8.1/10544 votes#1 - The Show Must Go On
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 10/4/2015
The President’s plane is declared missing and Elizabeth is thrust into a situation of power she never imagined possible. Also, Henry butts heads with his new Defense Intelligence Agency handler, Jane Fellows, when he’s asked to recruit one of his Russian students for the NSA.
Director: Morgan Freeman
Writer: Barbara Hall
7.7/10447 votes#2 - The Doability Doctrine
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 10/11/2015
Elizabeth takes advice from former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and ignores President Dalton's recommendation on how to negotiate the safe return of a Sate Department employee who was kidnapped in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Henry is having trouble persuading a student to spy for the U.S. government.
Director: Eric Stoltz
Writer: David Grae
7.6/10408 votes#3 - The Rusalka
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/18/2015
Elizabeth and President Dalton’s administration are met with hostility while trying to deal with the Russian government. Also, Dmitri is kidnapped and interrogated about being a Russian spy.
Director: Dennie Gordon
Writer: N/A
7.6/10402 votes#4 - Waiting for Taleju
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/2015
Elizabeth finds herself pushed out of the President's inner circle after she disagrees with his response to the growing tension with Russia. Also, when incriminating photos of Stevie and Harrison surface, Elizabeth and Henry must deal with the aftermath and try to protect their daughter from the media.
Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá
Writer: Joy Gregory
7.7/10402 votes#5 - The Long Shot
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 11/1/2015
In the wake of President Ostrov’s death, Elizabeth and President Dalton fear a power grab within the Russian government. Also, the government’s Cybersecurity Coordinator Oliver Shaw (Kobi Libii) works to identify the hacker who interfered with the communication system on Air Force One, and Jay devises a plan to fight Russian propaganda.
Director: Rob J. Greenlea
Writer: Moira Kirland
7.7/10414 votes#6 - Catch and Release
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/2015
After an American aid worker is killed in Syria by the first known American ISIS leader, Elizabeth recalls all aid workers stationed there, including her brother, and makes it her mission to get justice for the victim. Henry is conflicted when Dmitri asks for help saving Ivan, who has been called back to Moscow.
Director: Charlotte Brändström
Writer: Alex Cooley
7.8/10418 votes#7 - You Say You Want a Revolution
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 11/15/2015
With the support of President Dalton, Elizabeth attempts to get the Senate's support for a history-making effort to lift the Cuban trade embargo. Also, Henry and Alison bond while touring Havana together.
Director: Tate Donovan
Writer: Tony Phelan, Joan Rater
8.0/10457 votes#8 - Lights Out
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/22/2015
As tensions rise with Russia, Elizabeth, Russell and Mike B. hatch a plan to oust National Security Advisor Craig Sterling without tarnishing President Dalton with a scandal. Director of National Intelligence Ephraim Ware identifies who hacked Air Force One.
