The Diplomat Returns for Fourth Season with High-Stakes Politics and International Diplomacy

The Netflix series The Diplomat has returned for its fourth season, drawing viewers into the world of high-stakes politics and international diplomacy. To create an immersive experience, the show's production team made a deliberate effort to choose locations that are both historically significant and personally meaningful to the characters.

The show's set designer notes that most TV shows focus on creating intimate spaces that reflect their characters' personalities and backgrounds. However, The Diplomat takes a different approach by placing its characters in iconic public buildings and landmarks instead of their private homes or offices.

This change in approach is evident from the very first episode of season four, which opens with a dramatic assassination attempt outside Windsor Castle. The scene sets the tone for the rest of the season, as US President Grace Penn's actions become increasingly unpredictable and erratic. Her husband Todd, Vice President Hal Wyler, and Kate Wyler, the US ambassador to the UK, are all left struggling to keep up with her.

As the story unfolds, the characters travel from Windsor Castle to Washington, DC and finally to Lucca, Italy, where a crucial meeting of the G7 takes place. The show's production team made use of both new and familiar locations, including some that were previously featured in earlier seasons.

The Diplomat's production team made use of a variety of locations to recreate Windsor Castle and its grounds for Season 4.

To create this iconic setting, nine different locations were combined by the show's creators. The exterior shots were filmed at Burghley House, while Belvoir Castle, Lancaster House, and the British Foreign Office provided the interior settings.

The production team also used Woolworth Estate, St. Josaphat Monastery Library, and Sleepy Hollow Country Club as filming locations in the US.

In one particularly dramatic scene, President Penn is airlifted to a docked United States aircraft carrier for emergency surgery after being shot. The helicopter landing was filmed at the parking lot of Steiner Studios, while the interior shots were captured on location at a Marine training facility in New York City.

The production team deliberately chose locations with diverse architectural styles to reflect the history and complexity of Windsor Castle, which has undergone numerous transformations over the centuries.

The production team for The Diplomat went to great lengths to recreate the interior of Marine One, the presidential helicopter, which plays a significant role in the show's fourth season.

To achieve this, they conducted actual takeoffs and landings with a helicopter, allowing them to capture its movements and dynamics on camera. When the aircraft was grounded, the team focused on dressing the interior to reflect its luxurious and well-appointed atmosphere.

Winfield House, a key location in previous seasons of The Diplomat, has once again been used for exterior shots. This time around, however, some of the interiors were built at Steiner, while others were filmed inside Wrotham Park, an estate in Hertfordshire.

The production team had to coordinate the construction and filming of various sets, including a blue room, library, and red room, which are all part of the real Winfield House. They also built additional spaces, such as the green room and Wedgewood hallway, on a soundstage in New York.

The US Embassy in London's Nine Elms has been used extensively throughout the series, with its set being rebuilt at Steiner for Season 3. For Season 4, the production team made only minor adjustments to the space, moving furniture around to improve lighting conditions.

The production team made significant changes to the White House set for Season 4, opting not to use the Oval Office seen in previous seasons. Instead, the action is shifted into President Penn's private study, a space that is typically small but has been recreated on a larger scale for the show.

According to Beech, the president's study is usually situated right off the Oval Office and is often depicted in photos of Obama sitting at his desk. To better suit the character's needs, the team created a large study with three distinct zones: a work area, a meeting space, and a power zone where the president's desk is located.

One notable change to the White House setting is the absence of a pool, which has been replaced by the press briefing room. However, in one scene, Todd is swimming laps in what appears to be the White House pool. Beech revealed that this was actually filmed in the basement of the Woolworth Building in Tribeca.

The set for 10 Downing Street was also revamped for Season 4 after the original location became unavailable. The production team built a new version on their stage, which viewers may notice has undergone subtle changes when a new prime minister takes office mid-season.

The production team had to subtly adjust the set for the new prime minister's office in mid-season. This involved making some changes that viewers might not even notice at first glance. According to Beech, the lamp on the desk was swapped out, giving a hint of continuity.

In another scene, Kate visits 10 Downing Street, but the exterior shots were actually filmed outside the British Foreign Office in London. To create the illusion of a different location, the production team built a doorway and lectern on a parking lot in Brooklyn with a green screen. They then combined this with footage shot on the actual street in London.

A rare glimpse into the private life of a character is offered when Kate meets with the newly-minted British prime minister at his family home. Beech used two different locations to create the vast manor house, including Ingatestone Hall in Essex for the entry and gate, and a house on Long Island for the interior.

Beech explains that many of these large estates are too expensive to maintain, so families often live in one wing of the house while the rest is unused. This was an aspect they wanted to convey through Kate's office space, which is unusually large for a workspace. The coldness of the room reflects this story.

The season concludes with a tumultuous visit to Lucca, Italy, where the G7 are holding a summit.

The production team of The Diplomat spent six weeks filming in Lucca, Italy, utilizing eight different locations to bring the story to life.

Villa Viesca, a former summer home of Salvatore and Wanda Ferragamo, was one of the key locations, serving as the villas where the American envoy stays during the summit. Dimora Ghirlandaio, a resort in Tuscany, also featured prominently in the production. These two villas provided an authentic backdrop for the diplomatic gatherings.

The G7 meetings were filmed at several historic estates in the region, including Villa Reale di Marlia, which had recently undergone restoration. Villa Medici in Poggio a Caiano and Villa Medicea La Petraia also played host to these pivotal scenes. The production team's choice of locations added depth and authenticity to the story.

The decision to film in Lucca rather than Florence allowed for a more authentic representation of the city, as Beech notes. By embracing the classical vibe of the region, the team was able to create a unique and bespoke atmosphere that reflected the importance of these diplomatic meetings.