke and mirrors. The Wylers’ time in London resulted in some serious incidents until the end of The Diplomat Season 2, with the ambassador couple making waves that were never planned when they were dispatched to the UK. Thanks to the conspiracy they helped unearth, The Diplomat The story of Season 3 will certainly be the most tense yet.
Once again led by Keri Russell as Kate Wyler The Diplomat Season 2 Cast The Season 2 cast picks up the story immediately where the previous season left off. While the Netflix show’s latest series will answer certain questions from the 2023 inaugural run of episodes, The Diplomat Season 2 also introduces new mysteries and obstacles for Kate and Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) to sail. Fortunately, they don’t seem ready to throw in the towel and may have secretly recruited one of the greatest players in history to help them from the shadows.
Michael McKean’s President Rayburn’s Off-Screen Death Could Mean He’s Still Alive
Hal reports the president’s death in the season 2 finale of The Diplomat (but is not shown)
When Hal is sent to inform the Secretary of State that the plot to attack the HMS Courageous was formulated by Allison Janney’s vice president, Grace Penn, Sewell’s character goes a step further and delivers the news directly to the president. McKean’s president, Rayburn, is so stunned by the information that he dies of a heart attack in The Diplomat Season 2, Episode 6, “Dreadnought.” However, his death is never shown on screen. All the episode reveals of the exchange is the beginning of Rayburn’s video call with Hal. Therefore, there is still no proof that he really died.
Is it true that McKean’s death The Diplomat character has been foreshadowed since season 1, with mention of an ongoing heart problem in The Diplomat season 1, episode 3, “Lambs in the Dark.” So, although it is not out of the question that Hal’s news about the Vice President caused Rayburn to suffer a fatal heart attackThe show’s choice not to include the moment itself certainly raises questions about whether it actually happened. The subtle reference to the president’s future cause of death in “Lambs in the Dark” could simply be a way to further mislead the audience.
The President’s ‘Death’ in The Diplomat Season 2 Could Be a Ploy to Defeat Grace Penn
Penn admitted his involvement in the attack on HMS Courageous (but only to Kate)
It’s no secret that Miguel Ganon (Miguel Sandoval) isn’t the biggest fan of Hal Wyler, which could be because Ganon is aware of Hal’s desire to supplant him. That said, Hal going over Ganon’s ass and speaking directly to the President about Grace Penn suggests that Hal has more on his mind than simply leaving Ganon out of the loop. Hal’s explanation to Kate about what happened to Rayburn seems genuine, but it’s certainly not beyond Hal’s broad skill set to give such a convincing performance in the name of intelligence gathering.
“Kate, I did something. I thought it would be better, because what if Ganon made everything about Ganon? I didn’t speak to Ganon, I spoke to the president. Kate, he was… He was very upset. He died, Katie. The president is dead. Grace Penn is president.” – Hal Wyler at the end of “Dreadnought”.
Rayburn seemed to have a healthy respect for Halso it’s not unthinkable to believe he would agree to such a drastic strategy after the Grace Penn news. Elevating Janney’s character to the status of US president would put her in the Oval Office and make her even more powerful. From her new position, she would be much better able to cover any leads leading to her involvement with Roman Lenkov, Margeret Roylin, and the attack on HMS Courageous.
There’s also the matter of the short period of time between Hal talking to Rayburn and then Hal seeming absolutely certain that McKean’s character was dead.
If she did that, Hal and Rayburn likely have a plan to monitor these activitiesgiving them more solid evidence of his guilt rather than the unrecorded conversation between Grace and Kate. Plus, there’s also the matter of the short period of time between Hal talking to Rayburn and then Hal seeming absolutely certain that McKean’s character was dead. This could be explained by the fact that the entire scenario is a forgery and inauthentic.
Hal Wyler Working with President Rayburn Would Help Hal’s Season 1 Forgotten Plan
Hal suddenly halted his campaign for Secretary of State after the first season of The Diplomat
Hal changing the plan and heading straight for Rayburn instead of staying the course and talking to Ganon could be much more than a petty professional rivalry. Instead, it could be a solid tactic to help Hal gain the President’s trust, strengthening his campaign to take the position of Secretary of State away from Ganon. Although The Diplomat season 2 seems to forget Hal’s campaign for Secretary of State from season 1, It’s hard to believe Rufus Sewell’s character evolved so quickly of such lofty ambition.
Rayburn would understandably have been doubtful of Hal’s revelation, as well as wary of taking action against Grace with so little solid evidence. With Lenkov executed by British Special Forces, essentially only Roylin can directly attest to Penn’s crimes. Rayburn’s collaboration with Hal would benefit both men. McKean’s President would be able to catch Penn trying to cover up his part in the HMS Courageous plan, while Hal scores some precious points with Rayburn that would serve Sewell’s character well in his attempt to take Ganon’s job.
A Surprise Return of Rayburn in The Diplomat Season 3 Would Make Up for McKean Being Cast as President
Rayburn has had very little to do so far in The Diplomat
Despite being one of the biggest names in the cast, McKean’s appearances as President Rayburn have thus far been limited to just 5 of the 14 episodes. Even when Rayburn entered the fray, he did very little other than briefly interact with other characters. McKean’s pedigree makes the underutilization of Rayburn very confusing, as if he were just a secondary character, The Diplomat certainly could have cast a different actor with less history. However, Rayburn faking his death and returning later in a big reveal would perfectly explain McKean’s presence.
Michael McKean’s appearances as President Rayburn in seasons 1 and 2 of The Diplomat |
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Title |
Season |
Episode |
IMDb score |
“The Cinderella Thing” |
1 |
1 |
7.6/10 |
“Lambs in the Dark” |
1 |
3 |
8.2/10 |
“Keep your enemies closer” |
1 |
7 |
7.9/10 |
“When a Stranger Calls” |
2 |
1 |
7.9/10 |
“Dreadnought” |
2 |
6 |
9.0/10 |
Presumably, if Hal Wyler and President Rayburn really formulated a clever plan together that involves fooling everyone, McKean’s character will remain absent for most of the years. The Diplomat season 3. While it’s possible their collaboration will be shown throughout the next series of episodes, President Rayburn’s return would be much more effective if the public was as convinced as everyone else that he actually died in The Diplomat season 2 finale before making a dramatic entrance in the season 3 finale by catching Grace Penn in the act.