Spooked

I watch more than my share of espionage dramas, because I'm obviously fascinated and horrified by the "national security" world. But 95 percent of what Hollywood (and its British partner) turns out is complete bullshit -- spin and propaganda generated by spy industry-friendly hacks like author Ben Macintyre, whose work is the basis for the current limited series A Spy Among Friends (actor Damian Lewis deserves better), among others.

So I was pleasingly surprised by the first three episodes of Netflix’s The Diplomat, the latest effort to dramatize the world of geopolitical intrigue. I normally shudder whenever Netflix -- or Amazon or HBO or Hulu — do a spy series. When’s the last honest spy drama you saw? I'm not arguing that The Diplomat is great art or deeply revealing -- it's an entertainment. But, so far, it has held my interest (he raved).

Strongly acted by Keri Russell and the great Rufus Sewell (the British actor who expertly plays Russell's American husband, naturally) and a diverse supporting cast that includes Ato Essandoh, Ali Ahn, and David Gyasi and created by Debora Cahn of Homeland and West Wing, The Diplomat is a cut above most of the predictable espionage fare.

The marriage of Katy and Hal Wyler is troubled and anything but diplomatic. Nonetheless, it's necessary -- like most of international relations. And so far, the Wylers’ take on the fraught relationship between Western powers and the Middle East feels refreshingly real -- or as real as Hollywood gets.

So, if you're looking for something to watch this weekend, I give The Diplomat a solid B.

Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell in The Diplomat