As a part of their 2014 Fall TV season line-up, major network CBS introduced a political drama entitled Madam Secretary. Though there is still a long way to go in its debut season, enough has been seen of the eight episodes aired thus far to deduce that this TV series is a different kind of political drama.
The show is centered on Elizabeth Faulkner McCord (Tea Leoni), a former CIA analyst and college professor who was approached directly by the President of the United States, Conrad Dalton (Keith Carradine) to assume the role of US Secretary of State. She accepts the role, and along with her family, relocates to the capital, Washington D.C.
Reactions to the Show
From the viewpoint of those who are big on figures, Madam Secretary has been in very good standing. Recently airing its eighth episode, the show has had more than admirable viewership numbers. Approximately 13 million live viewers were recorded for that episode, following its near 15-million premiere. Traditionally, a TV show that isn’t able to capture an audience would have a much larger disparity at this stage, so it must be doing something right. If any more convincing was required, couple that with the fact that CBS picked up the series for a full season – to comprise of 22 episodes – after seeing the figures recorded after only the sixth episode.
Why is it different?
Admittedly, despite seeing the preview, there were no expectations of this show coming into the season. Having seen the episodes thus far, however, one feature of the show that has to be commended is that it does not shy away from actual politics.
It may be considered an uncanny feature to praise – particularly for a political drama – but it is more than justified. In every episode, Madam Secretary McCord is faced with scenarios where she (with the help of her team) has to exercise her knowledge, charm and instinctive decision-making abilities to resolve diplomatic matters. Of course, with the human element, there is going to be instances of personal drama weaved into the show – such as when one of Elizabeth’s daughters suspected that her father was cheating – but it doesn’t seem overemphasized.
Though largely unexpected, this was a welcomed “twist” to what has seemingly become the accepted mold of political dramas. The show’s tagline is “Not politics as usual”, and though it may be unintended, it does represent its difference from other shows of the genre.
What many are accustomed to…
Undoubtedly, one of the most popular series that falls under the category of political drama is the Shonda Rhimes production Scandal. Of the ShondaLand “#TGIT” three-show line-up, Scandal arguably boasts the most social media presence as “#Gladiators” make their opinions heard on just about every second of the show. Being an individual who has followed the progression of the show (though not religiously, as I’ve missed a few episodes), I must admit that I’ve questioned whether or not it is still fair to categorize it as a political drama.
Aside from the shots of the White House every now and then, and the various displays of “office politics”, is there really much of a political element to Scandal? It is certainly not fact, but watching it presents the image of maybe a 20-80 make up of the “political” to the “drama”, with most of that “80%” being centered on the relationship between Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn), as everyone around them just falls into place. It may have been a nice twist early on, but not everyone seems to be on board with their back and forth.
Does it have to be one or the other?
It would not be surprising if there were some viewers who are not a fan of Madam Secretary, as it does not have enough “drama”. Having said that, some would choose to criticize Scandal for being too dramatic. The question must then be asked, “Does it really have to be one or the other?”
If a neutral person was to provide their own definition of the term “political drama”, it is possible that their parameters would allow for both shows to transition easily into the genre. The opinion could further express that it does not have to be diplomatic politics, opening the door for a host of other shows.
Another popular show that falls within the genre is House of Cards. Arguably, this series has the best mixture of the three in terms of politics and drama. It focuses on the exploits of Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) to get himself into a position of real power after being overlooked by the President of the US for the position of Secretary of State. More than anything, it is Frank’s desire for revenge and power that drives the show, and keeps the loyal following eager for the next episode. This is not to say that politics does not get a fair representation, however, as both diplomatic and office politics are evident.
Despite being far from the mold of other popular series in its genre, CBS’ Madam Secretary has been able to attract a loyal audience. Interestingly, this shift could prompt other shows to move in that direction, but that is a subject matter that only time can resolve.
Madam Secretary: A Different Kind of Political Drama
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