Netflix’s The Diplomat could have taken a much darker turn in its very first season, and according to creator Debora Cahn, that version of the story almost happened. In a personal essay published by the Los Angeles Times, Cahn revealed that Stuart Hayford, played by Ato Essandoh, was originally meant to die before the finale.
The decision was inspired by the kind of surprising storytelling popularized by Game of Thrones, where major characters could be eliminated without warning. However, as production progressed, the creative team realized that removing Stuart might do more harm than good. That realization led to a major rewrite, one that Cahn now believes played a key role in the show’s long-term success.
A Surprising Death That Almost Happened
Cahn initially approached The Diplomat with a bold narrative strategy. The idea was simple but risky: build a beloved character and then kill him off suddenly to leave a lasting impact. Stuart was designed to be that character, someone audiences would connect with before being taken away at a critical moment.
Reflecting on that plan, Cahn described the appeal of such a twist.
“Build a character we’d adore and kill them, from nowhere, in the second-to-last episode of the season,”
she wrote, calling it a “muscular and devastating” move in the writers’ room. The goal was to mirror the emotional shock that made early Game of Thrones moments so memorable.
At the same time, the show’s central relationship between Kate and Hal was built around high-stakes diplomacy and moral conflict. A sudden loss would have reinforced those themes, especially given Hal’s history of risky decisions that had already led to tragic consequences.
Why Stuart Became Essential to the Story
As scripts evolved and filming began, Stuart’s role grew beyond what the writers had initially planned. Instead of functioning as a temporary emotional trigger, he became a foundational part of the show’s structure.
Cahn explained that The Diplomat needed a grounded figure to anchor its portrayal of international politics. While Kate and Hal operate in high-pressure, unpredictable environments, Stuart represents the institutional side of diplomacy. He provides a stable, relatable perspective that helps viewers understand the world of the State Department.
This became even more important because the series does not rely on familiar procedural tropes. Many viewers come in without any background in diplomacy, making characters like Stuart essential for clarity. As one real-life diplomat told the creators after watching Season 1,
“This was helpful. Now my parents understand what I do.”
That feedback reinforced the idea that Stuart was not expendable. Cahn ultimately admitted,
“The show needed Stuart,”
acknowledging that both the character and Essandoh’s performance had become central to the series.
The Rewrite That Changed Everything
Instead of killing Stuart, the writers shifted the emotional weight of the story onto another character. Ronnie, played by Jess Chanliau, became the one who would face the tragic fate originally planned for Stuart.
The decision was complicated, especially given Ronnie’s significance as one of the show’s few nonbinary characters. Cahn acknowledged that the team still has mixed feelings about that choice. However, from a storytelling perspective, it created a stronger ripple effect across the narrative.
Ronnie’s death not only impacts Kate and Hal but also deeply affects Stuart, forcing him to confront a kind of loss he had never experienced before. This shift allowed the show to explore grief and responsibility from multiple angles while preserving the character who had become vital to its structure.
Cahn summed up the show’s dynamic in simple terms. Kate and Hal are the emotional core, but Stuart is what makes the world feel real and understandable. Keeping him alive ensured that the balance remained intact as the series moved forward.
A Turning Point for the Series
Looking back, Cahn described the moment she decided to change course as one of uncertainty. She even recalled calling Netflix to admit her doubts, saying, “I am not a baller,” referring to her choice not to pursue the bold, high-risk twist she had originally planned.
That hesitation ultimately proved to be the right move. Rather than relying on a single surprising moment, The Diplomat built a more sustainable narrative that could evolve over multiple seasons. The series has since continued to grow, with production now underway on its fourth season.
What started as a potential early twist has become a defining example of how creative restraint can sometimes lead to stronger storytelling. In this case, not killing Stuart did more than save a character. It helped shape the identity and longevity of the entire show.
