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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!

Binge this in 17h 8m•Peaking at 8.1/10

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 smart, driving international diplomacy, wrangling office politics, and circumventing protocol

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 1 - The Show Must Go On
    8.1/10(575 votes)

    #1 - The Show Must Go On

    S2:E1

    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

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  2. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 2 - The Doability Doctrine
    7.8/10(475 votes)

    #2 - The Doability Doctrine

    S2:E2

    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 State 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

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  3. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 3 - The Rusalka
    7.6/10(433 votes)

    #3 - The Rusalka

    S2:E3

    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:Matt Ward

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  4. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 4 - Waiting for Taleju
    7.6/10(428 votes)

    #4 - Waiting for Taleju

    S2:E4

    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 Alcalá
    Writer:Joy Gregory

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  5. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 5 - The Long Shot
    7.7/10(427 votes)

    #5 - The Long Shot

    S2:E5

    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 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

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  6. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 6 - Catch and Release
    7.7/10(439 votes)

    #6 - Catch and Release

    S2:E6

    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

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  7. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 7 - You Say You Want a Revolution
    7.8/10(443 votes)

    #7 - You Say You Want a Revolution

    S2:E7

    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
    Writers:Tony Phelan, Joan Rater

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  8. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 8 - Lights Out
    8.1/10(486 votes)

    #8 - Lights Out

    S2:E8

    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:Alexander Maggio

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  9. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 9 - Russian Roulette
    8.1/10(469 votes)

    #9 - Russian Roulette

    S2:E9

    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:Jonathan Brown
    Writer:Barbara Hall

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  10. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 10 - The Greater Good
    8.1/10(489 votes)

    #10 - The Greater Good

    S2:E10

    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:Eric Stoltz
    Writer:David Grae

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  11. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 11 - Unity Node
    7.7/10(420 votes)

    #11 - Unity Node

    S2:E11

    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:Jet Wilkinson
    Writer:Matt Ward

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  12. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 12 - The Middle Way
    7.4/10(420 votes)

    #12 - The Middle Way

    S2:E12

    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:James Whitmore Jr.
    Writer:Lyla Oliver

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  13. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 13 - Invasive Species
    7.7/10(429 votes)

    #13 - Invasive Species

    S2:E13

    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:Tony Phelan
    Writer:Moira Kirland

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  14. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 14 - Left of the Boom
    7.8/10(417 votes)

    #14 - Left of the Boom

    S2:E14

    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:Rob J. Greenlea
    Writer:Joy Gregory

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  15. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 15 - Right of the Boom
    7.8/10(401 votes)

    #15 - Right of the Boom

    S2:E15

    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:Jonathan Brown
    Writer:Alexander Maggio

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  16. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 16 - Hijriyyah
    7.5/10(375 votes)

    #16 - Hijriyyah

    S2:E16

    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:Charlotte Brändström
    Writer:Alex Cooley

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  17. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 17 - Higher Learning
    7.5/10(378 votes)

    #17 - Higher Learning

    S2:E17

    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:Heather Cappiello
    Writer:Kelly Jane Costello

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  18. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 18 - On the Clock
    7.1/10(385 votes)

    #18 - On the Clock

    S2:E18

    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:Zetna Fuentes
    Writers:David Grae, Barbara Hall

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  19. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 19 - Desperate Remedies
    7.6/10(374 votes)

    #19 - Desperate Remedies

    S2:E19

    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:Rob J. Greenlea
    Writer:Matt Ward

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  20. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 20 - Ghost Detainee
    7.3/10(362 votes)

    #20 - Ghost Detainee

    S2:E20

    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:Charlotte Brändström
    Writer:Moira Kirland

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  21. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 21 - Connection Lost
    7.6/10(364 votes)

    #21 - Connection Lost

    S2:E21

    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:Jonathan Brown
    Writer:Joy Gregory

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  22. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 22 - Render Safe
    7.9/10(367 votes)

    #22 - Render Safe

    S2:E22

    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:Félix Alcalá
    Writer:David Grae

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  23. Madam Secretary Season 2 Episode 23 - Vartius
    8.1/10(428 votes)

    #23 - Vartius

    S2:E23

    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:Eric Stoltz
    Writer:Barbara Hall

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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 575 votes. Directed by Morgan Freeman and written by Barbara Hall, it aired on 10/4/2015. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "The Doability Doctrine".