The BEST episodes of Madam Secretary

Every episode of Madam Secretary ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Madam Secretary!

A drama about the personal and professional life of a maverick female Secretary of State as she drives international diplomacy, wrangles office politics and balances a complex family life.

Last Updated: 1/15/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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Carpe Diem
star
8.12
417 votes

#1 - Carpe Diem

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/1/2019

Elizabeth faces a national security crisis when a military conflict in international waters spirals to the brink of nuclear confrontation. With the imminent threat of impeachment looming over the McCord administration, Elizabeth and Henry make a wish-list of things to do while she’s still in office.

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Family Separation (2)
star
8.07
523 votes

#2 - Family Separation (2)

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/6/2019

Directors: Martha Mitchell
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Vartius
star
8.05
959 votes

#3 - Vartius

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/8/2016

When Elizabeth receives shocking news about an important political operative, she navigates a tricky political situation with President Dalton, who she learns may be considering replacing her as Secretary of State. Also, Stevie and Jareth get engaged.

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Night Watch
star
8.03
658 votes

#4 - Night Watch

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/20/2018

Elizabeth and cabinet members brace for the fallout at home and abroad as President Dalton prepares for a retaliatory nuclear attack on a country that has reportedly just launched missiles bound for the U.S.

Directors: Rob Greenlea
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Family Separation (1)
star
8.02
560 votes

#5 - Family Separation (1)

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/23/2018

Elizabeth goes head to head with a U.S. governor over the state's new policy of separating unauthorized immigrants from their children. Also, she and Henry plan to renew their wedding vows.

Directors: Rob Greenlea
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Leaving the Station
star
7.95
424 votes

#6 - Leaving the Station

Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/2019

President Elizabeth McCord kicks off a new landmark political initiative with help from members of the World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s Soccer team, while Flo Avery, who was born the day women were granted the right to vote, looks on. Opposing the initiative is Senator Amy Ross from Ohio. Also, the McCords overcome last-minute obstacles to pull off a spectacular family celebration with a reunion of familiar faces, that includes a performance by Peter Frampton.

Directors: Eric Stoltz
Writer: Barbara Hall
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Right of the Boom
star
7.94
848 votes

#7 - Right of the Boom

Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/21/2016

Following a shocking event on U.S. soil, Elizabeth rushes to find answers to President Dalton's many questions about how it was able to occur.

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Russian Roulette
star
7.94
846 votes

#8 - Russian Roulette

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/29/2015

Shortly before Elizabeth is to deliver a speech at the United Nations accusing Russia for the attack on Air Force One, Henry shares information that makes her reconsider her theory.

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Sound and Fury
star
7.94
800 votes

#9 - Sound and Fury

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/14/2018

After President Dalton hears about a sonic attack at the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria, he thinks Russia is to blame and uncharacteristically threatens them with military force, leaving his cabinet concerned about his mental status.

Directors: Deborah Reinisch
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Sea Change
star
7.92
1330 votes

#10 - Sea Change

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/2/2016

When a storm destroys a naval base in Bahrain, Elizabeth urges President Dalton to reexamine his approach to climate change and his overall foreign policy, something that could jeopardize his re-election campaign. Also, Jose Campos tries to bring Henry back into the DIA fold, and the McCords worry that their family is being stalked when they discover Jason’s laptop may have been hacked.

Directors: Morgan Freeman
Writer: Barbara Hall
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The Show Must Go On
star
7.92
876 votes

#11 - The Show Must Go On

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/4/2015

The President’s plane is declared missing and Elizabeth is thrust into a situation of power she never imagined possible. Also, Henry butts heads with his new Defense Intelligence Agency handler, Jane Fellows, when he’s asked to recruit one of his Russian students for the NSA.

Directors: Morgan Freeman
Writer: Barbara Hall
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Accountability
star
7.92
432 votes

#12 - Accountability

Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/17/2019

When U.S. intelligence locates the mastermind behind a foreign country’s hack, Elizabeth must decide whether to risk war by extracting him from the country while she also prepares for the White House correspondents’ dinner. Jason faces backlash after he confronts his school newspaper over its coverage of Elizabeth.

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The Linchpin
star
7.92
1163 votes

#13 - The Linchpin

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/16/2016

With Algeria on the brink of a civil war, Elizabeth delicately negotiates a regime change, but her plans go awry when Roy Curtis, the trusted U.S. Ambassador to Algeria, dies unexpectedly. Also, Henry fights to save religious antiquities in Algeria when he discovers they are being destroyed by Hizb al-Shahid, and the McCord children get their own security detail after Jason’s computer is hacked.

