On an unplanned stopover at Windsor Castle, Kate grows wary of Hal and Grace's dynamic as she tries to contain the fallout from their covert actions.
The work matters to Kate. She feels like she is making a difference. She's negotiating deals that will have a tremendous impact on the world. She's the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom at a highly fraught time in the relationship between the two nations. The British public has turned against the United States. Prime Minister Trowbridge blamed President Rayburn for the attack on the HMS Courageous that resulted in the deaths of dozens of British sailors. Meanwhile, the Brits need the Americans to remove a Russian nuclear submarine near its shore. No trust exists in this relationship. Kate thought it was brilliant when Hal suggested the nuke should be buried in the North Sea. That way no one will be allowed to exploit it. That action made her fall in love with diplomacy and Hal all over again. She was ready to return to Washington, D.C. with him. She was committed to their marriage once more. And then, she learned President Penn and Hal orchestrated a covert action to take the nuke anyway. Kate felt involved in the process but completely blindsided by the result. She doesn't know if she can advance the mission of the United States when she's been deceived. She must now manage the fallout upon discovering the truth.
All of this occurs while the ensemble remains stuck in the United Kingdom. They must make a detour to Windsor Castle to wait. The intensity is thick. Kate understands why Grace and Hal took this action. She believes she was entitled to be a part of the decision-making process. She believes the President was misinformed because of how charismatic Hal can be. It's intoxicating. Kate understands that all too well. She's drawn into the charm over and over again. It's part of the most frustrating element of the show. The constant back and forth over whether Kate and Hal love each other is exhausting. It's so deeply tied into their work as well. They feel they must be of service in the roles they hold. Yet they are constantly crossing the lines of professionalism. When they were separated, Kate got together with Callum. He proved integral to the work she was doing. She can't compartmentalize. She punches back hard. It's a lifetime of patterns she has learned from Hal. She knew how to exist within her marriage. She attempted something new. It appears to have failed. She's eager to tell the President how to manage Hal. The message gets lost in translation. It becomes all about a potential sexual dynamic when that's the furthest thing Kate wants to suggest.
Todd is the one who is actually jealous. He sees how close Grace and Hal actually are. He sees that as a threat to his marriage. Kate sees the potential dangers those two can cook up for the world. If they encourage one another's worst impulses, big actions will be taken. That has already proven to be consequential. Kate's tasked with explaining it away to the one person who knows her intimately. She has to be convincing. She doesn't know if she can convey this lie appropriately. When she arrived in London, she learned how much information is shared between the two governments. This wasn't meant to be a high-profile posting. It was because the countries were in crisis mode. That's how Kate operates. Everything is always intense with her. She has no time for anything else. She has learned how to evolve with the job now that she's also Second Lady. She could tolerate the image that had to be evoked. She still expects to be heard. She will announce her disagreements continuously. It doesn't matter that the President has already decided. Kate will try to change her mind. That too is behavior grown out of how she has had to defend herself with Hal. She has to punch back to be heard. And now, he's seen as the victim because she goes through all the emotions of their marriage in a matter of minutes. It's confusing to him.
Ultimately, Kate does her job. She tells Callum that his equipment must be malfunctioning. The Russians don't yet know where their missing nuke is. It's a vast ocean. It's unlikely they will ever find it. The Americans could conduct this stealth mission without anyone noticing. Eidra and Libby can plan the cover-up for something that is no longer there. The world will be stronger with the United States in possession of this weapon. The people in charge are confident in that. They know their intentions. They are certain of their own importance. The world is incredibly volatile though. No one knows how others will respond to such actions. Kate knows the truth will always come out. It did with the HMS Courageous. The Americans concocted a story to preserve the power of those in charge. They were in self-preservation mode. That energy continues. Kate feels the pressure to go along. She must recommit to the mission and her marriage. She does so. She assures everyone she wasn't suggesting Grace and Hal have a romantic attraction. It's enough to create doubts though. Everyone second guesses their actions and behavior. And then, the President is shot. It's such a nonchalant yet escalatory event. It proves just how heightened the emotions truly are despite all the Americans believed they have accomplished during their summit with the Brits.
