Suggested companion activities
Elizabeth’s husband; an ethics professor and former Marine pilot who often consults for the NSA. Željko Ivanek Madam Secretary - Season 1
While individual episodes handle isolated diplomatic emergencies, a dark, overarching conspiracy ties Season 1 together. Elizabeth discovers that the plane crash that killed her predecessor, Vincent Marsh, was sabotaged. The series follows Elizabeth McCord (Téa Leoni), a
The series follows Elizabeth McCord (Téa Leoni), a shrewd and determined former CIA analyst and college professor who is thrust into the highest echelons of power. After the sitting Secretary of State, Vincent Marsh, dies in a mysterious plane crash, Elizabeth is recruited by her old CIA mentor and the current President of the United States, Conrad Dalton (Keith Carradine), to take his place. dies in a mysterious plane crash
Season 1 is often described as "aspirational politics". While it tackles heavy real-world issues—ranging from nuclear negotiations with Iran to the Greek economic crisis—it frequently concludes with "neatly-wrapped" solutions that some critics found overly optimistic. However, this idealism is balanced by a season-long serialized mystery regarding the plane crash of the former Secretary of State and a deep-seated CIA conspiracy. This "mystery of the week" combined with a "problem of the week" format allowed the show to educate viewers on the inner workings of the State Department while maintaining a high-tension narrative arc.