Madam Secretary Season 1 Episode 17 Face the Nation

In the 17th episode of the first season of Madam Secretary, titled "Face the Nation," Elizabeth McCord, portrayed by Téa Leoni, deals with the aftermath of the President's State of the Union address. The President's speech has been generally well-received, but a minor line about negotiating with Iran has raised concern among Congress and the media. Elizabeth is tasked with handling the fallout from the speech and preparing the Secretary of State for their upcoming appearance on Face the Nation.

As Elizabeth meets with various lawmakers and journalists about the controversy, she is also dealing with her own family issues. Her daughter, Stevie, has been spending time with a young man named Jareth, who Elizabeth disapproves of due to his involvement in protest movements. Meanwhile, Elizabeth's son, Jason, is interested in asking out his long-time crush, Piper, but is struggling with self-doubt.

In other plot lines, Henry (Tim Daly) is working on a plan to rescue a group of American aid workers who have been taken hostage in Syria. He collaborates with a Russian agent named Dmitri (Chris Petrovski), with whom he develops a tentative friendship.

As the episode progresses, Elizabeth navigates the intricacies of politics and media while balancing her personal life. She must protect the administration from any potential fallout and ensure that the State Department's messaging on Iran is clear and concise. The episode culminates in the Secretary of State's face-off against a seasoned journalist on Face the Nation, where she must defend the administration's stance on Iran while avoiding any missteps or gaffes that could further damage the President's credibility.

Overall, "Face the Nation" is a tense and character-driven episode that showcases the various pressures and demands placed on Elizabeth McCord. It also delves into her personal life in a way that humanizes her and adds depth to her character. The episode is well-acted and well-written, with several subplots that interconnect in engaging ways. Fans of political dramas and character-driven storytelling will likely find "Face the Nation" to be a standout episode in Madam Secretary's first season.