HIGH STAKES

There's a new president to serve in The Diplomat

- WORDS: JEN PHARO AND LAURA CARRENO-MÜLLER

Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell are plunged into chaos, death and destruction from the first scene of The Diplomat season three.

The second season ended when Rufus' character Hal personally informed President Rayburn that Vice President Grace Penn was behind the terrorist attack. However, the shock news sparked a heart attack and President Rayburn died, elevating traitorous Grace to the most powerful office in the world.

"It's straight into the aftermath," says Rufus. "That's why it's all crazy."

Unfortunately, for eponymous diplomat Kate (Keri), she's confronting the vice president, played by Allison Janney, at exactly the same moment.

"I'm on the lawn hashing it out with the very steely vice president," explains Keri. "And then I get this phone call and I'm swarmed by the Secret Service and that's how we know [the president has died].'