S03.E10: The Race

[CooperTV]

Quote

When a possible Israel-Iran war threatens the House’s imminent vote on the U.S. presidential election, Elizabeth attempts to bring the two reluctant countries to the negotiation table in an effort to broker a peace between them. Also, Russell’s life hangs in the balance after a heart attack.

 

[shapeshifter]

It almost seemed like the writers were fed hacked material from the future when they wrote this episode.

And it also seems like that material was partially shredded and then pieced back together, but not in the original order/positions. Dalton is sort of in the position tRump is now occupying, with the election results' legitimacy challenged, but, not surprisingly, the sore loser guy has a more conservative platform. I guess that all makes sense since Hillary was likely the presumptive president in the minds of the writers when they were crafting the episode.

Does anyone know about the heart pillow Russell Jackson had?

P.S.: Stevie not being shown retrieving the envelope with Russell's recommendation seems to indicate that her closeness to someone's brush with death might make her rethink Harvard. Plus, her first inclination was to call her fiancé. (Note that reports of the fiance's disappearance were greatly exaggerated, if not premature.)

Edited December 19, 2016 by shapeshifter

[missbonnie]

Yes the heart pillow is a thing when you have a heart attack. Am I the only person here who does not watch this show as being a nod towards HC? I truly have never viewed it that way. 

[Brian Cronin]

I honestly don't think it is AS much of a nod to Clinton as some people surely do, but at the same time, it's hard not to see at least a little bit of an inspiration from Clinton on McCord, but that's always going to present in a "ripped from the headlines" type show like this. 

[CheshireCat]

2 minutes ago, missbonnie said:

Yes the heart pillow is a thing when you have a heart attack. Am I the only person here who does not watch this show as being a nod towards HC? I truly have never viewed it that way. 

Nope, you're not. And as a matter-of-fact, I finally read an article that they had in the Washingtonian a couple of weeks ago and it stated that while McCreary got the idea wondering what Hillary Clinton would say to Bill Clinton when she got home after one the Benghazi hearings, Hall's condition to do the show was that it could not be based on anything Hillary Clinton.

I posted a link in the thread for episode 9 which is a link to a short interview with Hall and she says they envisioned all of the possibilities regarding an election. I don't think they're doing anything deliberate when it comes to parallels to real life.

[Brian Cronin]

Hall's involvement is really the main reason that I believe that it's not actively based on Clinton. 

[Dowel Jones]

Does anyone know if the lobbying law in Ohio is an actual fact?  Because the way it was explained, I thought,  would prohibit the lobbying of US Senators/Representatives on upcoming legislation too, which is a routine occurrence in DC.  Oh well, stretch out the election drama one more week, at least.  Poor Russell. 

I thought they wrapped up the Israel/Iran deal way too fast, almost in a Hallmark Movie kind of way.  That sort of thing drags on for a long time in real life.

[babs1226]

The heart pillow is for people who have had open heart surgery.  It's for use when the patient has to cough.

[Quark]

Whilst the resolution between Israel and Iran was wrapped up very quickly, that was a brilliant episode.

It would be nice to see more of Russell's wife in the future, I quite like her.

Stevie has come on leaps and bounds since the first season.

[mwell345]

10 hours ago, missbonnie said:

Yes the heart pillow is a thing when you have a heart attack. Am I the only person here who does not watch this show as being a nod towards HC? I truly have never viewed it that way. 

I never thought that it was a nod to HC  either.  You're not alone.

[MaryHedwig]

Quote

The heart pillow is for people who have had open heart surgery.  It's for use when the patient has to cough.

Thank you. It turns out it is easy to learn all about this online. Since I didn't know this when I watched the show, I thought that the pillow was a I-love-you Valentine-type present...turned creepy when I saw Stevie reading to him at his bedside.

[Bobcatkitten]

I was so bored by this episode. All the Iran-Israel stuff just didn't hold my attention. 

[CheshireCat]

10 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

Does anyone know if the lobbying law in Ohio is an actual fact?  Because the way it was explained, I thought,  would prohibit the lobbying of US Senators/Representatives on upcoming legislation too, which is a routine occurrence in DC.  Oh well, stretch out the election drama one more week, at least.  Poor Russell. 

I thought they wrapped up the Israel/Iran deal way too fast, almost in a Hallmark Movie kind of way.  That sort of thing drags on for a long time in real life.

I don't know but it might. The article I mentioned above also mentions that they try to get right what they can get right on the show, and they work with a consulting firm (at least they did in S2, so I'm assuming they still do). They also have two writers on the team who are from DC- one of them was an analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency, the other is the daughter of a foreign service officer.

[Skycatcher]

I too was bored by this episode, turned it off in the first few minutes and then watched it a few days later On Demand.  And I missed the last one and didn't try to catch up On Demand. Suddenly it seems so bland and vanilla.  I knew who was going to do what to whom in the first few minutes of the show, and none of the characters engaged me as they once did.  Even Russell's heart attack was ho-hum.  He collapses, Stevie to the rescue, Presidential visit to the hospital, Stevie reading to him, cranky Russell, and Stevie being congratulated on her mature and adult fast thinking.  Did they even need Russell for this?

