CBS' Forgotten Political Thriller Quietly Becomes a Streaming Hit 7 Years Later

Erin Konrad's love for everything entertainment dates back to elementary school when she became obsessed with classic Hollywood musicals. When she's not catching up on all her favorite television shows, she's advising her friends and family on what they should binge watch next. She has her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Creating content for Collider gives her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with her passion for television and movies. She spends her free time trying to beat her personal record of reading 137 books in a year and cuddling with her dog, Gracie. There have been some truly fantastic political thrillers in the past two decades. Whether you want high-stakes international espionage found in Homeland or a salacious White House romance over on Scandal, this genre always offers plenty of intrigue and drama. Some of these shows have more charming idealism, like The West Wing, while others offer heart-racing plot points, like The Diplomat. If you're looking for a political thriller that combines the vibes of all of these dramas, there's one CBS show that's currently finding a whole new audience over on Apple TV. What Is 'Madam Secretary' About? Madam Secretary first started airing in 2014, and with a total of six seasons and 120 episodes, it's completely worthy of a binge-watch. Created by Barbara Hall (Judging Amy), the series follows Elizabeth McCord (Téa Leoni), a former CIA analyst who is appointed the next United States Secretary of State. Elizabeth has a loving family, including her husband, Henry (Tim Daly, who would end up marrying Leoni in real life in 2025), and their three children. After retiring from the CIA to work as a political science professor, Elizabeth at first seems like an unusual candidate for such an esteemed and high-profile position. But her former CIA boss, Conrad Dalton (Keith Carradine), is now the President of the United States, and deems her worthy of the position. COLLIDER Collider · Quiz Collider Exclusive · Universe Personality QuizWhich Iconic Universe Do You Belong in the Most?Star Wars · Lord of the Rings · Harry Potter · Game of Thrones · Star Trek Five legendary universes. Five completely different visions of what the world could be — or already was. One of them is the world your instincts, your values, and your particular way of existing were built for. Eight questions will tell you which one. 🚀Star Wars 💍Lord of the Rings 🧙Harry Potter 👑Game of Thrones 🖖Star Trek QUESTION 1 / 8PURPOSE 01 What gives your life its deepest sense of meaning?Every universe is built around a different answer to this question. QUESTION 2 / 8WORLD 02 Which kind of world do you most want to inhabit?The environment shapes who you become. Choose carefully. QUESTION 3 / 8CONFLICT 03 How do you prefer your conflicts resolved?The shape of a world's conflicts tells you everything about its soul. QUESTION 4 / 8COMPANIONS 04 Who do you want beside you when things get difficult?Your ideal companions reveal the world you were made for. QUESTION 5 / 8POWER 05 What is your relationship with power?How you seek, wield, or resist power is the map of who you are. QUESTION 6 / 8MORALITY 06 How does your universe treat good and evil?A world's moral architecture tells you more about it than any map. QUESTION 7 / 8ROLE 07 What role would you naturally fall into?Every universe has archetypes. Which one fits you without trying? QUESTION 8 / 8HOPE 08 What do you ultimately believe about the future?The answer to this is the clearest window into which universe already lives inside you. Your Universe Has Been ChosenYou Belong In… Your answers point to the iconic universe your values, your instincts, and your particular way of seeing the world were built for. This is where you would find your people — and your purpose. A Galaxy Far, Far Away Star Wars You believe in the cause — in the idea that freedom is worth fighting for even when the odds are impossible and the empire is vast. You are drawn to the moral clarity of a universe where hope itself is a form of resistance. You'd find your people in the Rebellion — a ragtag coalition of true believers held together by conviction more than resources. Star Wars is fundamentally a story about ordinary people choosing to matter in an extraordinary conflict — and that is exactly your kind of story. The Force may or may not be with you. But the will to use it for something larger than yourself certainly is. Middle-earth Lord of the Rings You understand, in the deepest part of yourself, that the journey matters as much as the destination — and that the world's beauty is worth protecting even at great cost. Middle-earth is a world of ancient wonder, deep friendship, and a darkness that only retreats when enough small acts of courage accumulate. You would thrive here because you value the fellowship more than the glory — the road more than the arrival. Tolkien's universe rewards patience, loyalty, and the willingness to carry something heavy across a very long distance. Those are not burdens to you. They are simply how you move through the world. The Wizarding World Harry Potter You believe that love, loyalty, and doing what's right are not naive