6.4/10327 votesLoading...#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
6.9/10281 votesLoading...#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
7.1/10363 votesLoading...#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
7.1/10262 votesLoading...#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
7.1/10241 votesLoading...#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
7.2/10470 votesLoading...#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
7.2/10289 votesLoading...#7 - 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 votesLoading...#8 - 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
7.2/10260 votesLoading...#9 - 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
7.2/10277 votesLoading...#10 - 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
7.2/10263 votesLoading...#11 - 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
7.2/10256 votesLoading...#12 - 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
7.2/10246 votesLoading...#13 - 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
7.2/10272 votesLoading...#14 - 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
7.3/10555 votesLoading...#15 - 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
7.3/10496 votesLoading...#16 - 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
7.3/10398 votesLoading...#17 - 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
7.3/10342 votesLoading...#18 - 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
7.3/10291 votesLoading...#19 - 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 votesLoading...#20 - 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
7.3/10270 votesLoading...#21 - 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
7.3/10290 votesLoading...#22 - 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
7.3/10288 votesLoading...#23 - 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
7.3/10283 votesLoading...#24 - The Common Defense
Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 3/24/2019
While Elizabeth is away on a retreat thinking about her presidential campaign, her staff tries to secure an international agreement to protect citizens who have been displaced due to global warming. Also, the staff works to contain a measles outbreak that threatens the life of Daisy’s daughter, Joanna.
Director: Martha Mitchell
Writer: Kristi Korzec
7.4/10869 votesLoading...#25 - 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
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...
Genres:DramaWar & Politics
Network:CBS
Worst Episodes Summary
"Refuge" is the worst rated episode of "Madam Secretary". It scored 6.4/10 based on 327 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 3/18/2018. This episode scored 0.5 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Labor of Love".