Debora Cahn, the mastermind behind ‘The Diplomat,’ didn’t always navigate the complexities of political drama with ease. Her first foray into television writing, on Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The West Wing,’ found her frantically Googling ‘how a bill becomes a law’ before her interview. She candidly admits to feeling ‘absurdly out of her depth’ during those early days in the writers’ room, often feigning understanding of intricate political discussions.
Today, Cahn is far more adept at navigating those intricate waters. Her career trajectory includes stints on popular shows like ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Homeland’ before she struck gold with ‘The Diplomat’ on Netflix. The political thriller, which just launched its third season, revolves around the dynamic, often tumultuous, partnership of career civil servants Kate Wyler (played by Keri Russell) and Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell). Their journey began with Kate’s unexpected appointment as the U.S. ambassador to Britain in Season 1.
This latest season escalates the stakes dramatically (and yes, spoilers ahead!). Hal is thrust into the vice presidency, while Kate grapples with personal romantic turmoil alongside a looming global nuclear crisis. Adding to the excitement, Season 3 orchestrates a delightful reunion for fans of ‘The West Wing,’ bringing back Allison Janney as the new President and Bradley Whitford as the First Gentleman, both delivering captivating performances.
In a candid, hour-long conversation just after the Season 3 premiere, Cahn delved into the show’s origins, its embrace of absurdity, and the perennial question of whether her lead character, Kate, might ever catch a break. Cahn, known for her approachable demeanor, proved as strategically minded as any diplomat, even humorously requesting that any emotional moments remain off the record. What follows are edited highlights from our engaging discussion.
An image from the set shows Debora Cahn, left, alongside Keri Russell during the filming of ‘The Diplomat.’
What was the inspiration for ‘The Diplomat’?
Cahn shared her vision for ‘The Diplomat,’ explaining her desire to extend the political lens of ‘The West Wing’ beyond Washington D.C. to the broader global stage. Influenced deeply by her immigrant parents’ fervent patriotism and their heroic view of America’s role in the world—especially her mother’s experience as a hidden child during the Holocaust liberated by American soldiers—Cahn wanted to explore the complexities of U.S. relationships with other nations. She aims to highlight the ‘rift between who we intend to be in the world versus who we are in the world’ through the show’s narrative.
Another scene from ‘The Diplomat’ Season 3 features Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell in their intense roles.
When I watched Season 1, I couldn’t get a handle on the show’s tone, the balance of the comedy and the intrigue, the politics and the sex.
Addressing the often-discussed tonal balance of ‘The Diplomat,’ Cahn admitted that even she ‘didn’t know what the balance was’ initially. It took time to refine. She aims for a blend of ‘realistic drama with a healthy dose of the absurd,’ acknowledging that drama is often ‘easier than comedy.’ Her goal was to infuse the show with lightness, recognizing that a series tackling international conflict needs moments of levity ‘however the hell you can.’
At the center is this relationship between Kate and Hal. Is this a good relationship?
The tumultuous relationship between Kate and Hal Wyler is central to the series. Cahn provocatively compared their dynamic to an ‘alcohol or drug addiction,’ noting that ‘when it’s good, it’s really, really good,’ and Kate returns to Hal ‘like an alcoholic goes back to a bottle.’
American politics has become only more ridiculous since the show began. How much room is left for satire?
On the subject of American politics, Cahn lamented the diminishing space for satire. ‘There’s none,’ she stated. The current political landscape, in her view, is so ‘absurd’ that fictionalizing it would feel like a ‘cartoon,’ whereas in reality, ‘it just seems like a nightmare.’ She finds herself without the imagination to create something more outlandish than real-world events.
‘The Diplomat’ is about public servants, specifically those in the foreign service. Season 3 arrives when the Trump administration has cut support for them. How does that change the message of the show?
Cahn explained that the show’s original inspiration came from a real-life ‘superhero in a pantsuit’ named Beth Jones, an ambassador whose incredible stories during her time advising ‘Homeland’ writers sparked the idea for ‘The Diplomat.’ Cahn expressed her fortune in having a platform to highlight the vital work of foreign service personnel, especially in light of recent political actions that have ‘cut support for them,’ causing their lives to be ‘ruined’ and their expertise ‘tossed away.’
I imagine that when you conceived the series, you didn’t think you’d have to argue for the importance of the foreign service. Do you now feel like you have to be more responsible in how you craft the conduct of these characters?
While she didn’t initially foresee needing to explicitly argue for the foreign service’s importance, Cahn feels a responsibility to depict these characters authentically. The show strives to present its public servants as ‘three-dimensional’ individuals—initially well-intentioned and intelligent, yet ‘regularly prone to failure,’ which she believes is inherently human.
Would the government be better if there were more people like Kate in it?
Responding to whether more ‘Kates’ would improve government, Cahn emphasized that ‘There are thousands of people like Kate in it.’ She finds the sheer volume of dedicated individuals in government ‘moving,’ acknowledging that while some are ‘venal and corrupt,’ many others are driven by a genuine belief in democracy and a desire to serve their country, embodying these values ‘every day.’
The finale teases the possibility of an affair between Grace and Hal. Are you going there?
Regarding the teased romantic entanglement between Grace and Hal in the finale, Cahn playfully demurred, stating, ‘Well, we’re going to have to see, right?’
Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford are delightful additions. Will there be more dialogue about savory baked goods.
On the delightful reunion of Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford (her former ‘West Wing’ colleagues) playing the President and First Gentleman, and a specific query about ‘savory baked goods’ dialogue, Cahn confirmed, ‘Because you mentioned it, yes. Maybe it’ll be an everything bagel.’
Another image shows Allison Janney, left, and Bradley Whitford in their roles as the President and First Gentleman of the United States in ‘The Diplomat’ Season 3, marking a reunion for the former ‘West Wing’ actors.
If the show is built on relationships, it also depends on twists. How many more geopolitical shockers can you reasonably pull off?
When asked about the show’s reliance on twists and how many more geopolitical shockers are plausible, Cahn expressed her constant surprise: ‘I am surprised anytime we pull off even one.’ Each season, she faces situations that she initially believes ‘Nobody’s going to buy this. This is just completely absurd.’
So how many more crises can you put these people through?
As for the longevity of the crises, Cahn stated, ‘I don’t know. We’ll keep doing it as long as we’re still having a good time.’
This is the first show you’ve created. What have you learned from it?
Reflecting on her experience creating her first show, Cahn shared a crucial lesson: the inherent chaos of managing such a large ‘organism’ across multiple continents means ‘something is always going to be falling apart,’ but that doesn’t signify a ‘crisis.’ She’s enjoying the process, and when ‘things are crazy,’ she reminds herself, ‘that doesn’t mean something is wrong — that’s just the job.’
The season is just out, and you’re about to go back into production. Will you ever take a vacation?
With a new season just released and production resuming, the topic of vacation arose. Cahn and her husband frequently discuss it, but she acknowledges the ephemeral nature of such a creative opportunity: ‘You don’t get to do this forever. For a while, I was like, Oh my God, when is there going to be a break? There’s going to be a break when it’s over. This is a magical time.’
Will Kate and Hal ever take a break? It’s hard to imagine them lying on a beach.
Imagining Kate and Hal on a relaxing beach vacation, Cahn quickly concluded they’d ‘get antsy.’ Their hypothetical holiday would inevitably lead to them engaging with a ‘Serbian dissident’ on the next blanket and having to ‘smuggle him out of the country’—a testament to their inescapable diplomatic nature.