The Diplomat

My first ever review! I thoroughly enjoyed this. Good story lines. Enjoyed the acting. Was a bit confusing the overall story but all came together in the end. You don't have to have watched all of them as there's a new story to each one but there is one that follows through all 6 episodes. Easy watching and I found it difficult to turn off. The relationship between the consulate, police and "victims" is good and sometimes can bring a tear to your eye.

Only reviewing because this is the second show I've looked up on IMDb and there was no ratings and/or reviews?! What's up with the Now TV dramas on here?!

Nothing that requires an on-screen warning with the exception of some random fruity dialogue that comes right out of the blue. It would suit an afternoon slot as much as a post-watershed placing. We watched all six episodes over 3 nights and thoroughly enjoyed the simple plot lines and great shots of Barcelona. The characters were straightforward and likeable and it wasn't difficult to spot the good guys from the bad guys. We found this a refreshing change from all of the complex stuff you get nowadays. We liked the lead characters and hope they all return for a second series. All-in-all this was a fun and easy watch.

I feel pretty confident in saying that the writer's room for The Diplomat was a place of good humor - it shows in how they have deftly managed to avoid the trap of unrelenting drama. Instead we have a show quite deliberately punctuated with some great light touches and humorous exchanges - well executed and delivered with some subtlety.

It adds up to a watch that is quite compelling, easy to get invested in - all against the back-drop of the very photogenic Barcelona.

The comedic elements are not over played, but they do provide a perfect foil for the human dramas that the consulate has to navigate - and are well used to flesh out characterization and even minor plot points.

The end result is a show that is relaxing to watch and engaging - a great ensemble clearly enjoying their work. An easy 8.

There were two TV series released in 2023 and they are both titled "The Diplomat" and they are very different series. This is the better one, though it has a lot of flaws. This series is set in Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain and centers on Laura Simmonds the British Consul to Catalonia, Aragon and Andorra as she likes to say. It shows different types of cases that a diplomatic consul handles, providing support to British subjects traveling in Spain and Andorra.

The flaw is that it makes Laura Simmonds out to be part diplomat, part investigator, part social worker, part spook...it's hard to swallow that a consul really plays all those roles and more. Sophie Rundle is always good, a RADA trained actress, last I remember seeing her was in "Bodyguard" where she played Richard Madden's wife. I like the rest of the British/Spanish caste and of course beautiful Catalonia, Spain.

I think the heavy "by the producers of The Bodyguard" advertising is a mistake, because this is nothing like The Bodyguard.

If you picture an enjoyable easy-watching six-part political spy drama, as might be made by the team behind Murder In Paradise, then you'd be much closer to what to expect.

There's one overarching plot that covers all six episodes, and while it's not exactly John Le Carre, it still kept me hooked throughout.

And then each episode contains a separate subplot exploring the day-to-day dramas of visitors to Barcelona. These can be a bit hit and miss. Some genuinely pull at your heartstrings, some are a bit silly.

The characters are all likeable, the two lead actresses are engaging, the locations look great, and there's a nice paired back contemporary feel to it. It does sometimes drift into "daytime TV" dialog, but not often enough to be a problem.

Overall, a fun night of binging and it kept me a lot more interested than I was expecting. I hope there's more to come!