A particularly taut and well-structured pilot episode lays out McCord’s essential struggles, while Leoni delivers a calm, cool and wry performance.

Madam Secretary starts off solidly, with an engaging performance by Téa Leoni as the secretary of state.

Leoni has great potential here, but the character development and "I'm already hooked" magic (a la The Good Wife) aren't quite there yet. [19/26 Sep 2014, p.126]

Likable work.... though it's very soon clear that this high-minded enterprise could use a good jolt of acid, and at least a modicum of granite authority in the character of the new secretary of state.

Leoni’s uber-competent character--she’s brilliant, plugged-in, fluent in every language!--could easily be annoying in the hands of another actress. But Leoni gives Elizabeth McCord a savvy, down-to-earth quality that makes her easy to root for.

All the show has now is that potential, the raw talent, and a setting it doesn't know what to do with.

Madam Secretary is just really, really dull, as if someone tried to make a counterweight to Scandal with only the boring parts--plus one shamelessly ripped-off conspiracy theory.

IMO, this show, along with Blue Bloods, are the best scripted dramas on all of television. Writing and acting are excellent. Subject matter is almost always relevant. Unfortunately, CBS scheduled this show on Sunday night, which means you will have no idea what time it's going to start. Evidently, CBS purposely runs overtime with football and golf. Guessing it's so they can get better Sunday prime time ratings. Bad news for their Sunday shows, because when you go tune in your favorite show, something else is on, so you go elsewhere.

I liked this show the first couple of seasons but now I am finding it quite boring. I think the writing is not very good. I think the show has an identity problem caused by the writers lack of creativity. The show spends too much time between three plots, Family, Secretary of State, and CIA husband. It cannot seem to focus on any one of them and it should focus more on the Secretary of State. The other issue is the oversimplification of world and political issues with superwoman secretary having and almost 100 percent genius rating in solving issues. It just does not work that way. My partner likes the show so I watch it now but if left to me, I would not. We watch it on Amazon so we do not have commercials. Tea Leon is great put the writing is killing the show for me. West Wing was so much better and I was sorry when it ended.

What gets me to continue watching a show is how the whole cast operated as a unit and not just one person, but Tea Leoni absolutely nails this part! She is so refreshing to watch and is believable in the role as a politician,mother and wife. I give it a 6 because I just don't connect with the immediate supporting cast. Nadine , Blake, Russell, Isabell and Henry are great but I just can't get on board with the rest. I watched The West Wing religiously and from the pilot (before the first commercial), I was hooked because the cast just blended well together (in my opinion, there was no real "lead" part, the whole cast portrayed a leading part). If one cast member left, I would have felt the shows great dynamic would change. I feel Madam Secretary can actually survive if half the cast was not present. I will continue to watch this season because it has my attention but I am not a loyal watcher.

This TV show is more of the same. Americans are the saviours of the world! When are they going to get in touch with reality? The world does not see them in that light. American foreign policy is strictly self serving ie if you have oil, we will be there! I can no longer stomach this show!

Latest episode continues to dive deeply into veiled liberal misleading topics. For instance the 'false report' on the Canadian pipeline (i.e. Keystone), the appearance that all agree on Global warming by man, and the hype of going over to war with Iran. Also the family is too perfect (kids asking super intelligent questions) with the perfect and super moral husband. Lastly there is no reality of current affairs where failure can and does occur. MS solves everything...