sentiments — they are the most powerful forces in any world, magical or otherwise. The Wizarding World is a place of wonder hidden in plain sight, where learning is transformative and the bonds you form at school follow you into every battle. You would flourish here because you take both the magic and the friendships seriously — and you understand that one without the other is incomplete. Harry Potter's universe ultimately rewards those who choose to stand for something even when standing is terrifying. That choice — made quietly, without guarantee — is something you understand completely. Westeros · The Known World Game of Thrones You see the world clearly — its power structures, its hypocrisies, its brutal arithmetic — and you are not paralysed by that clarity. You use it. Westeros is a world that rewards intelligence, adaptability, and the willingness to understand that every alliance is also a negotiation. You would survive here — possibly thrive here — because you don't confuse the world as it is with the world as you'd like it to be. Game of Thrones is a story about what happens when the idealists and the realists collide. You are sharp enough to know which one lasts longer. Winter always comes. You are already prepared. The United Federation of Planets Star Trek You believe the future is worth building — that curiosity, cooperation, and the expansion of understanding are not just ideals but the most practical path forward for any civilisation. Star Trek is a universe where the questions matter as much as the answers, and where encountering something utterly alien is cause for wonder rather than fear. You would belong here because you are fundamentally optimistic about what intelligence and decency can achieve — while being honest about how hard that achievement is. The Federation is the universe's most ambitious thought experiment: what if we actually got better? You don't just hope that's possible. You think it's the only thing worth working toward. There's just one catch: the previous Secretary of State has died in a mysterious plane crash, and part of Elizabeth's new job responsibilities include trying to figure out who was behind his death. Elizabeth is quickly thrown into a high-pressure environment, including an icy chief of staff named Nadine Tolliver (Bebe Neuwirth), who is wary of Elizabeth's lack of political experience. With all of these obstacles, it would be easy for someone to crumble, but Elizabeth rises to the occasion, leading the country (and her family) to peace. 'Madam Secretary' Is an Addictive Drama With an Incredible Cast Madam Secretary would be fun to watch just to see each episode's drama unfold. But it becomes even more binge-worthy because of the political intrigue that threads throughout the series. Whether Elizabeth is juggling international relations or just interpersonal conflicts within her office, there are always twists and turns to keep things interesting.In any given episode, Elizabeth might be addressing a vast global emergency or the challenges of being a working mom, but she's still able to pull everything off like a pro. Madam Secretary operates at a breakneck speed and is an example of past network shows that featured seasons with more than 22 episodes each. Because of this pace, the series never fails to draw you in and keep your attention. Madam Secretary is also incredibly authentic, and this realism is apparent in several real-life secretaries of state making appearances in Season 5, including Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell, and Madeleine Albright (who actually plays herself giving advice to Elizabeth in Season 2 as well). Madam Secretary could have fallen flat with a leading lady with less charisma. Luckily, Leoni is pure brilliance here as the tough-as-nails and intelligent Elizabeth. She inspires a quiet confidence that's evident in subtle gestures and in pointed dialogue that work to make her a protagonist truly worth celebrating. But the show doesn't just highlight Leoni's talents. Daly is a great scene partner for Leoni as the supportive, steady force helping ground her during times of extreme stress. Neuwirth is also exceptional as the stern Nadine, whose taciturn nature actually belies a complex personal life. Zeljko Ivanek, Erich Bergen, Patina Miller, and Sebastian Arcelus all create a fascinating team that supports Elizabeth's administration, and each actor portrays characters that feel both compelling and realistic. Some network shows run the risk of feeling predictable and schmaltzy, but because of Madam Secretary's stellar cast, the series never fails to be exceptional. If you'd like a break from real-life politics, but still want to get sucked into a completely gripping Washington, DC-set drama, Madam Secretary should fit the bill. With an exciting twist in Season 6 (hint: technically, the title of the show should have been changed), the series never rests on its laurels, always evolving with riveting storylines and impressive performances. The series ended in 2019, but it concludes with a natural progression for the characters, ensuring that Madam Secretary is the perfect, relevant political thriller to add to your must-watch list. Seasons 1–6 are available to stream on Apple TV or Prime Video in the U.S.