The Diplomat Kills Off Major Character in Season 4 Shocker

Still, due to the pair’s close bond—both personally and professionally—his death hits Kate hard, leaving her reeling over the loss of her friend and political ally.

And for Russell, her character having to navigate the tragedy is “devastating,” yet also “powerful.”

“When you’re in service, but traveling, everything is really heightened,” she told Deadline in an interview published Oct. 15, “so the bonds you make when you’re away from home, away from the distractions of everyday life, the people that you meet, it’s extraordinarily deep and passionate.”

“I think that character for Kate is really pivotal,” she added. “So to lose him is monumental, but I also think realistic to these worlds.”

Despite losing Dennison—and therefore Gyasi—, the 50-year-old shared that she believes the creative choice ultimately pays off.

“I mean, it’s such a shock, obviously,” she told Collider in an Oct. 15 interview, “but I love what it does for the story.”

As Russell put it, “It’s a part of storytelling that someone is so beloved that you would never expect. Because he is so beloved, Dennison. It’s a shock, and I think it changes all the characters and all the dynamics.”

For a close look at more shocking TV exits, keep reading…