The article contains spoilers for The Diplomat season 2.
Despite Vice President Grace Penn’s monumental decision,The Diplomatcreator believes that she is not necessarily a villain. The hit Netflix show follows Keri Russell’s Kate Wyler as she navigates the complicated world of international relations. She is an ambassador to the U.K. but often struggles to balance her personal life with her professional obligations. Throughout the finale, Kate is forced to reckon with her personal ambitions after discovering thatGrace was behind theH.M.S. Courageous attack.
In an interview withVariety, the show’s creator, Debora Cahn, explained that Grace’s association with the attack does not mean she is completely evil.Cahn believes that evil villains are a “cop out,“who have been over-represented in the media. She prefers to explore antagonists who believe that they are doing the best that they can for society. It is one of many elements that set this series apart from other TV shows. Check out her quote below:
I think that there are objectively bad people out there, and I’m prepared to [call them out]. But I don’t want to write about them. I feel like it’s been done. Just like I don’t want to write about infidelity — that’s been done! We’ve seen the movie, we’ve watched the TV show — the stories about evil leaders and corrupt, venal heads of state, all of that exists. To me it feels a little bit like a cop out. What if they’re all good, and they all have good values and they’re all doing their best for their country, and we’re still in the motherf——ng s—show that we’re in now?What if this is what you get when the good people are doing their best work?I believe that actually is what happens. I don’t think it happens because the bad people got the big jobs — I just think it’s really hard to get it right. So the hope with the Allison Janney story was, Yes, you go into it, and you believe that she’s the bad guy. And then hopefully you learn thatyou would have made the same decision in that situation.
Why Grace Is Not A Villain In The Diplomat
Grace Is Dealing With An Immensely Complicated World
A major point of contention revolved around the perpetrator of the H.M.S. Courageous attack. After all, the devastating strike put Kate in an impossible situation and left entire countries straining to declare their innocence. InThe Diplomatseason 2’s finale, however, she finally discovers that Grace was behind the attack. The news is so shocking thatthe President collapses and dies after learning the truth. It would be easy to point at Grace’s actions and declare them unimaginably villainous, but there is more to her character than that.
Grace was left with an impossible decision and took the path that would most reasonably result in the continued preservation of humanity.
As Cahn and Grace argued, the entire purpose of her decision was to stabilize the United Kingdom. By ensuring that, she could comfortably assure the world that nuclear submarines would remain active, serving as a deterrent to Russia’s nuclear program. Grace’s decision caused death and destruction, butit limited the potential for far greater horror. Grace was left with an impossible decision and took the path that would most reasonably result in the continued preservation of humanity. From that perspective, she is not a villain at all.
Our Take On Grace’s Potential Villainy
Complexity Makes For Better Characters
It is hard to fault any form of media for attempting to insert additional nuance into its narrative. Rather than forcibly insisting thatVice President Grace Pennis irredeemable and evil,it offers the potential for Grace and Kate to work together to create a better world. All the while, it sews the seeds of conflict that makes for more interesting and dramatic beats. Grace committed a crime that makes her a far more complex character, and that alone is proof ofThe Diplomat’s strengths. The show is simply never going to shy away from adding nuance to its characters.
The Diplomat
Cast
Set within the high-stakes world of international diplomacy, The Diplomat follows the challenges and intricacies faced by an ambassador as they navigate complex geopolitical landscapes. The series explores the delicate balance between personal and professional responsibilities amidst global tensions and the pursuit of peace.
