Madam Secretary - Chains of Command - Review: "Real-life issues"

Madam Secretary has been renewed for a second season! Thank you all for watching this great show, and thank you to the readers that take the time to read my reviews every week again. It's an honor to be reviewing Madam Secretary for SpoilerTV, and I hope you enjoy reading my reviews. Now on to the recap and review of this week's episode.

The episode started with the police responding to a burglary in a Bahraini diplomat's house, but inside the house, they find a maid being held hostage. The diplomat, Bilal Hassani, and his wife immediately demand immunity. They flee to the Bahraini embassy and are getting ready to leave the country, but Elizabeth doesn't let that happen and has the Hassanis arrested. However, Prince Yousif Obaid from Bahrain comes over to the US and demands the release of the Hassanis. Fortunately, Bess and Yousif have a history as they went to boarding school together, and Yousif promises to talk to his father whom he has been standing up to for a while. Sadly, Nadine later hears that Hassani has been promoted a higher position that automatically guarantees immunity.

Since Bess invited Yousif for dinner, she has a private conversation with him and pushes him to prosecute the Hassanis in Bahrain. Yousif makes no promises, but the next day he publicly announces in a speech that they will be prosecuted. However, things take a turn for the worse when Yousif is shot and killed by the opposition rebels. Bess is now thorn whether or not to go to his funeral. If she does, she will have to stay behind a curtain at the mosque with the rest of the women, but if she doesn't go, she cannot say goodbye to her friend. In the end, she decides to go to Bahrain but only to talk to Yousif's father, the old and sick King Naheen.

Elsehwere, Henry's father Patrick McCord comes for a visit. He is said to be a union rep and the children love him. Even Stevie comes home to see her grandfather. It turns out his visit is also politically motivated: he asks Bess to pull some strings for him. Following an awkward dinner with Yousif, Stevie complains about her mother to Patrick and he promptly says she can work for him. However, when she goes to the union office the next day, it turns out Patrick not on the union board at all. Stevie confronts him about this, and Patrick later tells his son that he got kicked out because he is old and irrelevant. Henry tries to sympathize with his father, but Patrick instead asks him to take him to the bus so he can leave. Later, Stevie says she respects her mother for the things she did right and asks if she can move back home.

This was another solid episode. The case of the week was nice and once again reflects a real-life issue. It made for some good twists as I didn't see it coming that Yousif would die. Sadly, these things happen as well. Also, it was great to meet Henry's father. He presents an interesting situation as he was kicked out because he was too old. Again, these are things that happen in real life too. It was sad that Patrick and Henry didn't leave on the best of terms, but I'm positive that Patrick will be back. We got little bits and pieces about the relationship between the two men, but I'm interested in learning more about it. Lastly, I'm glad Stevie is back at the McCord mansion. The conflict between Elizabeth and Stevie has been interesting to watch, but I'm glad that it is resolved.

What did you think of "Chains of Command"? Did you enjoy the case of the week? Were you surprised at Yousif's death as well? How do you feel about Henry's father Patrick? Are you relieved that the issues between Elizabeth and Stevie have been resolved? And lastly, how great is it that Madam Secretary has been renewed for a second season? Please tell me your opinions in the comments below.

About the Author - Daniel van der Veer

Daniel van der Veer is a Dutch university student studying Psychology. On SpoilerTV he is a reviewer of NCIS, The 100, Stalker, Madam Secretary and the upcoming shows Battle Creek and Odyssey. He also enjoys LOST, Arrow, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, Nikita, The Blacklist, Scorpion and How To Get Away With Murder.

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