7.7/10331 votes#1 - News Cycle
Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 10/8/2017
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
7.6/10298 votes#2 - Off the Record
Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 10/15/2017
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
7.6/10298 votes#3 - The Essentials
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 10/22/2017
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
7.2/10277 votes#4 - Shutdown
Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 10/29/2017
As the government shutdown shows no sign of progress, Secretary of State McCord must negotiate an agreement between the White House and its opposition led by Senator Morejon. Also, Elizabeth is having trouble finding a suitable replacement for the chief of staff position.
Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá
Writer: Joy Gregory
7.5/10273 votes#5 - Persona Non Grata
Season 4 Episode 5 - Aired 11/5/2017
Elizabeth is determined to continue to hold a human trafficking conference in Kyrgyzstan despite the inappropriate actions by a U.S. ambassador. Also, Elizabeth and Henry worry about Alison when she keeps coming home from college.
Director: John Murray
Writer: Alexander Maggio
7.5/10269 votes#6 - Loophole
Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 11/12/2017
Henry disagrees with the President and Elizabeth when they refuse to negotiate with terrorists for the release of an American CIA agent who was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Also, Elizabeth tries to be supportive of Stevie who is going through a difficult time.
Director: Maggie Greenwald
Writer: Moira Kirland
7.4/10282 votes#7 - North to the Future
Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 11/19/2017
When a Russian dissident flees to the U.S. after contracting smallpox, Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord and retired U.N. Ambassador Kat Sandoval must work with Russian Foreign Minister Konstantin Avdonin to contain the outbreak.
Director: Sunu Gonera
Writer: Kristi Korzec
7.4/10273 votes#8 - The Fourth Estate
Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 11/26/2017
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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/10277 votes#9 - Minefield
Season 4 Episode 9 - Aired 12/10/2017
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
7.3/10288 votes#10 - Women Transform the World
Season 4 Episode 10 - Aired 12/17/2017
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
7.7/10297 votes#11 - Mitya
Season 4 Episode 11 - Aired 1/7/2018
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
7.8/10366 votes#12 - Sound and Fury
Season 4 Episode 12 - Aired 1/14/2018
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
7.2/10263 votes#13 - Reading the Signs
Season 4 Episode 13 - Aired 3/11/2018
Elizabeth seeks creative solutions when the president of Sri Lanka's psychic convinces him to not move forward with a trade agreement with the U.S. Also, Alison grapples with guilt for missing the warning signs after her college roommate attempts suicide, and Henry makes an abrupt career decision.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.4/10327 votes#14 - Refuge
Season 4 Episode 14 - Aired 3/18/2018
Jay and Kat devise a way to help persecuted foreign LGBTQ citizens escape their country while their U.S. homeland security applications are processed. However, when the country closes its borders, Jay and Kat are forced to change that plan quickly, as it could now threaten their relationship with neighboring allies.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10256 votes#15 - The Unnamed
Season 4 Episode 15 - Aired 3/25/2018
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
7.5/10263 votes#16 - My Funny Valentine
Season 4 Episode 16 - Aired 4/1/2018
As the 20th anniversary of the American embassy bombing in Mali approaches, emotions run high among the State Department staff, who had personal connections to lives lost that day, including Elizabeth, who must decide if the U.S. should lift sanctions against the country deemed responsible. Also, Henry tries to help Jason break up with Piper.
Director: Rob J. Greenlea
Writer: Matt Ward
7.2/10246 votes#17 - Phase Two
Season 4 Episode 17 - Aired 4/8/2018
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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/10241 votes#18 - The Friendship Game
Season 4 Episode 18 - Aired 4/22/2018
Elizabeth’s negotiations for a security agreement combatting gang violence in South America becomes complicated when she attempts to free an American recently kidnapped there.
Director: Sam Hoffman
Writer: Lyla Oliver
7.2/10272 votes#19 - Thin Ice
Season 4 Episode 19 - Aired 4/29/2018
Elizabeth is attending a summit in Montreal to resolve territorial claims of the North Pole when an activist group detonates a bomb and she can’t locate Jason and Piper. Also, things take a turn for the worse when Elizabeth learns that Russia was involved in the bombing, and Henry helps one of his students work through a difficult decision.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/10291 votes#20 - The Things We Get to Say
Season 4 Episode 20 - Aired 5/6/2018
Elizabeth must watch what she says and does when she deals with a refugee situation while being shadowed by Neal Shin, a newspaper reporter who may use his access to write a tell-all book.
Director: Sunu Gonera
Writer: Joy Gregory
7.4/10271 votes#21 - Protocol
Season 4 Episode 21 - Aired 5/13/2018
When terrorists threaten to cause a flood in the Middle East that could kill millions of people, Elizabeth’s hopes of getting a neighboring country to close the dam fade after the government suddenly goes dark during a coup. Also, Stevie is tasked with finding Russell an activity that will help manage his stress.
Director: Charlotte Brändström
Writer: Matt Ward
8.3/10403 votes#22 - Night Watch
Season 4 Episode 22 - Aired 5/20/2018
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
The Best Episodes of Madam Secretary Season 4
Every episode of Madam Secretary Season 4 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Madam Secretary Season 4!
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 4 Ratings Summary
"News Cycle" is the best rated episode of "Madam Secretary" season 4. It scored 7.7/10 based on 331 votes. Directed by Morgan Freeman and written by Barbara Hall, it aired on 10/8/2017. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Off the Record".