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The Worst Episodes of Commander in Chief

Every episode of Commander in Chief ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Commander in Chief!

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Mackenzie Allen has a lot on her plate -- she has twin teenagers, a 6-year-old at home and an ambitious husband at the office, and she is about to become the first female president of

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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 13 - State of the Unions
    7.0/10(81 votes)

    #1 - State of the Unions

    S1:E13

    While Mac is busy working on her first State of the Union address, Rod becomes a tad tipsy and is found in compromising position with an intern for all the world to see. Meanwhile, Templeton sets out to find a way to sabotage Mac's Homeless Initiative Bill. Plus, Dickie and Jayne, who has gone back to being Templeton's chief-of-staff, go out on a dinner date.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Dee Johnson, Alison Cross

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  2. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 12 - Wind Beneath My Wing
    7.2/10(87 votes)

    #2 - Wind Beneath My Wing

    S1:E12

    Mac and Templeton head out west to pay tribute to the dedication of former President Bridges' Presidential Library. While there Air Force One is held hostage by a guy who wants to speak with Mac. Meanwhile Horace and Rebecca have some friends for a party.

    Director:Greg Yaitanes
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 14 - The Price You Pay
    7.2/10(84 votes)

    #3 - The Price You Pay

    S1:E14

    Mac decides to stand by her friend and Attorney General nominee, Carl Brantley, after he gets hammered in his confirmation hearings. A cargo plane which contains military weapons goes missing over Pakistan and it's up to Vice President Keaton to resolve the situation. Meanwhile, Rod tries to settle in the domestic life, but soon faces a crisis when Kate is nowhere to be found.

    Director:Jesse Bochco
    Writer:Joel Fields

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  4. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 3 - First Strike
    7.3/10(102 votes)

    #4 - First Strike

    S1:E3

    Faced with her first national crisis - the death of nine DEA agents in Latin America - Mackenzie shows strength and resolve in dealing with a corrupt leader. Meanwhile, Nathan Templeton is approached by an ambitious congressman who served with Mac's Vice Presidential candidate, Warren Keaton, and is eager to divulge potentially damaging info in an effort to derail his nomination. Mac's teenage twins resume public school, only this time it's complete with secret service detail and press spectacle, and while popular Horace welcomes the attention, shy Rebecca finds it overwhelming.

    Director:Rod Lurie
    Writers:Dee Johnson, Rod Lurie

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  5. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 5 - First... Do No Harm
    7.4/10(90 votes)

    #5 - First... Do No Harm

    S1:E5

    In the middle of the announcement of her new National Security Advisor, Anthony Prado, Mac is caught off guard by the breaking news of a terrorist smuggling explosives across the Canadian border. The way in which Mac and her Attorney General deal with the situation pits them squarely against each other, and Nathan Templeton takes great pleasure in publicly second-guessing Mac's every move. Meanwhile, it's Halloween, and Amy - who desperately wants to go trick-or-treating like a normal kid - is disappointed to learn that, due to security concerns, she may have to settle for a party this year instead. When Rod as First Gentleman finds himself fodder for late-night comics, it hits his son Horace especially hard.

    Director:Daniel Minahan
    Writers:Anya Epstein, Dahvi Waller

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  6. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 15 - Ties That Bind
    7.4/10(83 votes)

    #6 - Ties That Bind

    S1:E15

    Mac wants her Attorney General to look into an urban situation in Maryland because it's where Gardner is from. Mac is also briefed on the situation of the missing surface-to-air missiles that went down in a military plane crash over Pakistan and has to make sure that the weapons do not end up in the hands of terrorists. Templeton is ralling support for the Templeton Act which focuses on domestic crime and Mac is threatening to use her veto power in the hopes for more law enforcement and education over the bill's calls for tougher sentencing. Dickie learns that Vince is planning a commitment ceremony with his partner and he warns him not to invite Mac because it might hurt her in the polls.

    Director:Dan Lerner
    Writers:Alex Berger, Cynthia J. Cohen

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  7. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 2 - First Choice
    7.5/10(110 votes)

    #7 - First Choice

    S1:E2

    As Mackenzie begins the transition into the office of President, she has to select a Vice President, a situation in which Nathan Templeton tries using to his advantage. Mackenzie's daughter, Rebecca, faces a crisis when her diary goes missing, which contains information about her mother that could hurt her.

    Director:Rod Lurie
    Writers:Dee Johnson, Rod Lurie

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  8. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 8 - Rubie Dubidoux and the Brown Bound Express
    7.5/10(79 votes)

    #8 - Rubie Dubidoux and the Brown Bound Express

    S1:E8

    After she announces new direction for her administration, President Allen finds herself in need of allies within the West Wing and decides that she needs to appoint her closest adviser, Rod, to an official position.

    Director:Jeremy Podeswa
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.6/10(132 votes)

    #9 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Mackenzie Allen, who serves as Vice President of the United States, has a tough decision to make, whether or not to go against the wishes of the dying current President. He has asked her to step down and let someone a little more appropriate take his place in the Oval Office. However, it's not only the President that is calling for her resignation, it's her entire party which elected her as the Vice President to start with.

