The Diplomat season 2 ending, explained: What's next for Kate after SPOILER's death?

Warning: This article contains major spoilers from The Diplomat season 2 finale.

Throughout its short but mighty six-episode run, The Diplomat season 2 takes us on a wild ride that doesn't let up once. Until the very last second, we're on the edge of our seats as Kate navigates a series of seemingly impossible situations, weaving in and out of metaphorical minefields.

The new season picks up in the aftermath of the attack in the season 1 finale, which left Hal's life on the line, as well as Stuart's and Ronnie's. It's an emotionally wrought place to begin the season, especially with the consequent series of revelations that completely flip the script on Kate.

By the end of season 2, our jaws are left permanently on the ground, and there's no way to overhype the cliffhanger that completely eclipses that of the previous season. Between Allison Janney, an unexpected ending, and a wide-open door for the already confirmed season 3, there are so many questions left to be answered.

Here's your last spoiler warning!

Grace Penn masterminded the UK attack

Just when Kate thinks she has everything figured out, a revelation from Hal at the end of season 2 episode 5 changes everything. After speaking with Roylin and learning the truth earlier in the season, Hal had redacted information he didn't deem relevant to their main focus. Once Kate becomes aware of this particular bit of information Hal was keeping secret, it changes everything.

Before this moment at the end of episode 5, Kate had met Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney) and was impressed with her fitness in her role. She didn't agree with Penn being removed from office for the misgivings of her husband since she's so qualified as a leader, which Kate witnesses firsthand. During an argument with Hal, Kate threatens to call Billie, the Chief of Staff, and inform her that if Penn isn't going to be Vice President, there's no way that Kate could take over the gig.

Kate doesn't understand why Hal doesn't want her to rescue Penn and why she shouldn't be rescued until Hal finally reveals the secret: The attack was Penn's idea. "Roylin hired Lenkov to shoot a British ship. But Roylin didn't come up with the idea. Grace Penn did," Hall tells a bewildered Kate as he holds her down and keeps her from calling Billie.

As Kate metabolizes what she's just learned, she comes to a stark realization that she has to and wants to be the Vice President. Later on in the finale episode during a dinner with Prime Minister Trowbridge, Penn catches a whiff of weirdness in the air, leading Kate to allow Hal to let her know that she knows the truth. Penn pulls Kate aside for an explanation, and Allison Janney delivers a performance that most definitely should win her an Emmy Award for this role.

President Rayburn's death casts a shadow on season 3

After Penn's explanation about why she did what she did with Roylin, Kate realizes the weight, pressure, and scope of Penn's role versus hers. She and Hal again disagree about how to move forward with the knowledge that Penn helped orchestrate the attack, as Hal suggests sharing the information with Ganon, the Secretary of State.

Hal argues that if Penn's so secure in her decision, that it was the only one she could have made, then Ganon will understand and that will be that. Meanwhile, Kate argues that Penn made a decision that Hal would have made, and he wouldn't report himself to Ganon. She doesn't want to ruin Penn's career in order to make her path to the White House that much easier.

A conversation with her friend Carole in which Kate real hears her friend's careful opinion about her relationship with Hal, Kate has a much clearer head in the morning and decides that they need to bring the information about Penn to Ganon. Kate wants to be Vice President. But Kate can't be the one to tell Ganon, which means Hal will have to do the deed.

Hal makes a game time decision not to tell Ganon but to take the information all the way to President Rayburn. During his remote video call with Rayburn, in which he reveals what Penn did, Rayburn became so overcome with stress over the news that he dies. That means Grace Penn has immediately, in an instant, become the President of the United States.

Kate and Grace had been going for a walk on the lawn, having a tense back and forth, when Stuart brought Kate her phone to hear the news from Hal. In that moment, the Secret Service runs toward Penn to deliver what's sure to be a startling succession bombshell. Will Penn choose to keep Kate close as her Vice President since she knows her secrets, or is the battle just getting started? Season 3 just became a whole new animal.

Watch The Diplomat only on Netflix.