The Diplomat season 2 ends with a huge plot twist that will surely impact the plot of the political drama’s next season, but it remains to be seen whether the finale’s biggest moment was all just smoke and mirrors. The Wylers’ time in London has resulted in some major incidents by the end of The Diplomat season 2, with the ambassadorial couple making waves that were never intended when they were dispatched to the UK. Thanks to the conspiracy they’ve helped to unearth, The Diplomat season 3’s story will surely be its most tense yet.

Once more led by Keri Russell as Kate Wyler, The Diplomat season 2 cast season 2 cast picks up the story immediately where the previous run ended. Although the latest run of the Netflix show answers certain questions from the inaugural run of episodes from 2023, The Diplomat season 2 also introduces new mysteries and obstacles for Kate and Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) to navigate. Thankfully, they don’t seem ready to throw in the towel, and they may have just secretly drafted one of the story’s biggest players to aid them from the shadows.

Michael McKean’s President Rayburn’s Offscreen Death May Mean He’s Actually Still Alive

Hal reports the President’s death in The Diplomat season 2 finale (but it’s not shown)

When Hal is sent to inform the Secretary of State that the plot to attack the HMS Courageous was formulated by Allison Janney’s Vice President Grace Penn, Sewell’s character goes one step further and takes the news directly to the President. McKean’s President Rayburn is supposedly so taken aback by the information that he dies of a heart attack in The Diplomat season 2, episode 6, “Dreadnought.” However, his death is never shown onscreen. All the episode reveals of the exchange is the beginning of Rayburn’s video call with Hal. So, there’s no proof yet that he actually died.

Granted, the death of McKean’s The Diplomat character has been foreshadowed since season 1, with mention of an ongoing heart condition in The Diplomat season 1, episode 3, “Lambs in the Dark. ” So, while it’s not out of the question that Hal’s news about the Vice President caused Rayburn to suffer a fatal heart attack, the show’s choice not to include the moment itself certainly casts doubt on whether it actually took place. The subtle reference to the President’s future cause of death in “Lambs in the Dark” could simply be a way of fooling the audience even further.

The President’s “Death” In The Diplomat Season 2 Could Be A Ploy To Out Grace Penn

Penn admitted to her involvement in the attack on the HMS Courageous (but only to Kate)

It’s no secret that Miguel Ganon (Miguel Sandoval) isn’t Hal Wyler’s biggest fan, which could be because Ganon is aware of Hal’s desire to supplant him. That being said, Hal going over Ganon’s head and speaking directly with the President about Grace Penn suggests Hal has more in mind than simply leaving Ganon out of the loop. Hal’s explanation to Kate about what happened to Rayburn seems genuine, but it surely isn’t beyond Hal’s broad skill set to give such a convincing performance in the name of gathering intelligence.

” Kate, I did something. I thought it would be better, because what if Ganon made it all about Ganon? I didn’t talk to Ganon, I talked to the President. Kate, he got…He got really upset. He died, Katie. The President is dead. Grace Penn is President .” – Hal Wyler at the end of “Dreadnought.”

Rayburn seemed to have a healthy amount of respect for Hal, so it’s not unthinkable to believe that he would agree to such a drastic ploy in the wake of the Grace Penn news. Elevating Janney’s character to the status of US President would put her in the Oval Office and make her even more powerful. From her new position, she would be far more capable of covering any tracks to lead to her involvement with Roman Lenkov, Margeret Roylin, and the attack on the HMS Courageous.

There’s also the matter of the short period of time between Hal speaking to Rayburn and then Hal seeming absolutely sure McKean’s character was dead.

If she were to do so, Hal and Rayburn presumably have a plan in place to monitor said activities, giving them more solid evidence of her guilt rather than the unrecorded conversation between Grace and Kate. Plus, there’s also the matter of the short period of time between Hal speaking to Rayburn and then Hal seeming absolutely sure McKean’s character was dead. This could be explained by the whole scenario being a fakeout rather than authentic.

Hal Wyler Working With President Rayburn Would Help Hal’s Forgotten Season 1 Plan

Hal suddenly stopped his Secretary of State campaign after The Diplomat season 1

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Hal changing the plan and going straight to Rayburn instead of staying on course and speaking to the Ganon could be far more than petty professional rivalry. Instead, it could be a solid tactic to help Hal gain the President’s trust, strengthening his campaign to take the Secretary of State job from Ganon. Although The Diplomat season 2 seems to forget about Hal’s season 1 Secretary of State campaign, it’s tough to believe Rufus Sewell’s character moving on so quickly from such a lofty ambition. Rayburn would, understandably, have been dubious about Hal’s reveal, as well as cautious about taking action against Grace with so little solid evidence. With Lenkov executed by British Special Forces, there is essentially only Roylin who can directly attest to Penn’s crimes. Rayburn’s collaboration with Hal would benefit both men. McKean’s President would be able to catch Penn trying to cover up her part in the HMS Courageous plan, while Hal scores some precious points with Rayburn that would serve Sewell’s character well in his attempt to take Ganon’s job.

A Surprise Rayburn Comeback In The Diplomat Season 3 Would Pay Off McKean Being Cast As The President

Rayburn has had very little to do so far in The Diplomat

Despite being one of the biggest names in the cast, McKean’s appearances as President Rayburn have so far been limited to just 5 out of 14 episodes. Even when Rayburn has entered the fray, he has done very little other than briefly interact with other characters. McKean’s pedigree makes the underutilization of Rayburn very confusing, as if he was only ever going to be a minor character, The Diplomat could surely have cast a different actor with less of a storied history. However, Rayburn faking his death and coming back later in a big reveal would perfectly explain McKean’s presence.

Michael McKean’s Appearances As President Rayburn in The Diplomat Seasons 1 & 2

Title
Season
Episode
IMDb Score

“The Cinderella Thing”
1
1
7.6/10

“Lambs in the Dark”
1
3
8.2/10

“Keep Your Enemies Closer”
1
7
7.9/10

“When a Stranger Calls”
2
1
7.9/10

“Dreadnought”
2
6
9.0/10

Presumably, if Hal Wyler and President Rayburn have indeed formulated a clever plan together that involves fooling everyone, McKean’s character will remain absent for almost all of The Diplomat season 3. Although it is possible their collaboration could be shown throughout the next run of episodes, President Rayburn’s return would be far more effective if the audience were just as convinced as everyone else that he had actually died in The Diplomat season 2 finale before making a dramatic entrance at the end of season 3 while catching Grace Penn in the act.