Episodes 01

“The Cinderella Thing”

Amid diplomatic tensions between the United States and Iran, a British aircraft carrier is attacked in the Persian Gulf, killing 41 sailors. Career diplomat Kate Wyler reluctantly accepts reassignment as the US ambassador to the UK on the request of US President William Rayburn and White House Chief of Staff Billie Appiah. Arriving in London with her diplomat husband Hal, she is introduced to deputy chief of mission Stuart Heyford and CIA station chief Eidra Park. Heyford is requested by Appiah to monitor Kate for a potential nomination as US Vice President. Kate bumps into Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison and Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge, who is concerned over Rayburn’s hostile rhetoric towards Iran. Realizing that Hal arranged the meeting, Kate convinces Secretary of State Miguel Ganon to keep Rayburn from making any statements for one day. The US mission discovers that an Iranian military boat was spotted in the vicinity of the carrier around the time of the attack. After learning that Ganon is trying to fire her, Kate agrees to a magazine shoot to boost her profile. Upon discovering that the Wylers are planning to divorce, Heyford tells Hal about Kate’s consideration as vice president. Hal is drugged and driven away.

Episodes 02

“Don’t Call It a Kidnapping”

Hal is contacted by Rasoul Shahin, an acquaintance and the deputy foreign minister of Iran, who denies Iran is behind the attack, and gives him information indicating Iran called off the assassination of a retired US general, in retaliation for the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, so as not to escalate the situation. Hal passes the information to the mission for Eidra to verify. Kate attends a memorial service for the repatriated sailors, where she meets Margaret Roylin, a former adviser to Trowbridge. A remark made by Trowbridge to a widow where he vows to “rain hellfire” on Iran if they are found responsible goes viral. Following a vehicle-ramming attack targeting a family outside a mosque, Eidra decides to relay some of Hal’s information to the CIA before it can be fully verified, though Kate is unsure. Rayburn announces a surprise visit to London to meet Trowbridge. Kate confronts Hal after learning he secretly called a friend in Italy, who contacted Shahin. Kate unsuccessfully tries to convince Ganon and then Dennison to cancel the visit. While receiving Rayburn at Winfield House, her official residence, Kate implores Hal to leave, but Hal blurts out the potential vice presidency offer.

Episodes 03

“Lambs in the Dark”

Kate convinces Rayburn that Iran is not behind the attack by revealing Hal as the source. Kate reaches an agreement with Dennison for a lunch between Rayburn and Trowbridge where the president can in turn convince the prime minister. Eidra learns from Kate that Hal had reached Shahin first. Rayburn intends to send a carrier battle group to escort the British carrier to port, but Kate learns from Dennison that Trowbridge lied about the condition of the carrier to get the Americans involved. Kate talks with Appiah about the vice presidency, and slowly warms to the idea. However, after learning Hal floated her name to try to keep their marriage, Kate attacks him. Kate convinces Rayburn to hold off the carrier group, but also tries to resign as ambassador and turn down the vice presidency offer. Rayburn rejects her resignation, and Billie pretends to not hear her.

Episodes 04

“He Bought a Hat”

Kate, Heyford and Eidra formulate a plan to send a hidden signal to Iranian intelligence requesting information about the carrier attack. Kate attends a gala where Trowbridge makes a surprise appearance and reveals publicly Rayburn’s U-turn, causing a rift in US-UK relations. Iran responds, and Kate has Dennison summon the Iranian ambassador while she secretly makes her way to their meeting. Heyford reveal to Kate that he was a campaign manager alongside Appiah before he grew disillusioned, and subsequently joined the Foreign Service to get out of Washington, D.C. The Iranian ambassador gives the name Roman Lenkov, head of a Russian mercenary group who appeared to have directed and provided funding for the attack, then collapses and later dies. While debriefing later, Dennison accidentally spills a drink on Kate’s blouse and begins wiping it off before awkwardly handing over to her. Kate goes home and has sex with Hal.

Episodes 05

“The Dogcatcher”

Kate, Hal and Heyford attend a meeting at the country house Chevening, hosted by Dennison, to formulate a strategy on Iran and Russia. Trowbridge crashes the meeting and demands a shift to a tough response toward Russia. The group suggests a list of sanctions, but Trowbridge insists on military action, which Dennison point out will elicit a nuclear response. Hal spends time with Cecilia, Dennison’s sister, and the two skinny dip in a pond and share a kiss, which Hal confesses to Kate. The Iranian ambassador’s death is revealed to be a heart attack, clearing suspicion from Kate and Dennison. Kate shocks the meeting by giving Trowbridge a list of Russian targets.

Episodes 06

“Some Lusty Tornado”

Kate’s bombshell derails the meeting and causes Dennison to lose trust in her. Hal takes Kate to raid the kitchen, where they bump into Trowbridge and share a supper; Kate convinces him for a chance to come up with diplomatic responses. Kate, Dennison and their teams spend all night crafting a package of sanctions on Russian oligarchs, but Trowbridge wants to bomb Russian forces in Syria. Kate and Dennison admit they have feelings for each other. Kate realizes Trowbridge is in contact with Roylin, who engineered Trowbridge’s election as prime minister at the expense of Dennison. Eidra is unable to find the person in the Russian government who gave the order for the attack. With Cecilia’s help, Kate talks to Roylin, who suggests bombing Lenkov fighters in Libya. Trowbridge agrees, but Ganon does not. Realizing that Ganon has ambitions to be president and was aiming to make Rayburn look bad, Hal urges Kate to get rid of Ganon. Heyford and Eidra agree to go public with their relationship. Ganon’s objection is overruled by Rayburn.

Episodes 07

“Keep Your Enemies Closer”

Kate meets with the Russian ambassador, who gives her information that Lenkov will be visiting a villa in southern France. After meeting Appiah, Hal tells Kate Rayburn intends to fire Ganon. Kate flies back to Washington, D.C. to hand-deliver the information to Rayburn in the Oval Office, but Ganon repeatedly interrupts her. Rayburn authorizes an operation with the British to capture Lenkov. Kate meets with a colleague, who tells her that the diplomatic situation in Kabul, Afghanistan, where she was assigned before changing to London, has deteriorated. Back in London, Trowbridge expresses his frustration to Kate about the aborted Libya plan and argues that arresting Lenkov is not enough.

Episodes 08

“The James Bond Clause”

Dennison tells Kate that Trowbridge now supports a British operation to arrest Lenkov. With Appiah’s permission, Heyford discloses Kate’s potential vice president nomination to Eidra. Eidra realizes that if Heyford succeeds in turning Kate into vice president material, he can return to Washington, D.C., though he had also advised her to not take a posting in Egypt. Feeling betrayed, Eidra tells Heyford to leave. With Kate going to Paris with Dennison to secure French permission for the Lenkov raid, Hal gives a speech in Kate’s stead at Chatham House, where he meets Merritt Grove, a Conservative MP who Hal offered to put in touch with Appiah. Kate realizes Hal is after the job of secretary of state, forbids Hal from further contact with Grove, and instructs Heyford to stop Hal. The French government gives permission for the operation, but Kate learns that Lenkov will be killed, not arrested. Kate and Dennison deduce that Trowbridge hired Lenkov. An argument arises when Heyford and Hal reach Grove, and as Grove tries to leave, a car bomb explodes. Police arrive to assist Kate and Dennison. During the credits, a British soldier is heard trying to radio his superiors, but receives no response.