Intrigue and Influence: 5 Must-Watch Political Series if You Liked the Diplomat Season 2
White House secrets, diplomatic disputes, and power struggles.
The Netflix hit The Diplomat recently wrapped its second season – Debora Сahn's project is a show with brilliant dialogue and outstanding acting.
If you're still hungry for more political intrigue, we've rounded up five other great series to watch.
1. The West Wing, 1999-2006
The Oval Office is located in the West Wing of the White House. The show focuses on the work of the staff of the fictional administration of Democratic President Josiah Bartlet. Each episode focuses on one day in the life of the president and his team.
The show was created by writer-director Aaron Sorkin when he went into a meeting with a producer unprepared. In a panic, he pitched a story about the White House brass based on unused material from his previous film, The American President. The resulting series ran for seven seasons, four of which were written entirely by Sorkin.
2. The Newsroom, 2012-2014
A look at politics through the lens of the inner workings of television journalism. The fictional cable network ACN is losing ratings, and management decides to revamp its prime-time evening news show.
To cheer up star anchor Will McAvoy, they bring in his ex-girlfriend, MacKenzie McHale, a journalist with experience in Iraq, to produce. MacKenzie decides to do honest news without trying to please political forces or looking back at the ratings.
3. The Thick of It, 2005-2012
The British comedy takes a look at the inner workings of government and shows the incompetence of those in government positions.
Hugh Abbot is the new Secretary of State for Social Affairs. Abbot and all the members of the government have to face the attacks and intrigues of public relations consultant Malcolm Tucker. Each episode presents a new crisis for the department's staff to solve.
4. Borgen, 2010-2022
This is the story of a female politician who holds the post of Prime Minister of Denmark. The series depicts the thorny path of the woman who must hold on to power without compromising her ideals.
Birgitte Nyborg unexpectedly wins the elections and gets the chance to form a government. With power comes great responsibility. She must solve many problems and balance her career and personal life.
5. Veep, 2012-2019
The comedy centers on the career and personal life of Selina Meyer, Vice President and then President of the US. A former senator from Maryland, she runs for president and is favored to win, but loses.
However, Selina does not give up – she supports another candidate and becomes Vice President. With the coveted seat in Washington, she realizes that she has become the owner of what everyone is afraid of, and only faces the problems of ordinary people when in front of television cameras. The media is lining up to talk about her failures, and she must save face at all costs.