In The Diplomat season 2, actress Allison Janney portrays the character of Grace Penn, Vice President, as a "formidable woman" who draws inspiration from Hillary Clinton. Janney sees parallels between her character and Clinton in terms of their appearance and strategic stoicism. As the show plays out before the 2024 election, it becomes evident how Grace is being positioned as a reflection of Clinton during the 2016 era.
The season revolves around Ambassador Kate Wyler uncovering a conspiracy involving Grace, where she compelled the U.K. government to attack itself in order to prevent Scotland's bid for independence. However, the attack goes terribly wrong, resulting in the deaths of 43 British citizens. Grace's justification for the attack was to protect the nuclear submarine base in Scotland, which is crucial for the U.S.'s security against Russia.
Kate becomes aware of Grace's actions but is unable to reveal them publicly for fear of destabilizing the U.S. and global democracy. Although Kate confronts Grace about her decision to cover up the attack, she also realizes that she might have made the same choice in Grace's position. This complexity of decision-making is a recurring theme in the show, forcing the audience to grapple with the concept of a "necessary evil."
Despite the controversy, Janney believes that Grace acted with good intentions and that her character is not morally reprehensible. However, the revelation of Grace's involvement in the attack on the Courageous is meant to be shocking, emphasizing the destructive consequences of theoretically well-intentioned actions.
The article questions the necessity of the attack and whether it was truly the only option to prevent Scottish independence. It also raises doubts about the moral goodness of Grace and Kate's decisions, and whether they are portrayed as such simply because they represent American democracy on screen.
The article calls for a deeper exploration of Grace's character and her motivations. It questions whether her actions are based on ambition or diplomacy, and whether she can lead with honor while concealing the truth about the attack. The public's perception of Grace and her position on the political chessboard of The Diplomat are also explored.
The article concludes by expressing hope that The Diplomat season 3 will delve further into the complexities of Grace and Kate's characters, avoiding the portrayal of Grace as an infallible leader. It underscores the importance of self-awareness in the show and encourages a critical examination of these powerful characters and their choices.