Directors: Eric Stoltz
Writer: David Grae
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Render Safe (2)
star
7.91
926 votes

#14 - Render Safe (2)

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/1/2016

The United States debates enacting a “render safe” mission to secure nuclear weapons that belong to the Pakistani government before it collapses, while the Murphy Station pursues the terrorist Jibral Disah.

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Left of the Boom
star
7.90
867 votes

#15 - Left of the Boom

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/14/2016

While Elizabeth oversees a mission to track down the culprits behind a uranium heist in Eastern Europe, she also contends with highly sensitive issues in Saudi Arabia, including the apprehension of two American teenage girls who intended to join a terrorist group, that threatens to dismantle an important arms deal.

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Lights Out
star
7.89
826 votes

#16 - Lights Out

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/22/2015

As tensions rise with Russia, Elizabeth, Russell and Mike B. hatch a plan to oust Craig Sterling from his role as National Security Advisor without tarnishing President Dalton with a scandal. Also, Ephraim Ware, the Director of National Intelligence, identifies who hacked Air Force One

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The Greater Good
star
7.88
819 votes

#17 - The Greater Good

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/13/2015

After they uncover a secret that could ruin Maria Ostrov’s reputation, Elizabeth and President Dalton head to Switzerland to meet with her and use the information as leverage to find a peaceful solution to the escalated conflict with Russia. Also, Dmitri requests to be released from his duties as a spy.

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Article 5
star
7.88
1078 votes

#18 - Article 5

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/21/2017

Elizabeth heads to Brussels to seek NATO'S support against Russia when it threatens to invade Bulgaria, but when France refuses to cooperate, it threatens the alliance's existence. Also, when Henry's new government role has him dive into the Russia issue, he turns to his former operative, Dmitri Petrov, for help, and as Nadine and Mike B's relationship heats up, Elizabeth finds out information about her old friend that makes her question his loyalty.

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Snap Back
star
7.83
1192 votes

#19 - Snap Back

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/11/2016

As the U.N. Security Council considers reinstating sanctions against Iran for its suspected nuclear activities, Elizabeth tries to stop Israel from taking matters into its own hands when it threatens military action against the Iranians. Also, Russell pressures Henry to woo his old Air Force buddy, Congressman Jeff Pearson, to support President Dalton in the House’s election vote, and Stevie asks Russell for a recommendation to Harvard Law School.

Directors: Sam Hoffman
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The Race
star
7.83
1235 votes

#20 - The Race

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/18/2016

When a possible Israel-Iran war threatens the House’s imminent vote on the U.S. presidential election, Elizabeth attempts to bring the two reluctant countries to the negotiation table in an effort to broker a peace between them. Also, Russell’s life hangs in the balance after a heart attack.

Directors: Eric Stoltz
Writer: David Grae
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Better Angels
star
7.83
518 votes

#21 - Better Angels

Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/21/2019

As Elizabeth prepares to leave the state department and announce her run for president, anti-globalist terrorists attack the United Nations delegation in Geneva who are there to sign the climate migration treaty.

Directors: John Murray
Writer: Matt Ward
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The Magic Rake
star
7.82
611 votes

#22 - The Magic Rake

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/21/2018

Elizabeth flies to Fashion Week in Milan to face off against the Chinese Foreign Minister over an anti-sweatshop treaty in the aftermath of a tragedy. Also, Daisy struggles with feelings of fear and pessimism over her baby’s future, under the threat of rising nationalism in the wake of the attack on the White House.

Directors: John Murray
Writer: Matt Ward
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The Statement
star
7.81
1213 votes

#23 - The Statement

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/13/2016

When Elizabeth discovers that a terrorist bombing at an Illinois coffee shop was funded by someone with close ties to the Saudi government, she makes a bold move after the Saudi ambassador refuses to bring the man to justice. Also, Matt refuses to issue a statement when news breaks that he and the bomber are linked to the same mosque, and Henry reaches out to Dmitri when he hears he’s having trouble adjusting to his new life in Phoenix.

Directors: Jet Wilkinson
Writer: Alex Cooley
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Something Better
star
7.80
528 votes

#24 - Something Better

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/17/2019

When a group of American missionaries become hostages during a violent uprising abroad, Dalton must confront demons from his past in order to help Elizabeth secure their safe return home. Also, Stevie takes over Russell’s social media presence, and Henry helps his niece, Sarah, mentally prepare for her military deployment.

Writer: Sara Ray
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The Fourth Estate
star
7.80
871 votes

#25 - The Fourth Estate

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/26/2017

Secretary of State McCord and her staff work with the Mexican government to extradite a Mexican cartel leader to a U.S. prison in an effort to diminish the opioid crisis. But after he escapes during transport and a journalist who secured a gloating interview with him while on the lam is murdered, Elizabeth’s urgency to find the leader escalates.

Directors: Matt Chester
Writer: Sam Hoffman
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