The political thriller The Diplomat, starring Keri Russell, is currently streaming on Netflix. If you’ve recently seen the eight-episode miniseries and are interested in other political dramas or series sharing some similarities, here are ten recommendations for you.
10 TV Shows like The Diplomat
The West Wing (1999)
This now-iconic series from writer Aaron Sorkin elevated political dramas to a new high standard. It stars Martin Sheen as the President of the United States and follows his life and the lives of the members of his staff as they try to navigate an ever-changing political landscape. Imagine if The Diplomat in 2023 on Netflix was just one episode inside seven seasons, 24 episodes each.
The Good Wife (2009)
A key aspect of The Diplomat is the relationship between Keri Russell’s character and her husband, who often eclipses her. The Good Wife follows the life of Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies), who, after years of being in a similar situation, must stand up once her husband is sent to prison.
Scandal (2012)
Another series similar to The Diplomat on Netflix is Scandal, which focuses on the personal and professional life of Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), former Director of Communications of the White House who has founded her own management crisis firm.
She also has a direct line of communication with the President, which is used both ways on a regular basis. Coming from the creator of Grey’s Anatomy, its tone may be a bit more soap opera-esque than other entries in this list, but that also makes for a different kind of series.
Veep (2012)
HBO’s Veep is another series focused on US politics, but this time in a more satirical sense. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars in her second career-making TV role and excels as Selina Meyer, current Vice President of the United States, whose expectations for the job were shattered once she actually started doing it.
It could be described as The West Wing as a 30-minute comedy-of-sorts, but now about the VP.
House of Cards (2013)
Perhaps the most realistic look at what Washington DC is like, this 2013 series created by Beau Willimon (Andor) follows the lives of Frank and Claire Underwood as they rise through the US Government ranks.
Kevin Spacey plays the lead, which might turn off a few viewers given the public allegations against him, but for those who may not be uncomfortable with that, they are in for a treat and also a disturbing look at our political reality.
Madam Secretary (2014)
Madam Secretary stars Téa Leoni as the current Secretary of State of the United States, who must handle delicate international diplomatic situations, similar to Keri Russell in The Diplomat, but also closely examines US politics.
We also focus on her and her staff’s personal lives, much like in all of the series above.
Bodyguard (2018)
This seven-episode thriller stars Richard Madden as a war veteran-turned-bodyguard assigned to protect the UK’s Home Secretary, a woman who stands for everything he despises and is also very hungry for power.
The question posed by the series is how much he believes in doing his job over protecting his own beliefs.
Anatomy of a Scandal (2022)
David E. Kelly’s six-episode limited series focuses on a major scandal surrounding a close friend of the Prime Minister, who is also a Minister in Parliament, and uses the excuse to explore the country’s top-ranking politicians and their behaviors.
He is played by Rupert Friend and is being accused of sexual misconduct by a former co-worker; we also see the entire scandal unfold through the eyes of his wife, played by Sienna Miller. The series is also partially a court drama as Friend’s character is put on trial.
The Night Agent (2023)
Another 2023 Netflix series that came out right before The Diplomat, The Night Agent focuses on a low-level FBI Agent who starts to untangle a conspiracy from inside the White House that will soon lead him into the Oval Office. Played by Gabriel Basso, he works in the basement of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, monitoring a phone that never rings… Until one day, it does.
The Diplomat (2023)
It may sound ironic, but Keri Russell’s The Diplomat is not the only series with that name to have come out in 2023. Its six-episode British counterpart stars Sophie Rundle and focuses on a series of conflicts in the Spanish city of Barcelona that she and her Barcelona Consul colleague must deal with to protect British nationals.
Do you have any other recommendations for 10 TV Shows like The Diplomat? Let us know in the comments below.
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