The Diplomat

Keri Russell's Kate Wyler would rather deal with a difficult diplomatic problem than dress for a ceremonial photograph. The Diplomat sends her to London, where the ceremonial obligations are plentiful and the problems are considerably more serious than they first appear.

Rufus Sewell gives her a husband whose experience is useful and whose involvement is rarely uncomplicated. The marriage adds friction to conversations that already have several agendas hidden inside them. This is a talkative thriller: a change of wording or an ill-timed intervention can carry as much weight as a more conventional action scene.

The plotting asks for some indulgence, but the cast makes the negotiations lively. If you enjoy the rapid exchanges of The West Wing and the personal entanglements of Homeland, this sits in an accessible space between them.