Custom image of Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) looking surprised in The Diplomat The Diplomat season 2 finale left the future of Netflix’s political drama in a wildly unpredictable position, but the showrunner’s recent comments have at least provided some strong clues regarding what’s waiting for Keri Russell’s Kate Wyler when the show returns. The Diplomat season 3’s story isn’t yet clear, although Netflix has officially ordered another run of episodes. Showrunner Debora Cahn is still playing her cards close to her chest, but the information she has teased suggests a compelling twist is on the way.

The offscreen death of Michael McKean’s President Rayburn at the end of The Diplomat season 2 opens up several avenues for the show’s next batch of episodes to explore. McKean and other key members of The Diplomat season 2 cast helped shape the story’s future, and it’s looking to be just as brilliantly fraught as it has been so far. While Cahn’s cryptic message about what will happen to Russell’s titular character in The Diplomat season 3 doesn’t guarantee anything, it’s easy to interpret in one very specific way.

The Diplomat Showrunner’s Comments Strongly Suggest Kate Will Become Vice President In Season 3

Keri Russell’s The Diplomat character could be set for a major promotion

Keri Russell holding up a suit in The Diplomat season 2, episode 6 Keri Russell looking concerned as Kate Wyler in The Diplomat Keri Russell on the phone as Kate Wyler in The Diplomat Keri Russell as Kate Wyler with her arms open wide looking inquisitive in The Diplomat Keri Russell as Kate Wyler walking alongside Nana Mensah's Billie Appiah in The Diplomat Keri Russell holding up a suit in The Diplomat season 2, episode 6 Keri Russell looking concerned as Kate Wyler in The Diplomat Keri Russell on the phone as Kate Wyler in The Diplomat Keri Russell as Kate Wyler with her arms open wide looking inquisitive in The Diplomat Keri Russell as Kate Wyler walking alongside Nana Mensah's Billie Appiah in The Diplomat

Netflix has released a coy statement from The Diplomat showrunner Debora Cahn, and it feels very much like she is telling everyone that Kate Wyler’s Vice Presidential aspirations will finally be paid off in season 3. Cahn said, “[The Diplomat] season 3 flips the chessboard,” and that in the coming run of episodes, Kate “lives the particular nightmare that is getting what you want.” Because of where the season 2 finale left off, it’s tough to see how else Cahn’s words can be interpreted other than Kate ascending to the role of Vice President.

Of course, being Vice President isn’t all Kate wants. She presumably also has a strong desire to out Allison Janney’s President Grace Penn for her secret role in the attack on the HMS Courageous. Doing so would surely stir up more trouble, but that isn’t something that seems to concern the Wylers all that much. If Kate does manage to bring down Penn, then Russell’s character could still snag a senior position, such as Vice President – especially if the theory that President Rayburn isn’t actually dead ends up being true.

Kate Being Vice President In The Diplomat Season 3 Would Her Change Of Heart In Season 2 Really Frustrating

Kate didn’t want to be Vice President until very recently

Keri Russell on the phone as Kate Wyler in The Diplomat

Kate’s desire to be Vice President is a fairly new development. Although the title being bestowed upon her has been on the cards since The Diplomat began, she was initially unaware that her posting to the UK was part of a larger effort to appraise her for the position of Vice President. When she discovered the ruse, she was overwhelmed and a little upset at being secretly monitored. For the longest time, Kate rejected going as far as even entertaining the notion, but she has very slowly come around to the idea. Unfortunately, her last-minute change of heart could backfire.

If Kate had remained staunch in her refusal to take on the Vice Presidency, she would have far fewer complex obstacles to navigate in The Diplomat season 3.

By The Diplomat season 2’s finale, Kate has started to dress and act like the part she suddenly coveted. However, the original plan was to serve under Rayburn, and doing so under Grace Penn instead is far from ideal. Although the two women experienced a brief patch of professional chemistry, Kate’s discovery of Grace’s part in the plot to attack a UK military vessel has, understandably, created a huge rift between them. If Kate had remained staunch in her refusal to take on the Vice Presidency, she would have far fewer complex obstacles to navigate in The Diplomat season 3.

Why Grace Penn Would Want To Make Kate Her Vice President

President Penn will want to keep Kate nearby

Allison Janney as Grace Penn in The Diplomat season 2 episode 4

Penn could go one of two ways with Kate in The Diplomat season 3. The first would be to distance herself from Russell’s character. Taking this route would be very risky, as the Wylers have already proven to be very capable and unpredictable. So, the more intelligent move would be for the new President to keep Kate close so she can monitor her, making sure she doesn’t share what she knows about the HMS Courageous incident.

In short, Grace Penn naming Kate as her Vice President would be a classic case of keeping her enemies close. The alternatives leave far too much up to chance, and the new President may be able to keep Kate quiet by giving her the power she needs to enact real changes. On the other hand, Kate could use her possible upcoming promotion to gather the hard evidence she needs on Grace Penn and work out how to take her down in The Diplomat season 3.