Season 3 of The Diplomat detonates in Episode 1 itself. The episode is titled “Emperor Dead” and picks up after President Rayburn’s sudden death. Fans get dropped into a White House running on half-formed plans. Season 2 pulled the rug out from under everyone, and season 3 asks who stands.Grace Penn gets sworn in as president in a moment of confusion. No one is entirely sure what happened other than the fact that only Rayburn stepped out of the Situation Room to take a call from Hal Wyler. And from that moment, the episode is a tight hour of blame and revenge.Kate Wyler is at the center of the storm and about to have the wind knocked out of her. So read our recap of The Diplomat Season 3 Episode 1.The Diplomat Season 3 Episode 1 recap: What all leads to a rushed swearing-in?This episode of The Diplomat opens with pure panic. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe priority is just to look like they are stable, not the truth. Kate argues that Grace should be sworn in at the embassy. Meanwhile, Hal is locked in a SCIF and is being grilled about his call with Rayburn. Eidra Park is furious as she sanctioned the call, and now it looks radioactive. Hal admits he told Rayburn about the false flag attack, and he believes it may have triggered the president’s death. But is that guilt or ego?Grace has now ascended and is already defensive. She questions Kate and keeps her close to be able to monitor her on The Diplomat. The hour buzzes with nervous energy as Nicol Trowbridge insists on flying in, Grace calls Rayburn’s widow, and an asylum is extended to Margaret Roylin despite what Eidra says. Even the running gag about finding a Bible for the oath lands like relief in a moment of straight-up dread.Kate holds things together as always. She coaches Grace through the moment while believing she’s lined up for the vice presidency. That belief won't survive the night.The Diplomat Season 3 Episode 1 recap: Hal gets the job, but Kate pays the priceNow, Hal, of course, is never subtle, so he spends the episode acting like Kate’s promotion is inevitable. He pitches her future to anyone who’ll listen. From the outside, it looks supportive, but for Grace, it’s a threat.Then Grace names Hal Wyler her vice president! View this post on Instagram Instagram PostPolitically, it makes sense as he can be a steady male counterpart to a newly sworn-in female president. But the choice sidelines Kate in the most personal way as it turns her husband into her superior. She thus starts seeing his appointment as both a strategy and a punishment for aiming high. Kate is restrained. Once again, she trusted the system, which chose someone else.As later context from the season makes clear, this moment is the line from which everything else will crack. Grace and Hal share an “ends justify the means” worldview, and Kate doesn't. Episode 1 dares them to coexist.The Diplomat season 3 is streaming on Netflix.MORE ON The Diplomat: What's the Poseidon? | Subtle similarities with this hit 1999 political drama