    Director:Rod Lurie
    Writer:Rod Lurie

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  10. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 4 - First Dance
    7.6/10(96 votes)

    #10 - First Dance

    S1:E4

    All eyes are on Mackenzie Allen as she hosts her first official summit with the Russian President -- which is threatened to be overshadowed by Nathan Templeton's plan to engineer a series of cabinet resignations to coincide with the summit. Templeton goes after Mac with a vengeance, vowing to run - and win - against her in the next presidential election. Meanwhile, as First Gentleman, Rod must host his first state dinner for the Russian President and his wife.

    Director:Vincent Misiano
    Writers:Steven A. Cohen, Ali Adler

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  11. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 6 - First Disaster
    7.6/10(87 votes)

    #11 - First Disaster

    S1:E6

    When a destructive hurricane hits Florida, Mac and Templeton fly to Florida to survey the damage. While there, Mac learns of an emergency situation with an oil tanker off the Florida coast which could have devastating consequences. Meanwhile, Rod is seriously considering an offer to become Commissioner of Baseball.

    Director:Vincent Misiano
    Writers:Crystal Nix Hines, Richard C. Arthur

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  12. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 9 - The Mom Who Came to Dinner
    7.6/10(84 votes)

    #12 - The Mom Who Came to Dinner

    S1:E9

    Mac has more than Thanksgiving turkey on her plate. She juggles military base closures in her home town, a death penalty case the Supreme Court will not hear and a visit with Mom. Joining her team is a young and savvy media strategist/advisor.

    Director:Chris Long
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 7 - First Scandal
    7.7/10(90 votes)

    #13 - First Scandal

    S1:E7

    When a tell-all book is published about Mackenzie Allen that contains confidential information suspicions arise. Meanwhile, the confirmation hearings for Vice Presidential nominee Warren Keaton begin, but raise questions about his past.

    Director:Dan Attias
    Writers:Dee Johnson, Rod Lurie

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  14. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 16 - The Elephant in the Room
    7.7/10(95 votes)

    #14 - The Elephant in the Room

    S1:E16

    Mac suffers a burst appendix while aboard Air Force One. Since there is no Vice President in place, Templeton becomes acting President since he is the Speaker of the House and next in line. Meanwhile, there is an air strike that is crippling travel on Memorial Day weekend and Templeton ends up overstepping his bounds and handles the situation the way he wants to.

    Director:Bobby Roth
    Writer:Dee Johnson

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  15. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 17 - Happy Birthday, Madam President
    7.7/10(95 votes)

    #15 - Happy Birthday, Madam President

    S1:E17

    On Mac's birthday, she is faced with the fact that there are American hostages being held in Turkey by a militant Kurdish group. Meanwhile, she also has to interview new candidates to be her Vice President and Dickie tries to convince her of the type of person she needs to choose because her choice will affect her re-election campaign.

    Director:Jeff Bleckner
    Writers:Steven A. Cohen, Stuart Stevens

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  16. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 10 - Sub Enchanted Evening
    7.8/10(87 votes)

    #16 - Sub Enchanted Evening

    S1:E10

    A submarine strikes a seamount just off North Korean waters and Mac must ask the Chinese for help. Meanwhile, Dickie's constant need for information has begun to irritate everyone. Meanwhile the first family deals with the question of reelection.

    Director:Jesse Bochco
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 11 - No Nukes is Good Nukes
    8.2/10(87 votes)

    #17 - No Nukes is Good Nukes

    S1:E11

    While trying to coordinate the rescue of the crew of a damaged U.S. submarine off the coast of North Korea with help from Chinese, Mac must deal with war fever among her advisors and a leak from China to the North Korean government that threatens to start a nuclear war. Meanwhile, Speaker Templeton’s wife secretly encourages Jayne Murray to accept Nathan’s offer to rejoin his office as chief of Staff.

    Director:Bobby Roth
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Commander in Chief Season 1 Episode 18 - Unfinished Business
    8.2/10(100 votes)

    #18 - Unfinished Business

    S1:E18

    After a critic of the Equal Rights Amendment passes away and his wife takes over his seat, Mac believes she can amend the Constitution and pass the ERA once and for all. Meanwhile Templeton turns a Get Out the Vote campaign meeting into a presidential debate, Rod is asked to write a story about his relationship with Mac, and Rebecca finally learns the identity of her IM buddy, and both are shocked at just who the other person is.

    Director:Rick Wallace
    Writers:Dee Johnson, Steven A. Cohen, Cynthia J. Cohen

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Worst Episodes Summary

"State of the Unions" is the worst rated episode of "Commander in Chief". It scored 7/10 based on 81 votes. Directed by Steve Shill and written by Dee Johnson, Alison Cross, it aired on 4/13/2006. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Wind Beneath My Wing".