The Diplomat. Keri Russell as Kate Wyler in episode 301 of The Diplomat. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
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The third season of Netflix’s hit political drama The Diplomat is just around the corner. The new season picks up after the explosive Season 2 finale, which ended with the shocking death of the president and a dangerous new individual stepping into the role of POTUS.
In Season 3, Keri Russell reprises her role as Kate Wyler, the U.S. diplomat unexpectedly appointed as the new U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom. In the previous season, Kate uncovered that the attack on a British naval ship in Season 1 actually originated from within the British government.
Kate accuses Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney) of orchestrating the terrorist plot and admits she’s after the VP’s job. But following the sudden death of President Rayburn (Michael McKean) — which may have been inadvertently caused by Kate’s husband, Hal (Rufus Sewell), revealing Penn’s involvement — Penn is now commander in chief, making Kate’s worst nightmare a reality.
Despite all of this, “None of this slows Hal’s campaign to land Kate the vice presidency” in Season 3, according to Netflix. “Kate steps into a role she never wanted, with a freedom she never expected, an increasingly complicated friendship with Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi), and an unnerving bond with First Gentleman Todd Penn (Whitford).”
With Hal and Kate the only ones who know everything the now-president has done, will they be able to trust anyone else? Here’s everything to know about The Diplomat Season 3, including the release date, cast, and more.
What Time Does The Diplomat Season 3 Come Out On Netflix?
The Diplomat. (L to R) Keri Russell as Kate Wyler, Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler, Allison Janney as Grace Penn, Rory Kinnear as Nicol Trowbridge, David Gyasi as Austin Dennison in episode 308 of The Diplomat. Cr. Clifton Prescod/Netflix © 2025
CLIFTON PRESCOD/NETFLIX
The Diplomat Season 3 premieres on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 3 a.m. ET/midnight PT on Netflix.
How Many Episodes Will Be In The Diplomat Season 3?
The Diplomat. Allison Janney as Grace Penn in episode 303 of The Diplomat. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
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The Diplomat’s third season will feature eight episodes, matching the length of the first season. The second season of the political thriller only had six episodes, which the show’s creator, Debora Cahn, explained to TV Line in October 2024.
“[Netflix] was not happy — they wanted the full eight,” she said at the time. “I was really tired. It was a time thing. It felt like there wasn’t enough time to turn around eight of them. It was a lot to do in what appeared to be a short period of time.”
Last year, Cahn reassured fans that Season 3 would return to the full eight-episode format. All episodes will drop at once on Oct. 16
Who’s In The Diplomat Season 3 Cast?
The Diplomat. (L to R) Bradley Whitford as Todd Penn, Allison Janney as Grace Penn in episode 308 of The Diplomat. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
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The Diplomat’s third installment will feature both new and returning cast members, including another West Wing alum, Bradley Whitford. He plays President Grace Penn’s husband, Todd Penn, reuniting the actor with his former West Wing co-star, Allison Janney. Additionally, Poldark and Riviera star Aidan Turner is joining the cast as a guest star, according to Netflix.
The returning cast includes:
- Keri Russell as diplomat Kate Wyler
- Rufus Sewell as diplomat Hal Wyler
- David Gyasi as British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison
- Ali Ahn as CIA Station Chief Eidra Park
- Ato Essandoh as Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Hayford
- Allison Janney as President Grace Penn
- Rory Kinnear as British Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge
How Did The Diplomat Season 2 End?
The Diplomat. (L to R) Keri Russell as Kate Wyler, Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler in episode 303 of The Diplomat. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
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Season 2 of The Diplomat ends with Vice President Grace Penn unexpectedly becoming POTUS following President Rayburn’s death. Before the shocking twist, Kate and Hal planned to inform the Secretary of State about Penn’s connection to the plot targeting a British warship, a revelation they uncovered earlier in the season after initially suspecting the British prime minister.
After learning about Penn’s role in the attack, Kate realizes that the current vice president cannot possibly stay in office, meaning she would have to take over the job herself. Hal goes to the embassy alone to make a secure call to the Secretary of State, but just before the call connects, he changes his mind and asks to be connected to the president instead.
As Hal informs Rayburn about his vice president’s actions, Grace and Kate are out walking. Grace asks Kate for assurance that she won’t reveal her involvement in the attack. Kate promises she won’t take the VP job and reiterates that she doesn’t want it. However, she admits that if the president were to ask her to serve, she would say yes.
Viewers then see Hal burst out of the secure room, desperate to call his wife. Hal eventually reaches Kate and tells her that he talked to the president instead. “He got really upset …” he begins, just as Secret Service members come sprinting across the lawn toward Penn.
“He died, Katie,” Hal tells her on the other end of the call. “The president is dead. Grace Penn is president.”
How To Watch The Diplomat Season 3
The Diplomat. (L to R) David Gyasi as Austin Dennison, Keri Russell as Kate Wyler in episode 304 of The Diplomat. Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2025
LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
To watch the third season of The Diplomat and previous seasons, you’ll need to sign up for a Netflix membership. The streaming service offers three plans: Standard with ads ($7.99 per month), Standard without ads ($17.99 per month), and Premium without ads ($24.99 per month).
Check out the trailer for The Diplomat Season 3, below.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamercuri/2025/10/15/what-time-is-the-diplomat-season-3-coming-out-on-netflix/
