The Best Episodes of Madam Secretary

Elizabeth must decide whether to use autonomous unmanned weapons or send U.S. soldiers to bring the mastermind of the UN gas attack to justice. Also, Blake is questioned by Senator Hanson about potential campaign finance violations related to his love life, and Henry and Elizabeth search for the perfect dog.

Director: Rob J. Greenlea

Writer: Keith Eisner

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.

Director: Deborah Reinisch

Writer: David Grae, Barbara Hall

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.

Director: John Murray

Writer: Matt Ward

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.

Director: Eric Stoltz

Writer: Matt Ward

As Elizabeth prepares to leave the state department and announce her run for president, terrorists attack the United Nations delegation in Geneva that is there to sign the climate migration treaty.

Director: John Murray

Writer: Matt Ward

Henry teams up with a Marine veteran to fight for legislation that helps Veterans Affairs provide better mental health care, but he encounters surprising resistance from Vice President Carlos Morejon. Also, Senator Hanson questions Daisy about an arrest in her past.

Director: James Whitmore Jr.

Writer: Lyla Oliver

When a fabricated video makes it look like Elizabeth and Henry are making fun of a foreign dignitary, they struggle to convince him not to pull out of an important international agreement. Also, Stevie says goodbye to an important person in her life.

Director: Leslie Libman

Writer: Matt Chester

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.

Director: Morgan Freeman

Writer: Barbara Hall

When the Mongolian government sends Elizabeth a horse as a gift, she thinks accepting it could upset other Asian countries, but she stirs up more controversy when she considers returning it to Mongolia.

Director: Jonathan Brown

Writer: Barbara Hall

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, the McCords worry that their family is being stalked when they discover Jason’s laptop may have been hacked.

Director: Morgan Freeman

Writer: Barbara Hall

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.

Director: Eric Stoltz

Writer: David Grae

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.

Director: Charlotte Brändström

Writer: Matt Ward

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.

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Writer: N/A

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.

Director: Rob J. Greenlea

Writer: Matt Ward

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.

Director: Eric Stoltz

Writer: Lyla Oliver

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.

Director: Geoffrey Arend

Writer: Alexander Maggio

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.

Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá

Writer: Joy Gregory

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.

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Writer: N/A

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.

Director: N/A

Writer: N/A

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.

Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá

Writer: Joy Gregory

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.

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Writer: N/A

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.

Director: N/A

Writer: N/A

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.

Director: Kevin Dowling

Writer: Kristi Korzec

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.

Director: Sam Hoffman

Writer: Matt Chester

Elizabeth and Jay work to keep an 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.

Director: Eric Stoltz

Writer: Joy Gregory