The season 2 finale of "The Diplomat," entitled "Dreadnought," is a political tempest that sweeps viewers off their feet, leaving them breathless and eagerly anticipating the subsequent chapter. This pivotal episode not only ties up the season's suspenseful narratives but also lays the groundwork for a fiery season 3, as it unveils that Vice President Grace Penn and the Americans orchestrated the attack on the HMS Courageous, effectively crushing the Scottish independence movement.
The episode kicks off with Kate and Hal Wyler delving into the bombshell revelation from episode 5, where Hal reveals that the President remains oblivious to Grace's clandestine deeds. This revelation serves as the spark that ignites Kate's resolve to pursue the Vice Presidency, a position she believes she must occupy to thwart Grace's destructive designs.
As the political saga unfolds, Kate's unwavering determination to ascend to the Vice Presidency prompts her to undergo a significant transformation in her public persona. Stuart Heyford, tasked with this transformation, sets to work sculpting her image to perfectly align with the role. Meanwhile, the intricate dynamics between Eidra Park and Stuart inject an additional layer of personal intrigue into the narrative, as their professional and personal lives intertwine ever more deeply.
The finale also witnesses the reappearance of Austin Dennison, who urges Trowbridge to resign amidst the escalating scandal. However, Trowbridge's reluctance to acknowledge responsibility for his actions and his denial lead to a tense confrontation with Dennison, further muddling the political terrain.
In an unexpected twist, Trowbridge proposes Grace Penn as the new "Nuclear Czar" bridging the UK and the US, a bold stroke that could potentially elevate Grace to unprecedented heights of power and influence. His endorsement, coupled with his lavish praise for Grace during a high-profile event, leaves Kate and Hal utterly flabbergasted, prompting them to frantically devise strategies to thwart Trowbridge from mentioning the Nuclear Czar role in his upcoming speech.
The episode reaches its zenith when Hal confronts Grace with the revelation that they are privy to the details of the bombing and the perpetrator behind it. In response, Grace takes Kate on a poignant stroll, using a blackened piece of wood as a metaphor to elucidate the intricate geopolitical ramifications of the attack. She elucidates that the bombing was a necessary evil to thwart Russia's ambitions of securing a direct sea route to New York City via the waters north of Creegan, the UK's formidable naval base in Scotland.
The episode concludes with a breathtaking twist: President Rayburn succumbs to a heart attack moments after Hal informs him of Grace's involvement in the bombing of the HMS Courageous. This unforeseen turn of fate catapults Grace into the President's chair, a seismic shift that will undoubtedly reshape the narrative landscape of the series in profound ways.
"Dreadnought" stands as a masterpiece of political suspense, where every move and decision made by the characters resonates with significant weight and far-reaching consequences. The episode skillfully intertwines personal melodrama with global geopolitics, delivering a pulse-pounding climax to season 2 and setting the stage for an even more dramatic and unpredictable season 3. With Grace now occupying the Oval Office, the future of "The Diplomat" is shrouded in uncertainty, yet teeming with intriguing possibilities.
