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The Best Episodes of Madam Secretary Season 1

Every episode of Madam Secretary Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Madam Secretary Season 1!

Binge this in 16h 13m•Peaking at 8.4/10

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 1 Episode 16 - Tamerlane
    8.4/10(628 votes)

    S1:E16

    Elizabeth secretly travels to Iran in an attempt to prevent a coup that could impact President Dalton’s administration. Also, she brings her staff up to speed on the investigation into Marsh’s death.

    Director:Jonathan Brown
    Writer:David Grae

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  2. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 9 - So It Goes
    8.0/10(593 votes)

    S1:E9

    Elizabeth, Henry, and Isabelle investigate a plane crash that killed former Secretary of State Vincent Marsh. Nadine reenters the dating scene after she agrees to go on a date with a NASA scientist.

    Director:James Whitmore Jr.
    Writer:David Grae

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  3. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 14 - Whisper of the Ax
    7.8/10(517 votes)

    S1:E14

    Elizabeth is humiliated at a public budget hearing when her staff fails to find the corruption that exists in her microloan program. Also, the investigation into Marsh's death continues.

    Director:Eric Stoltz
    Writer:Barbara Hall

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  4. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 21 - The Kill List
    7.8/10(504 votes)

    S1:E21

    As Elizabeth prepares for the arrival of Iranian President Shiraz to sign a nuclear treaty, she uncovers a top secret plot to assassinate him on United States soil. At the same time, she must deal with a massive protest by the Human Rights Campaign in response to Iran’s plans to stone a gay citizen to death. Also, Elizabeth sees a therapist to deal with her PTSD.

    Director:Edward Ornelas
    Writer:David Grae

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  5. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 11 - Game On
    7.7/10(560 votes)

    S1:E11

    Elizabeth, Henry, and Isabelle work together to find former Secretary of State Vincent Marsh’s secret bank account, but soon uncover that one of Elizabeth’s staff members already has access to it.

    Director:Randall Zisk
    Writer:Paul Redford

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  6. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 15 - The Ninth Circle
    7.7/10(518 votes)

    S1:E15

    Elizabeth heads to Turkey to mend political relations after the Turkish government releases a video that could be damaging to the CIA. Also, Jason is threatened with expulsion after punching a bully at school.

    Director:Nicole Cummins-Rubio
    Writer:Alexander Maggio

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  7. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 17 - Face the Nation
    7.7/10(530 votes)

    S1:E17

    As Elizabeth struggles to hold herself together emotionally following the attack in Iran, she works to prevent an ecological disaster in the Amazon, and prepares for a national television appearance on “Face the Nation.” Also, she and Henry disagree about the level of protection Jason should have at his new school.

    Director:Rob J. Greenlea
    Writer:Matt Ward

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  8. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 22 - There But for the Grace of God
    7.7/10(516 votes)

    S1:E22

    When Elizabeth confronts her former friend Juliet, she flashes back to when then-CIA Director Dalton offered her a job that would have changed the course of her life. Also, Stevie and President Dalton’s son, Harrison (Jason Ralph), begin a relationship that will have consequences.

    Director:Eric Stoltz
    Writer:Barbara Hall

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  9. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 5 - Blame Canada
    7.6/10(616 votes)

    S1:E5

    When Elizabeth faces the daunting task of negotiating with Iran over their escalating nuclear program, she is determined to deal with the situation in a peaceful manner, despite the President's position of using military action. Meanwhile, Jason has new admiration for his father when he interviews him for a school report.

    Director:Eriq La Salle
    Writer:Paul Redford

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  10. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 8 - Need to Know
    7.6/10(554 votes)

    S1:E8

    When the President approves Henry's reactivation into the NSA, he decides to keep his continued involvement in the spy game a secret from Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Matt and Daisy's antagonism toward one another begins to affect the entire office.

    Director:Dennie Gordon
    Writer:Alexander Maggio

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  11. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 10 - Collateral Damage
    7.6/10(554 votes)

    S1:E10

    When the State Department goes on lockdown due to a deranged gunman outside the building, Elizabeth is confined with a delegation from Iraq whose translator threatens to reveal damaging information about her actions while in the CIA. Meanwhile, when Matt is stuck in an office with Daisy’s fiancé, Win, he spills information that he shouldn’t have.

    Director:Eric Stoltz
    Writer:Matt Ward

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  12. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 13 - Chains of Command
    7.6/10(533 votes)

    S1:E13

    Elizabeth pushes for the prosecution of a Bahraini diplomat after he is caught holding a maid hostage in his home. Also, Henry's father comes to visit.

    Director:Michael Waxman
    Writer:Alex Cooley

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  13. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 20 - The Necessary Art
    7.6/10(491 votes)

    S1:E20

    While Henry is in Russia giving a lecture on fundamentalism, Elizabeth must navigate tricky political waters when a Russian nuclear submarine vanishes in American waters. Also, Stevie breaks up with her older boyfriend.

    Director:Dennie Gordon
    Writer:Paul Redford

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  14. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.5/10(947 votes)

    S1:E1

    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

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  15. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 2 - Another Benghazi
    7.5/10(723 votes)

    S1:E2

    Elizabeth has to deal with a crisis in Yemen and there's trouble on the home front for her as well after her oldest daughter Stevie manages to make the headlines for protesting a new policy at her university.

    Director:David Semel
    Writer:Barbara Hall

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  16. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 3 - The Operative
    7.5/10(663 votes)

    S1:E3

    Elizabeth is confronted by a hostile reporter who threatens to publish confidential documents that were leaked from inside the State Department. Later, Henry is dragged into an international negotiation when his wife uses his job as leverage to broker a deal with Pakistan.

    Director:Jeremy Webb
    Writer:David Grae

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  17. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 7 - Passage
    7.5/10(585 votes)

    S1:E7

    When Elizabeth brings Alison with her to India on her first state department trip abroad she's thrown into crisis mode when a massive earthquake hits that causes an explosion at an American-owned factory, and she's separated from Alison during the chaos.

    Director:Martha Coolidge
    Writer:Alex Cooley

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  18. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 4 - Just Another Normal Day
    7.4/10(629 votes)

    S1:E4

    While Elizabeth works to successfully broker a peace treaty between China and Japan, a Chinese student seeking political asylum threatens the deal. Meanwhile, tensions rise at home between Alison and Stevie during Alison's sleepover party.

    Director:Eric Stoltz
    Writers:Joan Rater, Tony Phelan

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  19. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 18 - The Time Is at Hand
    7.4/10(490 votes)

    S1:E18

    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:Joy Gregory

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  20. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 6 - The Call
    7.3/10(595 votes)

    S1:E6

    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

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  21. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 12 - Standoff
    7.3/10(538 votes)

    S1:E12

    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. Also, Elizabeth’s son injures himself while Blake is watching him.

    Director:Gloria Muzio
    Writer:Joseph C. Muscat

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  22. Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 19 - Spartan Figures
    7.2/10(507 votes)

    S1:E19

    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:Tate Donovan
    Writer:Lyla Oliver

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Tamerlane" is the best rated episode of "Madam Secretary" season 1. It scored 8.4/10 based on 628 votes. Directed by Jonathan Brown and written by David Grae, it aired on 3/15/2015. This episode is rated 0.4 points higher than the second-best, "So It Goes".