7.6/10365 votes#1 - Sea Change
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 10/2/2016
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
7.7/10326 votes#2 - The Linchpin
Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 10/16/2016
With Algeria on the brink of a civil war, Elizabeth delicately negotiates a regime change, but her plans go awry when Roy Curtis, the trusted U.S. Ambassador to Algeria, dies unexpectedly. Also, Henry fights to save religious antiquities in Algeria when he discovers they are being destroyed by Hizb al-Shahid.
Director: Eric Stoltz
Writer: David Grae
7.4/10301 votes#3 - South China Sea
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 10/23/2016
After U.S. environmental activists protesting China’s damage of a South China Sea reef are arrested for spying, Elizabeth finds herself in a stalemate with the Chinese foreign minister as she lobbies for their release.
Director: Rob J. Greenlea
Writer: Matt Ward
7.4/10300 votes#4 - The Dissent Memo
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 10/30/2016
After a bombing at a political rally in Angola, Elizabeth must find a way to respond to a “dissent memo” from the Bureau of African Affairs when they criticize the Dalton Administration’s lack of attention to the upcoming Angolan election.
Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá
Writer: Joy Gregory
7.5/10305 votes#5 - The French Revolution
Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 11/6/2016
When an imminent U.S.-France state dinner is jeopardized after a CIA operative is captured by French intelligence, Elizabeth must negotiate the operative’s release while keeping the event on track.
Director: Jonathan Brown
Writer: Moira Kirland
7.6/10299 votes#6 - The Statement
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 11/13/2016
When Elizabeth discovers that a terrorist bombing at an Illinois coffee shop was funded by someone with close ties to the Saudi government, she makes a bold move after the Saudi ambassador refuses to bring the man to justice. Also, Matt refuses to issue a statement when news breaks that he and the bomber are linked to the same mosque, and Henry reaches out to Dmitri when he hears he’s having trouble adjusting to his new life in Phoenix.
Director: Jet Wilkinson
Writer: Alex Cooley
7.5/10302 votes#7 - Tectonic Shift
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 11/20/2016
After Venezuela’s president andhis immediate successors are killed in a devastating earthquake, Elizabeth works to stop a power grab by the late president’s son, as well as secure the release of the international aid team he arrested.
Director: Arlene Sanford
Writer: Lyla Oliver
7.5/10297 votes#8 - Breakout Capacity
Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 11/27/2016
As President Dalton eagerly awaits voting results on Election Day, Elizabeth uncovers information that could put the U.S.’s peace deal with Iran in jeopardy.
Director: James Whitmore Jr.
Writer: Alexander Maggio
7.7/10291 votes#9 - Snap Back
Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 12/11/2016
As the U.N. Security Council considers reinstating sanctions against Iran for its suspected nuclear activities, Elizabeth tries to stop Israel from taking matters into its own hands when it threatens military action against the Iranians.
Director: Sam Hoffman
Writer: Shalisha Francis
7.7/10292 votes#10 - The Race
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 12/18/2016
When a possible Israel-Iran war threatens the House’s imminent vote on the U.S. presidential election, Elizabeth attempts to bring the two reluctant countries to the negotiation table in an effort to broker a peace between them.
Director: Eric Stoltz
Writer: David Grae
7.5/10294 votes#11 - Gift Horse
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 1/8/2017
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
7.2/10289 votes#12 - The Detour
Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 1/15/2017
When Elizabeth and her staff fly to Africa to offer development aid to the continent, they are caught by surprise when the Chinese arrive there first, ready to outmaneuver the U.S. with competing offers of aid.
Director: Martha Mitchell
Writer: Matt Ward
7.2/10290 votes#13 - The Beautiful Game
Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 1/29/2017
When an influential rabbi organizing a symbolic Iran/Israel soccer game is killed, Elizabeth and Jay’s peace treaty plans for the two countries are jeopardized. Also, Elizabeth’s name is floated for a Nobel Peace Prize; Jay’s tireless work on the Iran/Israel peace deal strains his marriage; and Daisy makes a connection with new work colleague, Kevin Park.
Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá
Writer: Joy Gregory
6.9/10281 votes#14 - Labor of Love
Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 3/5/2017
When the upcoming marriage of two star-crossed lovers from Colombia is in jeopardy, Elizabeth works to reunite the son of the Colombian president and the daughter of the rebel leader, whose union is at the heart of an important peace deal after years of civil war.