Director: Dennie Gordon
Writer: N/A
8.0/10443 votes#9 - Russian Roulette
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/29/2015
Shortly before Elizabeth is to deliver a speech at the United Nations accusing Russia for the attack on Air Force One, Henry shares information that makes her reconsider her theory.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/10463 votes#10 - The Greater Good
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 12/13/2015
After they uncover a secret that could ruin Maria Ostrov’s reputation, Elizabeth and President Dalton head to Switzerland to meet with her and use the information as leverage to find a peaceful solution to the escalated conflict with Russia. Also, Dmitri requests to be released from his duties as a spy.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/10397 votes#11 - Unity Node
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 1/10/2016
Elizabeth tries to salvage a peace deal with Russia after an unexpected turn of events threatens to dissolve the agreement. Also, Elizabeth gets dragged into dealing with an emergency situation aboard the International Space Station.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/10396 votes#12 - The Middle Way
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 1/17/2016
Elizabeth, to her surprise, is met resistance when she travels to Myanmar to sign a Pacific Rim trade agreement, which will modernize the country's power grid and benefit several of its trading partners. Meanwhile, Nadine attempts to mend her relationship with her estranged son.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/10400 votes#13 - Invasive Species
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 1/31/2016
After his father’s death, Henry’s family uncovers shocking secrets that open old wounds for them, including his grieving sister Maureen, who blames Henry for not spending enough time at home. Also, Russell keeps important information from Elizabeth’s team at the State department.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/10393 votes#14 - Left of the Boom
Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 2/14/2016
While Elizabeth oversees a mission to track down the culprits behind a uranium heist in Eastern Europe, she also contends with highly sensitive issues in Saudi Arabia, including the apprehension of two American teenage girls who intended to join a terrorist group, that threatens to dismantle an important arms deal.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/10376 votes#15 - Right of the Boom
Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 2/21/2016
Following a shocking event on U.S. soil, Elizabeth rushes to find answers to President Dalton's many questions about how it was able to occur.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/10355 votes#16 - Hijriyyah
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 3/6/2016
After an Italian warship answers a distress call from a ship carrying Libyan refugees, Elizabeth is given 20 minutes to decide whether to question a passenger who claims to know the whereabouts of Jibral Disah, the most-wanted terrorist in the world. Also, Stevie brings her boyfriend Jareth home to meet her parents.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/10356 votes#17 - Higher Learning
Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 3/20/2016
While Elizabeth accompanies Alison on a college campus tour, she is ambushed by protestors about a Chilean mining operation involving the U.S. and Chilean governments. Also, Henry, Jane and Jose Campos attempt to track down Jibral Disah's third wife, Hijriyyah
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/10362 votes#18 - On the Clock
Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 3/27/2016
As Elizabeth holds peace talks between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan, a mysterious plane crash tied to both countries causes the three parties to reevaluate the deal. Also, in an attempt to help the NSA locate the terrorist Jibral Disah, Henry approaches a former teacher of one of Disah’s wives for information, and Elizabeth withstands a grueling interview with Jane Pauley.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.5/10353 votes
#19 - Desperate Remedies
Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 4/10/2016
Elizabeth learns that a member of the inner circle of the terrorist group Boko Haram has fallen ill with a deadly virus and, by leveraging his weakness, she formulates a plan to get them to release a group of schoolgirls they are holding captive. Also, Henry gets new information on the whereabouts of Jibral Disah that leads them closer to pinpointing his location.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10341 votes#20 - Ghost Detainee
Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 4/17/2016
After Elizabeth delivers her first speech to the United Nations General Assembly formally condemning the terrorist group Hizb-al Shahid, she discusses forming a coalition against them with the Russian Foreign Minister. However, the talks create a conflict of interest between Elizabeth and Henry, who is searching for a way to save Dmitri’s ill sister, Talia Petrov, from the Russian government.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/10342 votes#21 - Connection Lost
Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 4/24/2016
When President Dalton gets word that the world’s most wanted terrorist, Jibral Disah, is hiding in Islamabad, he sends the “Murphy Station” – Henry, Jane and Jose – on a dangerous mission to eliminate the threat. Also, Elizabeth and Henry go to couples therapy.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/10343 votes#22 - Render Safe
Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 5/1/2016
The United States debates enacting a “render safe” mission to secure nuclear weapons that belong to the Pakistani government before it collapses, while the Murphy Station pursues the terrorist Jibral Disah.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.1/10406 votes#23 - Vartius
Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 5/8/2016
When Elizabeth receives shocking news about an important political operative, she navigates a tricky political situation with President Dalton, who she learns may be considering replacing her as Secretary of State. Also, Stevie and Jareth get engaged.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Madam Secretary Season 2
Every episode of Madam Secretary Season 2 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Madam Secretary Season 2!
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 2 Ratings Summary
"The Show Must Go On" is the best rated episode of "Madam Secretary" season 2. It scored 8.1/10 based on 544 votes. Directed by Morgan Freeman and written by Barbara Hall, it aired on 10/4/2015. This episode is rated 0.4 points higher than the second-best, "The Doability Doctrine".