Madam Secretary: Season 1

2014 · 22 episodes · ★ 7.3

What Season 1 of Madam Secretary

Elizabeth McCord is a political science professor at the University of Virginia and a former CIA analyst. When President Conrad Dalton, who was her boss at the CIA, offers her the post of Secretary of State after Vincent Marsh's death in a suspicious plane crash, she reluctantly but determinedly accepts. From the State Department, she faces international crises and the intrigues of Washington, and she doesn't hesitate to break protocol. At home, her husband Henry, a theology professor and former Navy aviator, and their three children feel the effects of the new job. Elizabeth tries to keep her family from paying the price of her work.

22episodes

Sep 21, 2014premiered

May 3, 2015latest episode

16.2 hrtotal runtime

Season 1 Episodes

1x01 Pilot
Sep 21, 2014 · 44 min · ★ 7.3
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.
Directing: David Semel · Writing: Barbara Hall · Starring: Keith Carradine, Mike Pniewski, Patrick Breen, William Sadler
1x02 Another Benghazi
Sep 28, 2014 · 45 min · ★ 7.3
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.
Directing: David Semel · Writing: Barbara Hall · Starring: Patrick Breen, Tim Guinee, John Bedford Lloyd, Jeff Hephner
1x03 The Operative
Oct 5, 2014 · 44 min · ★ 7.3
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.
Directing: Jeremy Webb · Writing: David Grae · Starring: Keith Carradine, Patrick Breen, Marin Ireland, Yorgo Constantine
1x04 Just Another Normal Day
Oct 12, 2014 · 44 min · ★ 7.0
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.
Directing: Eric Stoltz · Writing: Joan Rater, Tony Phelan · Starring: Patrick Breen, Marin Hinkle, Nilaja Sun, Danni Wang
1x05 Blame Canada
Oct 19, 2014 · 44 min · ★ 6.9
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.
Directing: Eriq La Salle · Writing: Paul Redford · Starring: Keith Carradine, Johanna Day, Patrick Breen, Robert Klein
1x06 The Call
Oct 26, 2014 · 44 min · ★ 6.8
Elizabeth faces unexpected consequences when she makes a plea to the President to help with a dire situation in Western Africa.
Directing: Mark Piznarski · Writing: Matt Ward · Starring: Keith Carradine, Marin Hinkle, Louis Gossett Jr., Owiso Odera
1x07 Passage
Nov 2, 2014 · 44 min · ★ 7.4
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.
Directing: Martha Coolidge · Writing: Alex Cooley · Starring: Keith Carradine, John Shea, Sakina Jaffrey, Anna Wood
1x08 Need to Know
Nov 9, 2014 · 44 min · ★ 7.2
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.
Directing: Dennie Gordon · Writing: Alexander Maggio · Starring: Patrick Breen, Marin Hinkle, Nilaja Sun, Anna Wood
1x09 So It Goes
Nov 16, 2014 · 44 min · ★ 7.2
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.
Directing: James Whitmore Jr. · Writing: David Grae · Starring: Keith Carradine, John Pankow, Marin Hinkle, Dion Graham
1x10 Collateral Damage
Nov 23, 2014 · 45 min · ★ 7.5
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.
Directing: Eric Stoltz · Writing: Matt Ward · Starring: Dion Graham, J. Smith-Cameron, Shayan Shojaee, Ramsey Faragallah
1x11 Game On
Nov 30, 2014 · 44 min · ★ 7.5
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.
Directing: Randall Zisk · Writing: Paul Redford · Starring: Marin Hinkle, David Wohl, Philip Anthony-Rodriguez, Luis Antonio Ramos
1x12 Standoff
Jan 4, 2015 · 44 min · ★ 7.3
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.
Directing: Gloria Muzio · Writing: Joseph C. Muscat · Starring: Anna Wood, Ronald Guttman, Dion Graham, Peter Gerety
1x13 Chains of Command Mid-Season Finale
Jan 11, 2015 · 44 min · ★ 7.7
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.
Directing: Michael Waxman · Writing: Alex Cooley · Starring: Johanna Day, John Pankow, Aasif Mandvi, Yolande Bavan
1x14 Whisper of the Ax
Mar 1, 2015 · 44 min · ★ 7.3
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.
Directing: Eric Stoltz · Writing: Barbara Hall · Starring: Keith Carradine, Patrick Breen, Marin Hinkle, Nilaja Sun
1x15 The Ninth Circle
Mar 8, 2015 · 44 min · ★ 7.7
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.
Directing: Nicole Cummins-Rubio · Writing: Alexander Maggio · Starring: Keith Carradine, Patrick Breen, Marin Hinkle, Debra Monk
1x16 Tamerlane
Mar 15, 2015 · 44 min · ★ 7.3
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.
Directing: Jonathan Brown · Writing: David Grae · Starring: Keith Carradine, Mike Pniewski, Johanna Day, Paolo Montalbán
1x17 Face the Nation
Mar 22, 2015 · 44 min · ★ 7.1
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.
Directing: Rob J. Greenlea · Writing: Matt Ward · Starring: Francis Jue, Kevin Rahm, Audrey Esparza, Kevin O'Rourke
1x18 The Time Is at Hand
Mar 29, 2015 · 44 min · ★ 7.3
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.
Directing: Anna Foerster · Writing: Joy Gregory · Starring: Keith Carradine, Johanna Day, Tony Plana, Kevin Rahm
1x19 Spartan Figures
Apr 5, 2015 · 45 min · ★ 7.2
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.
Directing: Tate Donovan · Writing: Lyla Oliver · Starring: Keith Carradine, Josh Hamilton, Michael Cumpsty, Becky Ann Baker
1x20 The Necessary Art
Apr 12, 2015 · 45 min · ★ 7.5
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.
Directing: Dennie Gordon · Writing: Paul Redford · Starring: Paolo Montalbán, Philip Baker Hall, Olek Krupa, Cotter Smith
1x21 The Kill List
Apr 26, 2015 · 44 min · ★ 7.3
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.
Directing: Edward Ornelas · Writing: David Grae · Starring: Joshua Windley, Hill Harper, Marsha Mason, BD Wong
1x22 There But for the Grace of God Season Finale
May 3, 2015 · 45 min · ★ 7.3
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.
Directing: Eric Stoltz · Writing: Barbara Hall · Starring: Wayne Duvall, Richard Bekins, Jack Gilpin, Scott Johnsen