I went into this hoping for a fun thriller and a bit of international intrigue. Instead, it turned out to be the world's most ridiculous procedural. Yes, there is an overarching "mystery" that carries through the season, but essentially this is a case of the week series that happens to involve characters working in the consulate. If you're already scratching your head thinking "consulate? Cases?" then you're applying more logic than the writers have. The characters are diplomats meant to be assisting British tourists abroad. However, they instead behave like law enforcement, interrogating witnesses, chasing down leads, and trying to solve mysteries. It is utterly ridiculous. In one episode a woman comes into the consulate because her passport has been stolen by a much younger one night stand. A consulate worker's job would be to print her a temporary one and send her on her way. But not on The Diplomat! Instead, the consulate worker harasses the woman about how her bag was lost and makes it her mission to track down the thief--all while insisting she's teaching the very embarrassed woman a lesson about sex positivity. It is hilariously absurd. The consulate workers also act like horny teenagers, engaging in wildly inappropriate sex talk in the office and sleeping with people who come in for help. I wouldn't trust these idiots to send an email let alone "help" anyone.
Review of The Diplomat
