Yes, agree, there is a definite problem when the up-coming US administration out-satirizes any television serial attempt at it. I had the same issues with Shondra Rhimes Scandal - it kind of got killed in 2017, because, well, the 2017 US administration basically "trumped" it (pun intended). (I knew there was a problem when I realized I'd rather have the Scandal presidency than the one we did - and that was in 2017. Now? I want to move to Europe and hide.)

I loved the Diplomat S2, but I also binged it before November 5. So there's that. I agree with your analysis of it (although I've not seen the Americans).

It does help if you remember the first season - however. My brother and I had forgotten who Ronnie was - and while it's not imperative to remember who Ronnie is, it is important. We remembered by the third episode, sort of.

I think the hilarious bit about it - is how Hal and Kate manage to inadvertently make everything worse by their somewhat bumbling albeit intelligent attempts to fix things? They go in guns blazing, without getting all the facts first.

I agree with your take on the Osama Bin Laden - Obama talks about that in his book Promised Land, and attempts (weakly I thought) to justify taking out Bin Laden. And looks back at it - thinking he did the right thing. I'm not so sure, I think history has kind of shown otherwise? A trial would have been better. I'm kind of curious if he thinks that now. Promised Land was written a while back.