BWW Recap: 'So It Goes,' As The Conspiracy Theory Hits Hard on MADAM SECRETARY

The conspiracy theory I have been dreading for weeks has come on full throttle in tonight's episode of MADAM SECRETARY. I have been slowly warming to this plotline recently, but will be very disappointed if it comes back to bite me in the behind if the writing goes downhill quick. The scene starts out with the Secretary, her husband Henry, and old CIA spy buddy Isabel, listening to the voice recording from the cockpit of the previous Secretary's downed plane, and looking over the NTSB records and report of the crash that killed him. It was very exciting to see Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, play former Secretary Marsh in the flashback scene of the plane crash.

I am racking my brain to figure out if I have just romanticized THE WEST WING, or if every television show uses some far-fetched plot devices, and the writing is what makes it believable or not. I have really enjoyed the writing on MADAM SECRETARY, from the family scenes at home with the McCord's, to Henry's growing storyline and kick-butt back story, and this week didn't disappoint. While the conspiracy theory storyline could devolve into soap opera suds quickly, they were very smart in the slow set-up and strong additional stories surrounding it.

The first HUGE surprise of the night comes from our goofy speech writer Matt. Just when it looks like he is getting his act together after the beat-down he got from the Secretary two weeks ago, he is still fighting a bit too much for my tastes with Press Secretary, Daisy, but BAM!, one quick text, and we find out that he is the spy in the Secretary's office for the President's Chief of Staff, Russell. Hooray, the writing made this surprising and filled in a lot of details (did they have to meet all 'cloak and daggery' in the tunnel though?). I was very happy he came clean with the Secretary that they still want him to spy on her, and of course she is smart enough to put him in as a double agent. This is going to be interesting to see how that works out.

The second surprise is a possible new love interest for Nadine, the Secretary's Chief of Staff, who was secretly dating Secretary Marsh. While she is still grieving his death, a top NASA official needs the help of the Secretary's office in securing a specific small country with the perfect location for setting up one of our newest and most powerful telescopes to study the cosmos. Nadine, who is still clueless about her own love life and the signs that surround it, doesn't even notice his interest until the Secretary points it out. A huge bouquet of roses delivered from Blake and his Cheshire cat grin, brings hope of a romantic dinner in the future.

With Henry's knowledge of planes, Isabel's CIA resources, and the Secretary using her power of persuasion with an Israeli delegation, to manipulating the Secret Service at her daughter's soccer game, to breaking down a suspect, the trio learn that their fears are correct, Secretary Marsh's plane crash was no accident. The pieces are slowly coming together, and the Secretary's biggest problem is knowing how far up the conspiracy actually goes. They have found the person who sabotaged the plane (and they need to keep him safe), a double agent to keep track of what the Chief of Staff is doing, and a passive confirmation from the Israeli's that the USA has done this sabotage before in the CIA, but now they have to find the CIA mole.

The writing stayed strong by doing what they have done best so far, weave multiple elements into each episode. The family dynamic worked well again with Henry and Elizabeth having their weekly bedtime chats, as the Secretary is wondering how all of this will affect the security of her family. When they gather around the kitchen, there are the distractions of Allison's soccer match and a new date for Stephanie that gives great contrast to the conspiracy plotline.

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Things That I Really Liked:

Great casting!! Brian Stokes Mitchell added humor and warmth to his brief scenes as Secretary Marsh, and brought believability as to why his staff loved him.

I finally got the CIA flashback with Elizabeth and the President that I have been hoping for. It was brief, but added to the story, and I hope we see many more of these in the weeks ahead.

Seeing Henry and Elizabeth work together on the conspiracy theory was all sorts of awesome. Their family chemistry rolled over to their working chemistry seamlessly.

Questions:

I can't help shaking the feeling that Isabel is the bad guy/gal in the CIA and is just helping her friend the Secretary, to eventually see what she finds and covers it up.

This has to be too huge to include the President doesn't it?

Are they going to be able to keep the person who sabatoged the plane safe to testify?

Photo Credit: CBS Television

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