The West Wing this is not, but Madam Secretary is a fine enough television series with a respectable cast, though some of the writing, and dialogue especially, wasn’t great.
Madam Secretary: The Complete Series
(2014-19)
Genre(s): Drama
Paramount | NR – 5193 min. – $89.98 | April 7, 2020
Date Published: 04/10/2020 | Author: The Movieman
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SERIES SYNOPSIS
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| Season 1 -Meet Elizabeth McCord (TÉA LEONI): wife, mother, Ph. D., former CIA analyst… and now, America’s newest Secretary of State. She left the world of covert intelligence behind for ethical reason to lead an academic lifestyle with her supportive husband Henry (TIM DALY) and her teenage children. Now the President needs her, and he knows from experience that Elizabeth has the knowledge and tenacity to advise on and steer the nation’s foreign policy. Facing international crises–from embassy bombings to treaty negotiations–Elizabeth’s maverick style puts her at odds with the President’s Machiavellian Chief of Staff, Russell Jackson (ŽELJKO IVANEK). Earning the grudging respect of State Department insider Nadine Tolliver (BEBE NEUWIRTH), Elizabeth adapts to political maneuvering while uncovering dark secrets that threaten to unravel the administration.
Season 2 – As tensions mount with Russia and chaos brews in the Middle East, Elizabeth answers directly to President Conrad Dalton (KEITH CARRADINE). She tries to steer the world back from the brink of war while navigating the complex agenda of Chief of Staff Jackson. Through it all, she knows she can rely on her brilliant staff, spearheaded by seasoned State Department insider Nadine Tolliver. Season 3 – As global tensions continue to mount, the McCord family becomes the focus in a sinister stalking case, the culprit of which no one could every suspect. If a personal target wasn’t enough, Elizabeth’s husband Henry is assigned to take down a violent doomsday cult that is preparing to strike. Meanwhile, Elizabeth uses her sage counsel to ensure President Dalton’s reelection, all while White House Chief of Staff Russell Jackson provides difficult demands of his own. She may be savvy in all corners of the world, but with the help of Nadine Tolliver and her brilliant team, Elizabeth is next to unstoppable. Season 4 – McCord faces everything from international issues to personal upheavals. Whether she’s being accused of murdering a foreign diplomat, trying to contain a smallpox outbreak, or sending her daughter off to college, there’s no crisis she can’t handle. Her husband stirs controversy by recruiting a former member of the Russian military to work for the Agency. She continues to advise President Conrad Dalton, ever as she goes toe-to-toe with the White House Chief of Staff Russell Jackson. Navigating the complicated twists and turns of the D.C. machine gets even more challenging when the loyal Nadine Tolliver decides to retire. But Elizabeth’s team only gets stronger with the addition of brilliant political strategist Kat Sandoval (SARA RAMIREZ). Season 5 – As McCord prepares to transition from her office to a presidential campaign, she’s going to need all the help she can get – including historic appearances from former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton and Colin Powell as themselves. Season 6 – As McCord debates third-world problems, confronts issues related to her decision to run for president, finesses foreign dignitaries at work and does battle with the president’s combative chief of staff, Russell Jackson, that’s just a warm-up for when she goes home to her supportive husband, theology-professor-turned-intelligence-operative Henry, and their three children, where “politics” and “compromise” take on new meaning. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 3.25/5 |
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This 32-disc set is housed, like most of the CBS “Complete Series” releases, in a massive clear keep case, seasons 1-3 on the one side, 4-6 on the other and the case side-slides into a slip case. All of the features from the individual releases have been ported over. Below is a breakdown: Season 1:
Season 2:
Season 3:
Season 4:
Season 5:
Season 6: No Features* Bonus Disc:
* Unsure if the Bonus Disc was part of the season 6 standalone release. |
VIDEO – 4.0/5, AUDIO – 3.75/5
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| The series is presented with a 16×9 enhanced 1.78 aspect ratio video as originally televised and while there is some minor artifacting, at least the colors are good and the included Dolby Digital 5.1 track offers up clear dialogue from the center channel and some minor ambient noises making use of the front and rear speakers. |
OVERALL – 3.0/5 |
| The West Wing this is not, but Madam Secretary is a fine enough television series with a respectable cast, though some of the writing, and dialogue especially, wasn’t great and worse, heavy-handed, but I suppose of political wonks, this might be entertaining… |
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