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The Best Episodes of Madam Secretary Season 5

Every episode of Madam Secretary Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Madam Secretary Season 5!

Binge this in 14h 20m•Peaking at 8.1/10

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 5 Episode 20 - Better Angels
    8.1/10(337 votes)

    S5:E20

    As Elizabeth prepares to leave the state department and announce her run for president, anti-globalist terrorists attack the United Nations delegation in Geneva who are there to sign the climate migration treaty.

    Director:John Murray
    Writer:Matt Ward

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  2. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 19 - The Great Experiment
    8.0/10(293 votes)

    S5:E19

    As Elizabeth prepares to officially declare her candidacy for president, she must deal with fallout from a news article alleging she had an affair with President Dalton during her CIA days. Also, Mike B. and Jay adjust to the growing pains in their expanded roles as campaign staffers, and Elizabeth calls for a UN criminal tribunal against Myanmar military leaders over their treatment of the Rohingya.

    Director:Sunu Gonera
    Writer:Matt Chester

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  3. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 11 - Family Separation (2)
    7.9/10(414 votes)

    S5:E11

    Elizabeth goes head to head with a U.S. governor over the state's new policy of separating unauthorized immigrants from their children. Also, she and Henry plan to renew their wedding vows.

    Director:Martha Mitchell
    Writers:David Grae, Barbara Hall

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  4. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 3 - The Magic Rake
    7.8/10(324 votes)

    S5:E3

    Elizabeth flies to Fashion Week in Milan to face off against the Chinese Foreign Minister over an anti-sweatshop treaty in the aftermath of a tragedy. Also, Daisy struggles with feelings of fear and pessimism over her baby’s future, under the threat of rising nationalism in the wake of the attack on the White House.

    Director:John Murray
    Writer:Matt Ward

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  5. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 10 - Family Separation (1)
    7.8/10(470 votes)

    S5:E10

    Elizabeth goes head to head with a U.S. governor over the state’s new policy of separating unauthorized immigrants from their children.

    Director:Rob J. Greenlea
    Writers:David Grae, Barbara Hall

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  6. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 14 - Something Better
    7.8/10(267 votes)

    S5:E14

    When a group of American missionaries become hostages during a violent uprising abroad, Dalton must confront demons from his past in order to help Elizabeth secure their safe return home. Also, Stevie takes over Russell’s social media presence, and Henry helps his niece, Sarah, mentally prepare for her military deployment.

    Director:Charlotte Brändström
    Writer:Sara Ray

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  7. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 4 - Requiem
    7.7/10(293 votes)

    S5:E4

    When the remains of U.S. soldiers who served in World War II are uncovered in Southeast Asia, Elizabeth’s hopes of bringing them home quickly fade when a stubborn leader stands in her way. Also, Henry and Stevie find themselves publicly targeted by a restaurant owner who is angry about Elizabeth’s policies, and Alison volunteers for a local congressional campaign.

    Director:Eric Stoltz
    Writer:Keith Eisner

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  8. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 5 - Ghosts
    7.6/10(284 votes)

    S5:E5

    Henry finds himself at the center of an international incident, when he comes to the aid of an ex-girlfriend at a religious freedom conference in Thailand, after she is imprisoned for condemning the monarchy. Also, Elizabeth helps Jason navigate the pressure of preparing for college.

    Director:Rob J. Greenlea
    Writer:Lyla Oliver

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  9. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 8 - The Courage to Continue
    7.6/10(269 votes)

    S5:E8

    When Haiti’s democracy is threatened by a president who refuses to step down after losing the election, Elizabeth tries to solve the problem without resorting to military action. Also, Blake has one week to find a new job before Elizabeth fires him as her assistant.

    Director:Sam Hoffman
    Writer:Matt Chester

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  10. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 9 - Winter Garden
    7.6/10(269 votes)

    S5:E9

    Elizabeth and Jay work to keep an historic agreement between Serbia and Kosovo from falling apart, after a mass grave is discovered in Serbia dating back to the Kosovo war. Also, Henry deals with a bizarre encounter with Secretary of Defense Gordon Becker.

