The BEST episodes of Madam Secretary season 4

Every episode of Madam Secretary season 4, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Madam Secretary season 4!

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
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Night Watch
star
8.04
665 votes

#1 - 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
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Sound and Fury
star
7.94
806 votes

#2 - 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
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Fourth Estate
star
7.80
877 votes

#3 - 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
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Things We Get to Say
star
7.80
654 votes

#4 - 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.

Directors: Sunu Gonera
Writer: Joy Gregory
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
North to the Future
star
7.73
912 votes

#5 - North to the Future

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/19/2017

When a Russian dissident flees to the U.S. after contracting smallpox, Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord and retired U.N. Ambassador Kat Sandoval must work with Russian Foreign Minister Konstantin Avdonin to contain the outbreak.

Directors: Kristi Korzec
Writer: Sunu Gonera
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
My Funny Valentine
star
7.73
666 votes

#6 - My Funny Valentine

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/1/2018

As the 20th anniversary of the American embassy bombing in Mali approaches, emotions run high among the State Department staff, who had personal connections to lives lost that day, including Elizabeth, who must decide if the U.S. should lift sanctions against the country deemed responsible. Also, Henry tries to help Jason break up with Piper.

Directors: Rob Greenlea
Writer: Matt Ward
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Off the Record
star
7.72
998 votes

#7 - Off the Record

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/15/2017

While Elizabeth is in Libya to help negotiate an end to their civil war, a tragic accident with her chauffeured car embroils her in an urgent situation to secure medical care for a gravely wounded local girl.

Directors: Eric Stoltz
Writer: David Grae
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Women Transform the World
star
7.71
848 votes

#8 - Women Transform the World

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/17/2017

Secretary of State McCord struggles with the realization that she may need to advise the Afghan government that a compromise with the Taliban may be better than a war with them. Also, Henry uses Dmitri as bait to convince a Russian spy to help the U.S., and Daisy returns from maternity leave and decides to finally tell Joe's mother about the baby.

Directors: Jonathan Brown
Writer: Lyla Oliver
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Minefield
star
7.70
835 votes

#9 - Minefield

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/10/2017

Secretary of State McCord reluctantly agrees to host a holiday party in the hopes of persuading senators in attendance to pass a treaty that requires countries to destroy landmines. Also, Henry tries to find evidence that the Senate Majority Leader exchanged information with the Russians.

Directors: Rob Greenlea
Writer: Matt Ward
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Persona Non Grata
star
7.70
874 votes

#10 - Persona Non Grata

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/5/2017

Elizabeth is determined to continue to hold a human trafficking conference in Kyrgyzstan despite the inappropriate actions by a U.S. ambassador. Also, Elizabeth and Henry worry about Alison when she keeps coming home from college.

Directors: John Murray
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mitya
star
7.69
768 votes

#11 - Mitya

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/7/2018

When Vice President Hurst feels threatened that Secretary of State McCord is vying to be the next president, she attempts to set Elizabeth up for failure by promising that Americans will continue to be able to adopt Russian orphans, despite the potential ban by Russia’s president. Also, Elizabeth and Henry find out Stevie is dating Dmitri after he is followed by a Russian assassin.

Directors: Geoffrey Arend
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Essentials
star
7.68
979 votes

#12 - The Essentials

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/22/2017

With a government shutdown looming, Elizabeth must think outside the box to help fund an electrical grid in a Syrian refugee camp, before riots break out in the country due to the lack of electricity and water. Also, Henry searches for Dmitri when he goes missing.

Writer: Matt Ward
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Phase Two
star
7.68
667 votes

#13 - Phase Two

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/8/2018

Senator Morejon puts phase two of Elizabeth’s U.S./Iran arms deal in jeopardy when he asserts that Iran funneled money from phase one of the deal to fund a recent bombing that killed an American citizen. Also, Henry mulls over the option of becoming the chairman of the new military ethics department at the National War College.

Directors: Martha Mitchell
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Protocol
star
7.67
639 votes

#14 - Protocol

Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/13/2018

When terrorists threaten to cause a flood in the Middle East that could kill millions of people, Elizabeth’s hopes of getting a neighboring country to close the dam fade after the government suddenly goes dark during a coup. Also, Stevie is tasked with finding Russell an activity that will help manage his stress.

Writer: Matt Ward
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Reading the Signs
star
7.66
729 votes

#15 - Reading the Signs

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/11/2018

Elizabeth seeks creative solutions when the president of Sri Lanka's psychic convinces him to not move forward with a trade agreement with the U.S. Also, Alison grapples with guilt for missing the warning signs after her college roommate attempts suicide, and Henry makes an abrupt career decision.

Directors: Phil Bertelsen
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Thin Ice
star
7.65
674 votes

#16 - Thin Ice

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/29/2018

Elizabeth is attending a summit in Montreal to resolve territorial claims of the North Pole when an activist group detonates a bomb and she can’t locate Jason and Piper. Also, things take a turn for the worse when Elizabeth learns that Russia was involved in the bombing, and Henry helps one of his students work through a difficult decision.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Unnamed
star
7.64
719 votes

#17 - The Unnamed

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/25/2018

Elizabeth and the team are caught in an uncertain situation when they are about to award a foreign leader with the Medal of Freedom but learn he may have known that a minority group in his country is being persecuted. Also, President Dalton doubts his ability to return to office after being cleared by his doctor, and a past family grievance is brought to light when Henry’s sister pays a visit.

Writer: Joy Gregory
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
News Cycle
star
7.63
1063 votes

#18 - News Cycle

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/8/2017

When the assistant vice minister of Timor-Leste suddenly dies during a meeting with Elizabeth on the first day of the U.N General Assembly, she becomes suspicious after the president of Timor-Leste ships the body back without a proper investigation. Also, a "fake news" story surfaces claiming Elizabeth is responsible for the minister’s death, and Dmitri returns to work with Henry.

Directors: Morgan Freeman
Writer: Barbara Hall
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Loophole
star
7.57
841 votes

#19 - Loophole

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/12/2017

Henry disagrees with the President and Elizabeth when they refuse to negotiate with terrorists for the release of an American CIA agent who was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Also, Elizabeth tries to be supportive of Stevie who is going through a difficult time.

Directors: Maggie Greenwald
Watch Now:Apple TV
Shutdown
star
7.57
959 votes

#20 - Shutdown

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/29/2017

As the government shutdown shows no sign of progress, Secretary of State McCord must negotiate an agreement between the White House and its opposition led by Senator Morejon. Also, Elizabeth is having trouble finding a suitable replacement for the chief of staff position.

Directors: Felix Alaca
Writer: Joy Gregory
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Friendship Game
star
7.55
666 votes

#21 - The Friendship Game

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/22/2018

Elizabeth’s negotiations for a security agreement combatting gang violence in South America becomes complicated when she attempts to free an American recently kidnapped there.

Directors: Sam Hoffman
Writer: Lyla Oliver
Watch Now:Apple TV
Refuge
star
7.50
702 votes

#22 - Refuge

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/18/2018

Jay and Kat devise a way to help persecuted foreign LGBTQ citizens escape their country while their U.S. homeland security applications are processed. However, when the country closes its borders, Jay and Kat are forced to change that plan quickly, as it could now threaten their relationship with neighboring allies.

Directors: Eric Stoltz
Watch Now:Apple TV