7.4/10859 votes#1 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/2014
The new Secretary Of State Elizabeth McCord finds herself immediately faced with a maelstrom of difficult political challenges with an international hostage situation being her most important challenge.
Director: David Semel
Writer: Barbara Hall
7.5/10660 votes#2 - Another Benghazi
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/2014
Elizabeth has to deal with a crisis in Yemen and there's trouble on the home front for her as well after her oldest daughter Stevie manages to make the headlines for protesting a new policy at her university.
Director: David Semel
Writer: Barbara Hall
7.5/10608 votes#3 - The Operative
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/5/2014
Elizabeth is confronted by a hostile reporter who is threatening to publish confidential documents. Elsewhere, Henry is stuck in an international negotiation when his wife uses his job as leverage to make a deal with Pakistan.
Director: Jeremy Webb
Writer: David Grae
7.4/10572 votes#4 - Just Another Normal Day
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/12/2014
A Chinese student comes between a peace treaty between Japan and China. Stevie and Alison continue to clash.
Director: Eric Stoltz
Writer: Barbara Hall
7.6/10561 votes#5 - Blame Canada
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/19/2014
Elizabeth negotiate's with Iran over their nuclear program. Jason works with his Dad on a school report.
Director: Eriq La Salle
Writer: Paul Redford
7.3/10547 votes#6 - 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.
Director: Mark Piznarski
Writer: Matt Ward
7.5/10537 votes#7 - Passage
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/2/2014
After Elizabeth takes Alison with her to India on her first state department trip abroad, she is soon in crisis mode after a huge earthquake hits that causes an explosion at an American-owned factory. She is also separated from Alison.
Director: Martha Coolidge
Writer: Alex Cooley
7.6/10507 votes#8 - Need to Know
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/9/2014
Henry ends up being reactivated by the president into the NSA and he decides to keep his continued involvement in the spy game a secret from Elizabeth.
Director: Dennie Gordon
Writer: Alexander Maggio
8.0/10544 votes#9 - So It Goes
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/16/2014
Elizabeth, Henry and Isabelle investigate a plane crash that killed former Secretary of State Vincent Marsh. Nadine reenters the dating scene after she agrees to go on a date with a NASA scientist.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/10509 votes#10 - Collateral Damage
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/23/2014
A deranged gunman manages to leave the State Department in lockdown. Matt has some information to tell Daisy's fiance.
Director: Eric Stoltz
Writer: Matt Ward
7.7/10514 votes#11 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10490 votes#12 - 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.
Director: Gloria Muzio
Writer: Joseph C. Muscat
7.6/10487 votes#13 - 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. Also, Henry's father comes to visit.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/10470 votes#14 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/10474 votes#15 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.3/10577 votes#16 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/10484 votes#17 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/10448 votes#18 - 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.
Director: Anna Foerster
Writer: N/A
7.2/10464 votes#19 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/10450 votes#20 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/10462 votes#21 - 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 (Marsha Mason) to deal with her PTSD.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/10471 votes#22 - 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 (Jason Ralph), begin a relationship that will have consequences.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Madam Secretary Season 1
Every episode of Madam Secretary Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Madam Secretary Season 1!
After years away from the CIA, Elizabeth McCord is pulled back into the political arena. The newly appointed Secretary of State is tough, fair, and...
Genres:DramaWar & Politics
Network:CBS
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Madam Secretary" season 1. It scored 7.4/10 based on 859 votes. Directed by David Semel and written by Barbara Hall, it aired on 9/21/2014. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Another Benghazi".