It's no secret that some series take time to bed in. How many times have we all heard, "Oh, you should really watch this show – you just have to get through the first season or two, then it gets good"?
Sometimes there's a reason why a show may fumble at first. For instance, there's The Office US, which relied too heavily on its British predecessor's formula before feeling the confidence to go out and find its own identity.
It turns out that fitting that pattern perfectly is The Diplomat – and now, in its third season, its time has come.
Where season 1 was somehow both overblown and also a bit dull, season 2 settled out a bit, becoming funnier and amping up the twists to great effect.
No, I'm not talking about the dramatic cliffhanger at the end of season 2, which played perfectly into the show's almost trademark blend of silliness and stakes – the president died of shock while speaking with Hal on the phone.
Instead, I'm talking about the twist that comes at the end of the season 3 premiere, where the new president, Grace Penn, picks Hal Wyler to be her vice president, rather than the choice who has been lined up for seasons now, his wife Kate.
Not right for the world of the show, of course – Hal is slippery, conniving and utterly self-centred, while Kate has genuine diplomatic nous and skills which could be put to supremely effective use in the role. However, it is right for the series itself, which almost instantly becomes a new show at its most basic essence.
If you're a political obsessive like me, that may sound interesting, but the execution was so lacking in realism and detail that the show failed to match up with that target audience.
However, if you were to describe the series after season 3, you would say it's about the American ambassador to the UK trying to stop crises while also battling with her husband, the vice president, as their marriage crumbles. Now that sounds like a good show, regardless of political geekery.
The more explicit fracturing of the marriage that we see in the first few episodes of season 3 also frees Kate up for romantic storylines that aren't quite as languorous and drawn out as the one she's had with Austin.
It throws another spanner in the works when it comes to continuing both international and highly personal diplomacy, and also allows the show to indulge in the more steamy aspects it so loves in a way we genuinely care about.
Where Michael McKean's Rayburn was always a side character, popping up for occasional, fairly inconsequential scenes, Grace's role is crucial, and allows us a closer look at the corridors of American power.
Instead, we're watching someone willing to do whatever it takes to get the results she wants, and who is at all times fighting for her political life and personal freedom, were her big secret to ever get out.
Bradley Whitford's also a great addition to the cast – if we're honest, he doesn't have a whole lot to do this season, but he's such a charming screen presence, and his chemistry with Janney so well-established, that any scenes with him are still worth looking forward to.
Oh yes, Rory Kinnear is still knocking about, still doing exceptional work and somehow managing to be both frustratingly unpredictable and yet also extremely easy to read. If you've ever felt that about a real-life politician – and quite frankly, it's hard not to see parallels – then he captures it perfectly, even if his screen time is more limited this season.
Sure, it's not perfect – I have to admit that I've never been particularly engaged by the ongoing storylines of either Ali Ahn's Eidra or Ato Essandoh's Stuart, even if the latter does get a slightly more complex arc this time around.
As the seasons have gone on, Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell have grown with their roles. Having started from a high standpoint as the selling point for the whole series, they are really excelling beyond anything we have yet seen here, and some of their sparring matches are magnificent.
However, if you've stuck it out from the beginning, either because you've been a big fan from the start or you've been more mixed but wanted to see where it goes, then you're about to be blown away by season 3.
The Diplomat season 3 is available to stream now on Netflix. Seasons 1-2 are also available – sign up from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
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