Netflixs The diplomat ended its first season with a cliffhanger that set the stage for even higher emotional stakes and even more Byzantine political intrigue. Picking up right where the explosive finale left off, season two plunges viewers into the dizzying aftermath of a car bombing in London that kills Hal (Rufus Sewell), the husband of Ambassador Kate Wyler (Keri Russell), and her colleague Stuart Heyford (Ato Essandoh) and Ronnie Buckhurst (Jess Chanliau) fight for their lives. What follows is a whirlwind of thrilling twists and turns as the race to uncover the masterminds behind the attack intensifies.

To reveal more would be to risk spoilers, but suffice it to say The diplomatIn the second season, the narrative thickens with a precision that rewards close attention but leaves just enough mystery to leave you wanting more. Kate’s suspicions of foul play by brash, ranting Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) seem as justified as ever: could he really have hired a ruthless Russian mercenary to stage an attack on his own country’s warship? Adding to the intrigue is the ever-scheming Margaret Roylin (Celia Imrie), the Prime Minister’s shadowy advisor, whose fingerprints are all over the chaos.

Throughout the season The diplomat cleverly layering these existential threats to democracy with simmering romantic tensions between Stuart and CIA station chief Eidra Park (Ali Ahn), and between Kate and the dashing Secretary of State Austin Dennison (David Gyasi). It is the flirtations between the latter, coupled with the subtle examination of Kate and Hal’s marriage of convenience, that raises sensitive questions about the dynamics of love and power. The series presents the numerous storylines clearly, leaving no room for confusion while simultaneously challenging and subverting our ideas about traditional gender roles.

Especially in the quieter moments of the series, which otherwise moves at a breakneck pace and is characterized by razor-sharp dialogue, Kate and Hal’s dependence on each other as partners becomes clearly evident. After a brutal argument, which provides insight into the many breathtaking fights Russell’s undercover agent Elizabeth Jennings fought with her husband, played by Matthew Rhys The AmericansKate is banished to a guest room. Hal, still recovering from his injuries, reluctantly asks her to help him take off his shoes before she leaves, and Kate is forced to kneel at his feet, knowing she played a role in why he can hardly move.

The diplomat manages to comfortably balance the behind-the-scenes look at political machinations with the interpersonal relationships of the people involved, thanks in large part to its leads, particularly Russell. Supporting characters like Frances Munning (Penny Downie) and Pascale Besson (Géraldine Chevalley), employees of the ambassador’s palatial residence, also add some much-needed moments of levity to the series’ gloriously high drama.

And this drama leads to a cliffhanger that is as shocking as it is far-fetched. It’s a bold bait-and-switch that makes an initially odd addition to the cast late in the game make a lot more sense in hindsight and virtually ensures it The diplomat will return for another round.