The BEST episodes of Madam Secretary

#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.

#2 - Family Separation (2)

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

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#24 - 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.

#25 - The Things We Get to Say

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/6/2018

Elizabeth must watch what she says and does when she deals with a refugee situation while being shadowed by Neal Shin, a newspaper reporter who may use his access to write a tell-all book.