BWW Recap: 'Game On' as MADAM SECRETARY Follows Conspiracy to Venezuela

Maybe it's just me, but every time the opening scene goes past the ten minute mark, I am completely drawn into an episode. MADAM SECRETARY has been using this device better than anyone, and tonight's episode was no exception. We are going one step deeper into the conspiracy theory with the Secretary's decision to bring the team to Venezuela for a little diplomacy, and a check into former Secretary Marsh's secret bank account that came to light this week. The trip also brings daughter Stephanie back home to stay with her sister Allison while they are in South America, and Stephanie still has not gotten over her mother's reveal last week about her participation in torture during the Gulf War.

In order to navigate the tricky diplomatic waters between the U.S. and Venezuela, the State Department enlists the help of Manny Azucco, played by Phillip Anthony-Rodriguez, (who originated the Ritchie Valens role in the Broadway play BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY), a star American baseball player from Venezuela, as their ticket in the door. Manny has a trick of his own that feeds into the plot this week as well. Nadine plays a key role in accessing the bank account, and the Secretary has a little information for Matt to give Russell in his current double agent spying gig.

Henry, Isabel, and the Secretary have found a secret bank account that former Secretary Marsh had in Venezuela with three signatures that have access, after some CIA spy stuff, Isabel was able to determine that Nadine was likely one of the faked names on the account. The Secretary arranges the trip to Venezuela with her team, and Henry demands to come along for the ride. She also assigns Matt to give Russell some information on her meeting with the Israeli Ambassador, and to say that he heard the word Dubai, so that she can see what he does with the new information.

With diplomatic relations sketchy, the team recruits a recently retired Major League baseball star, who is originally from Venezuela, as their ticket to meet with the President. Although his presence is a success in getting the team in with the President, Manny is found knocking on the door of Blake, in his blue silk jammies and robe, for a possible late night umm, connection. As I have said often, Blake usually has the best lines and his handling of the situation and turning him down, was classic Blake, still without really admitting to his oft-wondered sexual preference. This exchange with Blake causes Manny to "come out," during a speech with the Secretary and the Venezuelan President, causing embarrassment to the President, and a threat to their real mission.

I can't tell you how much I loved seeing a nervous Nadine going to the bank to find out information on the secret account. I couldn't get the picture out of my head of her being dressed up as Carmen Santiago. She was able to learn that there had been $40 million dollars in the account, that was removed the day following Secretary Marsh's death, by one of the other signators on the account.

Unfortunately, Nadine's transaction was on video and presented to the Venezuelan President, who tried to use it against the Secretary after the embarrassment at the speech. Of course she was able to turn it around to her advantage, and even got the President's enforcement police to provide her with footage of who the person was that withdrew the $40 million dollars.

As they do so deftly, MADAM SECRETARY was able to bring the home element into the show seamlessly this episode, with Stephanie's house-sitting with her sister. It seems that she is still mad enough at her mom, that she has decided to smuggle her sister's boyfriend into the house. Allison thinks this is THE time with THE one, and she informs Stephanie that he has brought protection, and she would like him to spend the night. After saying yes for about 10 seconds, Stephanie changes her mind and takes the boy home, telling her sister that it was just to get back at her mom, and she didn't want that to be how her sister's first time was remembered. The acting between Wallis Currie-Wood and Tea Leoni was magnificent this week.

Getting back to her office in the State Department, the Secretary finds Russell, waiting for her and not a happy camper. He berates her on this quest to challenge Secretary Marsh's death as a murder and realizes that she must be including him as a suspect, by keeping all of this information from him.

It turns out that the information she leaked to him via Matt, actually is what ends her suspicion of Russell and the President from being involved in the plane crash. I really thought it was a strong ending to the episode of his new-found respect for the Secretary and her relief in dismissing her fears about their involvement. The scene ends with Isabel finding that the person who withdrew the money is an Iranian national, and if they don't get to the bottom of this, it could end with a full out war with Iran.

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This was the fall-finale, and I believe this show just keeps getting better and better. Having never been a fan of the conspiracy theory plotline, I am extremely happy that the writing has been so sharp as to not delve into the melodrama, which I thought would occur.

I hope you will leave your comments on how you feel the first 11 episodes of the season were for you. You can always message me on Twitter at @LeftofStr8 or here with the staff at @BWWTVWorld. We will be back with more recaps in January, thanks for taking this ride with us.

Photo Credit: CBS Television

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