Director: Charlotte Brändström
Writer: Moira Kirland
7.3/10291 votes#15 - Break in Diplomacy
Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 3/12/2017
Elizabeth is shocked when the Philippines’ unconventional new president, Datu Andrada, makes a pass at her during their meeting to discuss his refusal to participate in an Asia-Pacific territory treaty.
Director: Maggie Greenwald
Writer: Lyla Oliver
7.3/10280 votes#16 - Swept Away
Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 3/19/2017
Elizabeth’s landmark global climate treaty with more than 200 countries is jeopardized when China threatens to back out due to her meeting with an ailing Dalai Lama. Also, Henry worries about his undercover operative’s safety, and Jay is surprised when Abby serves him with a custody agreement for their daughter.
Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá
Writer: Alex Cooley
7.5/10268 votes#17 - Convergence
Season 3 Episode 17 - Aired 3/26/2017
When a computer sting uncovers the possible mole in the CIA arms smuggling ring, Elizabeth’s questioning of the suspect makes her think that a larger, more dangerous force is behind the operation. Also, Henry worries that the doomsday cult is drugging his embedded operative, and Elizabeth and her State Department staff come up with an unorthodox approach to solving black rhino poaching in Namibia.
Director: James Whitmore Jr.
Writer: Alexander Maggio
7.3/10270 votes#18 - Good Bones
Season 3 Episode 18 - Aired 4/9/2017
Elizabeth enlists the help of Hollywood star Ashley Whittaker to help sway the president of Kyrgyzstan to end human trafficking in his country, but the added attention could put an American captive at risk. Also, when Henry finds the bomb that’s being held by the doomsday cult, he uncovers information that they could be planning a deadlier attack.
Director: Rob J. Greenlea
Writer: Joy Gregory
7.1/10262 votes#19 - Global Relief
Season 3 Episode 19 - Aired 4/23/2017
When warring rebel groups threaten Elizabeth’s Somalian food relief efforts and kidnap an American aide there, she reluctantly considers asking a notorious Russian arms dealer for help. Also, Henry is blindsided when he is taken off the VFF doomsday cult case, and Alison and Stevie await their college acceptances.
Director: Jet Wilkinson
Writer: Moira Kirland
7.2/10260 votes#20 - Extraordinary Hazard
Season 3 Episode 20 - Aired 4/30/2017
As the U.S. hunts for the person believed to be behind the CIA arms smuggling case, Elizabeth and her team must work to save Jay when he’s kidnapped in Nice, France, during a fact-finding mission into the suspect.
Director: Charlotte Brändström
Writer: Mark Steilen
7.8/10317 votes#21 - The Seventh Floor
Season 3 Episode 21 - Aired 5/7/2017
Elizabeth and her team work to secure the release of an American journalist held hostage in the Sudan.
Director: Deborah Reinisch
Writer: Matt Ward
7.5/10275 votes#22 - Revelation
Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 5/14/2017
As Elizabeth and President Dalton head to Rome for the G20 Conference, she is concerned for Henry’s safety when he is sent to Israel to intercept the doomsday cult’s bio-weapon before it is deployed.
Director: Jonathan Brown
Writer: David Grae
7.3/10290 votes#23 - Article 5
Season 3 Episode 23 - Aired 5/21/2017
Elizabeth heads to Brussels to seek NATO’s support against Russia when it threatens to invade Bulgaria, but when France refuses to cooperate, it could threaten the alliance’s very existence. Also, Henry’s new government role has him dive into the Russia issue and turn to his former operative, Dmitri Petrov for help, and as Nadine and Mike B’s relationship heats up, Elizabeth finds out information about her old friend that makes her question his loyalties.
Director: Eric Stoltz
Writer: Barbara Hall
The Best Episodes of Madam Secretary Season 3
Every episode of Madam Secretary Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Madam Secretary Season 3!
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 3 Ratings Summary
"Sea Change" is the best rated episode of "Madam Secretary" season 3. It scored 7.6/10 based on 365 votes. Directed by Morgan Freeman and written by Barbara Hall, it aired on 10/2/2016. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Linchpin".