WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for season 2 of The Diplomat.
United States Vice President Grace Penn is the most notable addition for the cast of The Diplomat Season 2 and has a huge impact on the narrative of Season 1. Keri Russell leads the cast of The Diplomat Season 2 along with Rufus Sewell as her husband Hal, David Gyasi as Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison, Ali Ahn as CIA agent Eidra Park and Rory Kinnear as Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge. The series begins after the events of The Diplomat the first season finale, which left the lives of Hal, Ato Essandoh’s Stuart and Jess Chanliau’s Ronnie up in the air.
The Diplomat was created by Debora Chan (The West Wing, Grey’s Anatomy, Homeland). Lead actress Keri Russell received an Emmy nomination for her role as US Ambassador Kate Wyler in The Diplomat season 1. The series introduces a handful of new characters while narrowing its focus on those responsible for the car explosion that killed Merritt Grove and the missile attack on HMS Courageous, two of the biggest obstacles in The Diplomat season 1. How The Diplomat season two ends, Kate and Hal are closer to the truth about Roman Lenkov and the government officials behind the false flag operation.
Who plays Grace Penn in the diplomat?
Allison Janney, Oscar and 7-time Emmy winner
In The Diplomat Season 2, the Vice President of the United States, Grace Penn, is played by Allison Janney. Although Penn doesn’t appear until the final two episodes of The Diplomat Season 2, she undoubtedly and quickly becomes the most integral character in the entire series. It is referenced throughout The Diplomat season 1 and the first four episodes of season 2, but is not shown on screen until season 2, episode 5, titled “Our Lady of the Immaculate Deception”. US Ambassador Kate Wyler is nervous about meeting her and soon discovers that Penn is a seasoned slugger with unfamiliar skin in the complex game of international diplomacy.
Oscar and Emmy winner Allison Janney plays the formidable and dangerous Vice President of the United States, Grace Penn. Janney won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2018 for I, Tonya starring Margot Robbie. Janney is also a 7-time Emmy winnerwinning Best Supporting Actress for her role as CJ Cregg in The West Wing (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004), as well as Best Guest Actress in 2014 for Master of Sex and Best Supporting Actress in 2014 and 2015 for playing Bonnie on the CBS sitcom Mother. Janney’s notable film credits include The help (2011), Juno (2007), The hours (2002), Spy (2015), and Hairspray (2007).
Grace Penn’s Connection to Roylin and HMS Courageous Attack
Penn called on Roylin and members of Parliament to hire Roman Lenkov
The most shocking twist The Diplomat season two is that US Vice President Grace Penn was behind the attack on the HMS Courageous. Hal initially learns this information from Margaret Roylin, who is also involved in the elaborate false flag operation. Roylin was the one who, along with British Members of Parliament Merritt Grove and Lenny Stendig, hired Russian mercenary Roman Lenkov to attack HMS Courageous. The attack was intended to inflict minor damage and was not expected to result in British casualties. Due to supply problems, the Lenkov Group had to use more powerful explosives from a submarine missile.
Kate doesn’t discover that US Vice President Grace Penn was the one who recruited Margaret Roylin to attack the HMS Courageous until the final moment of The Diplomat episode 5. Kate assumed that Roylin was acting independently or following orders from Prime Minister Nicol Trowbirdge for the benefit of the United Kingdom, finding a common enemy with neighboring Scotland in the form of Iran or Russia. It turns out that Roylin did not orchestrate the attack through Lenkov solely for the purpose of Trowbridge’s political gain, but as a favor to Vice-President Penn, who sought to thwart Scottish independence.
Grace Penn’s plan explained: save Scotland, save the world
The VP had to ensure the longevity of the Creagan nuclear base
Hal tells Vice President Penn that Kate knows the truth about the HMS Courageous attack during a diplomatic dinner in The Diplomat season 2 finale. With little time to waste, Vice President Penn pulls Kate away from dinner and explains his geopolitical strategy using a large paper world map and an ember from the fireplace. Vice President Penn explains her reasoning for authorizing the attack on HMS Courageous and recruiting Margaret Roylin to hire Roman Lenkov simply for Kate. It highlights the increase in Russian nuclear bases in recent years that make the United States most vulnerable to a Russian attack in the Arctic region.
Vice President Penn wanted to make sure that the Creagan nuclear base in Scotland could not close due to the threat of Scottish independence. The Creagan nuclear base is the last geographic point that the United States could use to detect a nuclear threat from a Russian subversive in the Arctic region. Without the Creagon nuclear base, the United States would become much more vulnerable to a nuclear threat via Russian submarines. As a result, Vice President Peen organized an event that would unify Scotland and England to eliminate the threat of Scotland becoming an independent nation and closing the base.
Grace Penn Becomes President in Diplomat Season 2 Finale
Shocking News About Vice President Penn Upsets President to Death
Although Kate discovers the vice president’s plan at the end of The Diplomat In Season 2, she and Hal can’t keep quiet knowing that Penn bypassed the president to authorize the attack on the HMS Courageous. Hal says he will talk to Secretary of State Miguel Ganon, with whom he has a difficult relationship and who holds the Cabinet position that Hal secretly wants. Instead, Hal speaks directly to President Rayburn over a secure line at the London Embassy, ​​telling him the truth about the vice president, Margaret Roylin, and Roman Lenkov. This so upsets President Rayburn, who was known to have heart problems, that it kills him..
Kate finally decides she wants to become vice president by the end of The Diplomat Season 2, only to realize that the spot she thought would be vacant may no longer be available. Because of President Rayburn’s sudden death, Vice President Penn became President Pennwhich is why dozens of Secret Service members are shown running up to her at the end of the episode. Penn’s final words to Kate as Vice President are to keep the truth hidden for both their sakes. Penn takes a rather stern tone with Kate, revealing a side that has yet to be seen. Now that Penn will be President of the United States at the beginning of the The Diplomat In season three, she could have aimed to end Kate’s career and silence her like she did Merritt Grove.