The BEST episodes of Madam Secretary season 5

#1 - Family Separation (2)

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

#2 - 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.

#3 - 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.

#4 - 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.

#5 - 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.

#6 - Baby Steps

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/18/2018

Vice President Teresa Hurst asks Elizabeth for help when a surrogate carrying her future grandchild is arrested in Laos for human trafficking. Also, Henry tries to protect Stevie from danger when he suspects that she’s being followed by a Russian operative, and Blake deals with the demanding and costly instructions of a delegation of Japanese gardeners.

#7 - E Pluribus Unum

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/7/2018

In the aftermath of a deadly attack on the White House, Elizabeth tries to keep a major nuclear disarmament deal from falling apart while a manhunt for the attackers brings D.C. to a halt. For advice, Elizabeth turns to former secretaries of state Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton and Colin Powell.

#8 - Eyjafjallajökull

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/11/2018

When the eruption of an Icelandic volcano strands Elizabeth at an airport in Ireland with the Turkish foreign minister, she tries to broker a deal with him to save the lives of thousands of Syrian refugees. Also, Henry gives advice to Alison about an awkward topic.

#9 - Requiem

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/28/2018

When the remains of U.S. soldiers who served in World War II are uncovered in Southeast Asia, Elizabeth’s hopes of bringing them home quickly fade when a stubborn leader stands in her way. Also, Henry and Stevie find themselves publicly targeted by a restaurant owner who is angry about Elizabeth’s policies, and Alison volunteers for a local congressional campaign.

#10 - Ghosts

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/4/2018

Henry finds himself at the center of an international incident when he comes to the aid of an ex-girlfriend at a religious freedom conference in Thailand after she is imprisoned for condemning the monarchy. Also, Elizabeth helps Jason navigate the pressure of preparing for college.

#11 - Strategic Ambiguity

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/13/2019

Elizabeth must salvage a deal with a military contractor by supplying fighter jets to Taiwan, but she risks triggering a war with China in the process. Also, Daisy gets frustrated with Matt for failing to help take care of her dog like he promised.

#12 - The Great Experiment

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/14/2019

As Elizabeth prepares to officially declare her candidacy for president, she must deal with fallout from a news article alleging she had an affair with President Dalton during her CIA days. Also, Mike B. and Jay adjust to the growing pains in their expanded roles as campaign staffers, and Elizabeth calls for a UN criminal tribunal against Myanmar military leaders over their treatment of the Rohingya.

#13 - The Chaos Game

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/14/2018

When Elizabeth discovers that the White House attackers had support from overseas, she tries to hunt down those responsible without starting a war. Also, Henry comes face to face with one of the attackers.

#14 - Between the Seats

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/3/2019

Elizabeth visits the Middle East to finalize a deal to bring U.S. troops home, but complications arise when a local woman’s life is threatened by rumors of a romance with one of Elizabeth’s staffers. Also, Henry provides relationship advice to Elizabeth’s brother, Will.

#15 - The New Normal

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/17/2019

When a super typhoon threatens a small Pacific island, Elizabeth tries to relocate its population before the storm makes landfall. Also, Henry gives a speech to an evangelical group about climate change.

#16 - The Courage to Continue

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/25/2018

When Haiti’s democracy is threatened by a president who refuses to step down after losing the election, Elizabeth tries to solve the problem without resorting to military action. Also, Blake has one week to find a new job before Elizabeth fires him as her assistant.

#17 - Ready

Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/31/2019

A NATO ally carries out a state-sponsored assassination attempt against one of its own citizens, who is also a U.S. resident and old friend of Elizabeth’s. Also, Alison starts dating the son of one of Elizabeth’s political rivals.

#18 - Winter Garden

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/9/2018

Elizabeth and Jay work to keep a historic agreement between Serbia and Kosovo from falling apart, after a mass grave is discovered in Serbia dating back to the Kosovo war. Also, Henry deals with a bizarre encounter with Secretary of Defense Gordon Becker.

#19 - Proxy War

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/27/2019

When innocent Syrian children are killed by an American-made cluster bomb, Elizabeth races to figure out what went wrong before Russia can use it as an excuse to escalate its military presence in the region. Also, Russell faces a PR nightmare after he gets into a heated argument with a homeless protester.

#20 - The Common Defense

Season 5 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/24/2019

While Elizabeth is away on a retreat thinking about her presidential campaign, her staff tries to secure an international agreement to protect citizens who have been displaced due to global warming. Also, the staff works to contain a measles outbreak that threatens the life of Daisy’s daughter, Joanna.