    Director:Eric Stoltz
    Writer:Joy Gregory

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  11. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 12 - Strategic Ambiguity
    7.6/10(264 votes)

    S5:E12

    Elizabeth must salvage a deal with a military contractor by supplying fighter jets to Taiwan, but she risks triggering a war with China in the process. Also, Daisy gets frustrated with Matt for failing to help take care of her dog like he promised.

    Director:Eric Stoltz
    Writer:Matt Ward

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  12. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 2 - The Chaos Game
    7.5/10(304 votes)

    S5:E2

    When Elizabeth discovers that the White House attackers had support from overseas, she tries to hunt down those responsible without starting a war. Also, Henry comes face to face with one of the attackers.

    Director:Félix Alcalá
    Writer:Joy Gregory

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  13. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 7 - Baby Steps
    7.5/10(272 votes)

    S5:E7

    Vice President Teresa Hurst asks Elizabeth for help when a surrogate carrying her future grandchild is arrested in Laos for human trafficking. Also, Henry tries to protect Stevie from danger when he suspects that she’s being followed by a Russian operative, and Blake deals with the demanding and costly instructions of a delegation of Japanese gardeners.

    Director:Kevin Dowling
    Writer:Kristi Korzec

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  14. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 15 - Between the Seats
    7.5/10(262 votes)

    S5:E15

    Elizabeth visits the Middle East to finalize a deal to bring U.S. troops home, but complications arise when a local woman’s life is threatened by rumors of a romance with one of Elizabeth’s staffers. Also, Henry provides relationship advice to Elizabeth’s brother, Will.

    Director:Sam Hoffman
    Writer:Lyla Oliver

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  15. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 16 - The New Normal
    7.5/10(340 votes)

    S5:E16

    When a super typhoon threatens a small Pacific island, Elizabeth tries to relocate its population before the storm makes landfall. Also, Henry gives a speech to an evangelical group about climate change.

    Director:Félix Alcalá
    Writer:Alexander Maggio

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  16. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 18 - Ready
    7.5/10(289 votes)

    S5:E18

    A NATO ally carries out a state-sponsored assassination attempt against one of its own citizens, who is also a U.S. resident and old friend of Elizabeth’s. Also, Alison starts dating the son of one of Elizabeth’s political rivals.

    Director:Sunu Gonera
    Writer:Matt Chester

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  17. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 6 - Eyjafjallajökull
    7.4/10(319 votes)

    S5:E6

    When the eruption of an Icelandic volcano strands Elizabeth at an airport in Ireland with the Turkish foreign minister, she tries to broker a deal with him to save the lives of thousands of Syrian refugees. Also, Henry gives advice to Alison about an awkward topic.

    Director:Geoffrey Arend
    Writer:Alexander Maggio

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  18. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 13 - Proxy War
    7.4/10(262 votes)

    S5:E13

    When innocent Syrian children are killed by an American-made cluster bomb, Elizabeth races to figure out what went wrong before Russia can use it as an excuse to escalate its military presence in the region. Also, Russell faces a PR nightmare after he gets into a heated argument with a homeless protester.

    Director:Félix Alcalá
    Writer:Keith Eisner

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  19. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 1 - E Pluribus Unum
    7.3/10(571 votes)

    S5:E1

    In the aftermath of a deadly attack on the White House, Elizabeth tries to keep a major nuclear disarmament deal from falling apart while a manhunt for the attackers brings D.C. to a halt. For advice, Elizabeth turns to former secretaries of state Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton and Colin Powell.

    Director:Eric Stoltz
    Writers:David Grae, Barbara Hall

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  20. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 17 - The Common Defense
    7.2/10(315 votes)

    S5:E17

    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

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Season 5 Ratings Summary

"Better Angels" is the best rated episode of "Madam Secretary" season 5. It scored 8.1/10 based on 337 votes. Directed by John Murray and written by Matt Ward, it aired on 4/21/2019. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Great Experiment".