After watching the first two episodes, I find this show to be interesting and entertaining. Its major asset is Tea Leoni, though it has a powerhouse cast.
Leoni plays a college professor who becomes Secretary of State when the President, who is a friend, asks her to. She has a CIA background, which gives her more inside knowledge of affairs of state.
As the summary says, she tries to balance the demands of her job with the demands of her family. More than that, she--as someone who is not a career politician--tries to negotiate the gauntlet of power in a world where almost everyone is a type A personality. And she has to recognize the demands that the job places on her family.
In the first two episodes, she has to deal with international crises. The White House PR machine wants to act whichever way will garner the best headlines. Madam Secretary tends to see the human side of things first, setting her up for confrontations with the established power elite.
In various ways, this show is reminiscent of many others. If the writing can remain fresh, it should prosper. None of those other shows had Tea Leoni.
Updated 11/24/14: More recent episodes have shown that the series is not afraid to address some tough questions about ethics. I am upgrading my grade to an 8.
Updated 2/15/17: While the earlier episodes of the show displayed political balance, later episodes inject politically liberal rhetoric that has nothing to do with the stories.
Leoni plays a college professor who becomes Secretary of State when the President, who is a friend, asks her to. She has a CIA background, which gives her more inside knowledge of affairs of state.
As the summary says, she tries to balance the demands of her job with the demands of her family. More than that, she--as someone who is not a career politician--tries to negotiate the gauntlet of power in a world where almost everyone is a type A personality. And she has to recognize the demands that the job places on her family.
In the first two episodes, she has to deal with international crises. The White House PR machine wants to act whichever way will garner the best headlines. Madam Secretary tends to see the human side of things first, setting her up for confrontations with the established power elite.
In various ways, this show is reminiscent of many others. If the writing can remain fresh, it should prosper. None of those other shows had Tea Leoni.
Updated 11/24/14: More recent episodes have shown that the series is not afraid to address some tough questions about ethics. I am upgrading my grade to an 8.
Updated 2/15/17: While the earlier episodes of the show displayed political balance, later episodes inject politically liberal rhetoric that has nothing to do with the stories.