The BEST episodes of Madam Secretary season 1

Every episode of Madam Secretary season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Madam Secretary season 1!

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: 11/1/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
Tamerlane
star
7.76
702 votes

#1 - Tamerlane

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/15/2015

Elizabeth secretly travels to Iran in an attempt to prevent a coup that could impact President Dalton’s administration. Also, she brings her staff up to speed on the investigation into Marsh’s death.

Directors: Jonathan Brown
Writer: David Grae
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilot
star
7.69
1376 votes

#2 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/2014

Newly-appointed Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord is immediately faced with a maelstrom of complex political challenges, and an international hostage situation is her top priority. Elizabeth also questions whether she did the right thing by taking the job, as her children are finding it difficult to adjust to their new schools.

Directors: David Semel
Writer: Barbara Hall
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Ninth Circle
star
7.67
715 votes

#3 - The Ninth Circle

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/8/2015

Elizabeth heads to Turkey to mend political relations after the Turkish government releases a video that could be damaging to the CIA. Also, Jason is threatened with expulsion after punching a bully at school.

Directors: Nicole Rubio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Whisper of the Ax
star
7.66
689 votes

#4 - Whisper of the Ax

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/1/2015

Elizabeth is humiliated at a public budget hearing when her staff fails to find the corruption that exists in her microloan program. Also, the investigation into Marsh’s death continues.

Directors: Eric Stoltz
Writer: Barbara Hall
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
So It Goes
star
7.66
882 votes

#5 - So It Goes

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/16/2014

Elizabeth, Henry, and Isabelle investigate the plane crash that killed former Secretary of State. Nadine takes a step back into the dating pool when she agrees to go on a date with a NASA scientist.

Writer: David Grae
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Face the Nation
star
7.66
687 votes

#6 - Face the Nation

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/22/2015

As Elizabeth struggles to hold herself together emotionally following the attack in Iran, she works to prevent an ecological disaster in the Amazon, and prepares for a national television appearance on “Face the Nation.” Also, she and Henry disagree about the level of protection Jason should have at his new school.

Directors: Rob Greenlea
Writer: Matt Ward
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
There But for the Grace of God
star
7.66
646 votes

#7 - There But for the Grace of God

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/3/2015

When Elizabeth confronts her former friend Juliet, she flashes back to when then-CIA Director Dalton offered her a job that would have changed the course of her life. Also, Stevie and President Dalton’s son, Harrison, begin a relationship that will have consequences.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Another Benghazi
star
7.65
1147 votes

#8 - Another Benghazi

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/2014

Elizabeth has to deal with a crisis in Yemen. There's also trouble on the home front after her oldest daughter, Stevie manages to make the headlines for protesting a new policy at her university.

Directors: David Semel
Writer: Barbara Hall
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Kill List
star
7.60
688 votes

#9 - The Kill List

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/26/2015

As Elizabeth prepares for the arrival of Iranian President Shiraz to sign a nuclear treaty, she uncovers a top secret plot to assassinate him on United States soil. At the same time, she must deal with a massive protest by the Human Rights Campaign in response to Iran’s plans to stone a gay citizen to death. Also, Elizabeth sees a therapist to deal with her PTSD.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Blame Canada
star
7.59
959 votes

#10 - Blame Canada

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/19/2014

When Elizabeth faces the daunting task of negotiating with Iran over their escalating nuclear program, she is determined to deal with the situation in a peaceful manner, despite the President’s position of using military action. Jason has new admiration for his father when he interviews him for a school report.

Directors: Eriq La Salle
Writer: Paul Redford
Watch Now:Apple TV
Need to Know
star
7.58
815 votes

#11 - Need to Know

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/9/2014

When the President approves Henry's reactivation into the NSA, he lies to Elizabeth about his continued involvement in the spy game. Matt and Daisy's antagonism toward one another begins to affect the entire office.

Directors: Dennie Gordon
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Operative
star
7.57
1053 votes

#12 - The Operative

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/5/2014

Elizabeth is confronted by a hostile reporter who threatens to publish confidential documents that were leaked from inside the State Department. Henry is dragged into an international negotiation when his wife uses his job as leverage to broker a deal with Pakistan.

Directors: Jeremy Webb
Writer: David Grae
Watch Now:Apple TV
Collateral Damage
star
7.57
820 votes

#13 - Collateral Damage

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/23/2014

When the State Department goes on lockdown due to a deranged gunman outside the building, Elizabeth is confined with a delegation from Iraq whose translator threatens to reveal damaging information about her actions while in the CIA. Meanwhile, when Matt is stuck in an office with Daisy’s fiancé, Win, he spills information that he shouldn’t have.

Directors: Eric Stoltz
Writer: Matt Ward
Watch Now:Apple TV
Chains of Command
star
7.57
652 votes

#14 - Chains of Command

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/11/2015

Elizabeth pushes for the prosecution of a Bahraini diplomat after he is caught holding a maid hostage in his home. Henry's father comes to visit.

Directors: Michael Waxman
Writer: Alex Cooley
Watch Now:Apple TV
Game On
star
7.57
723 votes

#15 - Game On

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/30/2014

Elizabeth, Henry and Isabelle work together to find former Secretary of State Vincent Marsh’s secret bank account, but soon uncover that one of Elizabeth’s staff members already has access to it.

Directors: Randy Zisk
Watch Now:Apple TV
Spartan Figures
star
7.56
651 votes

#16 - Spartan Figures

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/5/2015

Elizabeth and President Dalton work together to solve the Greek debt crisis, but not everyone at home is happy with the agreement. Meanwhile, Henry mulls over a new job offer, and Stevie reconnects with her childhood friend, the President’s son.

Directors: Tate Donovan
Writer: Paul Redford
Watch Now:Apple TV
Passage
star
7.55
842 votes

#17 - Passage

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/2/2014

When Elizabeth takes Alison with her to India on her first state department trip abroad, she’s thrown into crisis mode when a massive earthquake hits that causes an explosion at an American-owned factory, and she’s separated from Alison during the chaos.

Directors: Martha Coolidge
Writer: Alex Cooley
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Necessary Art
star
7.53
676 votes

#18 - The Necessary Art

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/12/2015

While Henry is in Russia giving a lecture on fundamentalism, Elizabeth must navigate tricky political waters when a Russian nuclear submarine vanishes in American waters. Also, Stevie breaks up with her older boyfriend.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Standoff
star
7.53
660 votes

#19 - Standoff

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/4/2015

When a Texas state trooper is killed by a Mexican cartel smuggler, Elizabeth arranges an extradition deal before going on vacation to celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary in New York City. However, when political issues arise around the case, she is forced to cut their trip short. Also, Elizabeth’s son injures himself while Blake is watching him.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Just Another Normal Day
star
7.49
995 votes

#20 - Just Another Normal Day

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/12/2014

While Elizabeth works to successfully broker a peace treaty between China and Japan, a Chinese student seeking political asylum threatens the deal. Tensions rise at home between Alison and Stevie during Alison's sleepover party.

Directors: Eric Stoltz
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Call
star
7.48
904 votes

#21 - The Call

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/26/2014

Elizabeth faces unexpected consequences when she makes a plea to the President to help with a dire situation in Western Africa.

Directors: Mark Piznarski
Writer: Matt Ward
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Time Is at Hand
star
7.42
673 votes

#22 - The Time Is at Hand

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/29/2015

While Elizabeth seeks a diplomatic solution to a doomsday cult in Bolivia, a congressman attempting to negotiate with its leader is taken hostage. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Henry meet Stevie’s much older boyfriend.

Directors: Anna Foerster
Writer: Joy Gregory
Watch Now:Apple TV