“The Diplomat” and “A Spy Among Friends” contrast political intrigue

Political cloak and dagger intrigue and diplomat versus diplomat lend themselves to compelling drama, often with real-world connections. I’ve indulged my spy story fondness with two currently streaming series: “The Diplomat” and “A Spy Among Friends.” By far, “A Spy Among Friends” offers much headier content with implosive appeal.

Based on Ben Macintyre’s 2014 novel of the same title, it relates, in chronologically interlaced fashion, the immeasurably damaging story of Kim Philby, Great Britain’s greatest, infamous MI6 Soviet spy. The revelation of the betrayal from 1932 through WWII devastates colleague and close friend Nicholas Elliott, who debriefs Philby in Beirut in 1963. Other spies’ names will also emerge during interrogation. As Philby, Guy Pearce presents a wily character of emotional depth; as Elliott, Damian Lewis matches his turmoil as the profound duplicity sinks in. As MI5 interrogator Lily Thomas (an invented participant), Anna Maxwell Martin adds a powerful female presence, distrustful of all she observes.

By contrast, “The Diplomat” cloaks itself in the trappings of an international crisis with possible military retaliation against Iran. Keri Russell, Kate Wyler, so good in “The Americans,” is belittled here and outacted by Rufus Sewell as Hal, her crafty, uncontrollable, ex-ambassador husband. After being shuttled from her desired Afghanistan assignment to US ambassador to the U.K., Kate must navigate a quagmire involving France and the CIA as well.

Various real world diplomats have praised some details (see Politico), guffawed at others. Of those, recurring scenes undermine Kate’s intelligence, emphasizing her sexual attraction, obsessing over her clothes, posing her in underwear and sexy outfits, and subverting her professionalism with a distracting romantic attraction between her and the British Foreign Secretary. Resourceful, Kate fights on, but a complicated plot deserved the entire stage with the political and economic embattled allegiances receiving more attention devoid of melodramatic romance. For intense, devastating politics, see “A Spy Among Friends.” For obsequious entertainment, there’s “The Diplomat.” “The Diplomat,” eight episodes, streams on Netflix; “A Spy Among Friends,” six episodes, on MGM+.