Hal has flitted between being an enormous thorn in his wife’s side to one of her biggest resources. It’s unlikely that Keri Russell’s Kate Wyler would have been able to achieve some of the things she has during her time in London if not for her charismatic on-again/off-again soon-to-be ex-husband. That being said, their uncertain dynamic has also presented more than its fair share of challenges. Although they seem to be much more of a team by the end of The Diplomat season 2, there’s one big betrayal that has been swept under the narrative rug.
The Diplomat Season 2 Forgets About Hal’s Secret Campaign To Become Secretary Of State
Rufus Sewell’s character quietly takes a step back from his previous goal
An accomplished ambassador in his own right, Hal Wyler’s role in The Diplomat season 1 is supposed to amount to little more than being the supportive spouse. Although he does have some official responsibilities, they’re nowhere near as prevalent as in the jobs and titles he has boasted in the past. Aware of how restless Hal is and how unpredictably he can act, Kate tries to offload some of her lesser jobs to her husband. She only realizes too late that Hal is using the platform given to him to launch a campaign to snag a much more prominent role.
Kate’s revelation happens deep into The Diplomat season 1, and it comes to an abrupt end after the Notting Hill car bombing.
Kate’s revelation happens deep into The Diplomat season 1, and it comes to an abrupt end after the Notting Hill car bombing. Hal’s persistence and endless ambition would certainly allow him to resume his plan to take the Secretary of State job from Miguel Gannon as soon as his injuries had even shown signs of healing. Weirdly, the storyline doesn’t even receive a tiny mention in The Diplomat season 2. While this could mean Kate’s theory was wrong, the presentation of the reveal was far too dramatic for it to just be her paranoia.
Why Hal Doesn’t Continue His Campaign In The Diplomat Season 2
Hal’s experience with the car bomb in the season 1 finale seems to have softened his lofty ambitions
The Diplomat season 2 writers choosing to move on from Hal’s sneaky campaign is difficult to explain, but there is a viable theory that pertains to Hal’s experience at the end of season 1. Although he does his best to put on a brave face and act like the bomb hasn’t left any mental scars, Hal’s visible discomfort at the Fourth of July fireworks in The Diplomat season 2, episode 3, “The Ides of March,” proves he has certain triggers that bring the fear of that night back into his mind.
Kate being so forgiving of Hal’s implied betrayal and taking advantage of his wife’s posting may have made him feel guilty.
So, Hal may simply not feel up to campaigning for the position anymore, and find it more rewarding to help his wife. The fireworks scene also gives Kate and Hal a chance to reconnect, as the love between them is still evident when Kate shows a level of sensitivity to his plight that the show hadn’t yet revealed. Therefore, Kate being so forgiving of Hal’s implied betrayal and taking advantage of his wife’s posting may have made him feel guilty. If so, it would make sense he would abandon his previous goal and focus on being an ambassador’s husband.
The Diplomat Season 2 Finale’s Big Twist Makes It Even Less Likely That Hal Will Resume His Plan In Season 3
President Grace Penn won’t want Hal Wyler has her Secretary of State
Hal’s plan from The Diplomat season 1 looked less and less likely to be picked up the longer season 2 went on. When Michael McKean’s President Rayburn dies in the season 2 finale, “Dreadnought,” if Hal had any ambition to resume his campaign, it was surely swept aside. Allison Janney’s Grace Penn being elevated to the position of President of the United States of America is awful news for several characters, but mainly the Wylers.
President Penn is now fully aware that Hal and Kate know about her involvement in the attack on the HMS Courageous, and by extension, her connection to the recently executed Roman Lenkov. Even if Grace wanted to replace Gannon and choose a new Secretary of State as part of The Diplomat season 3’s story, the odds of her naming Hal Wyler as his successor are very close to zero – no matter how strong his campaign would be.
