The Worst Episodes of Madam Secretary
Every episode of Madam Secretary ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Madam Secretary!
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 as she negotiates global and domestic issues, both at the White House and at home.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "Madam Secretary" is "Refuge", rated 6.5/10 from 318 user votes. It was directed by N/A and written by N/A. "Refuge" aired on 3/18/2018 and is rated 0.4 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "Labor of Love".
6.5/10 318 votes#1 - 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
6.9/10 272 votes#2 - 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
7.1/10 355 votes#3 - 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
7.1/10 255 votes#4 - 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
7.1/10 232 votes#5 - 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
7.2/10 457 votes#6 - 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
7.2/10 281 votes#7 - 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
7.2/10 269 votes#8 - 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
7.2/10 254 votes#9 - 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
7.2/10 247 votes#10 - 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
7.2/10 237 votes#11 - 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
7.2/10 263 votes#12 - 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
7.3/10 540 votes#13 - 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
7.3/10 484 votes#14 - 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
7.3/10 334 votes#15 - 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
7.3/10 280 votes#16 - 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
7.3/10 271 votes#17 - 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
7.3/10 263 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
7.3/10 253 votes#19 - 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
7.3/10 281 votes#20 - 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
7.3/10 278 votes#21 - 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
7.4/10 846 votes#22 - 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
7.4/10 441 votes#23 - 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
7.4/10 388 votes#24 - 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
7.4/10 292 votes#25 - 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