[Bobcatkitten]

Oh year, I forgot. I thought the election arc was over but no - then douchebag Evans with the weird threat at the end about suing. That storyline needs to end. I would have preferred Elizabeth stealthily let him know about the blood test and say it goes public if he files suit and drags the country through that. Then he backs down. No cliffhanger necessary.

[thewhiteowl]

Speculation is fine but keep your real world politics to the proper forum, thanks.

[VinceW]

16 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

Does anyone know if the lobbying law in Ohio is an actual fact?  Because the way it was explained, I thought,  would prohibit the lobbying of US Senators/Representatives on upcoming legislation too, which is a routine occurrence in DC.  Oh well, stretch out the election drama one more week, at least.  Poor Russell. 

I thought they wrapped up the Israel/Iran deal way too fast, almost in a Hallmark Movie kind of way.  That sort of thing drags on for a long time in real life.

The early confrontations and responses from both sides were real enough especially the F-16 jets on course against the Iranian nuclear site, but Juliet had the best take on the likely outcome. The compromise proposed for both sides during Dalton's ending speech was too one-sided against Israel's best interests given that Israel will never confirm the existence or extent of their nuclear weapons in order to protect their population.

[dungeonwriter]

Seriously, I know Madam Secretary has superpowers, but as an Israeli-American, that little rabbit of peace out of a hat actually had me chortling with disbelief. 

I'm sorry, but it's starting to lose me how Bess can do anything. The writers haven't earned the victories.

[babs1226]

I love every episode of this show.  I love the characters and the intelligent dialogue.   I will watch Tim Daly in anything and I've always liked Tea Leoni. I like to watch fiction to take me away from reality.  I don't mind if my fiction isn't like real life.  There are documentaries for that.  jmo.  

[CheshireCat]

19 hours ago, dungeonwriter said:

Seriously, I know Madam Secretary has superpowers, but as an Israeli-American, that little rabbit of peace out of a hat actually had me chortling with disbelief. 

I'm sorry, but it's starting to lose me how Bess can do anything. The writers haven't earned the victories.

If fictional characters can't bring peace, who can? Real life certainly isn't going to and real life provides enough cruelty and drama and horror. I, for one, appreciate that I have at least a fictional world I can escape to.

[VinceW]

5 hours ago, CheshireCat said:

If fictional characters can't bring peace, who can? Real life certainly isn't going to and real life provides enough cruelty and drama and horror. I, for one, appreciate that I have at least a fictional world I can escape to.

In the context of a political drama like Madam Secretary, there are certain issues in which the writers can attempt to use real optimism because it doesn't wait on facts, but rather deals with prospects, especially those which can lead to a resolution of ongoing conflicts like persist in the Middle East that are constantly hindered by the nuclear threat to the world from Iran. In those cases, a fictional story is a waste of time. IMO.

Edited December 21, 2016 by VinceW

[shapeshifter]

5 hours ago, CheshireCat said:

If fictional characters can't bring peace, who can? Real life certainly isn't going to and real life provides enough cruelty and drama and horror. I, for one, appreciate that I have at least a fictional world I can escape to.

I totally agree, but then trials in my personal life have grown to where they eclipse global concerns, so I hope at least some dramas continue to give a rose-colored-glasses view.

[sinkwriter]

It may be my mood, but I totally teared up when Russell got emotional at the President's phone call. 

[VinceW]

On 12/20/2016 at 0:16 AM, babs1226 said:

I love every episode of this show.  I love the characters and the intelligent dialogue.   I will watch Tim Daly in anything and I've always liked Tea Leoni. I like to watch fiction to take me away from reality.  I don't mind if my fiction isn't like real life.  There are documentaries for that.  jmo.  

Best in health in the New Year to all MS fans (Russell too)!

Edited December 27, 2016 by VinceW

[kwnyc]

We finally got to see this all the way through...the DVR didn't get Elementary (MS ran over into it because of football), so we finally went through it On Demand last night. Zjelko did some amazing acting while in bed and clutching a pillow. Bravo! And I kept thinking how SOMEONE would be leaking Conrad's decisive Presidentialness out of the situation room, and of course that would feed in to his eventual win. So he gets a second term. I wonder if we will ever meet the new VP?

I liked the whole episode, including the family stuff with Henry. (And really, the younger brother asking Henry to talk the niece OUT of going into the service?) 

The threat at the end by Evans was so overplayed...if he'd had a mustache, he would have been twirling it. 

[Mellowyellow]

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!

I adore Tea Leoni (Bess is like a superhero but still so human and likeable!) and I really like every one else as well (POTUS, Russell are my two second favourites!) which is a huge bonus. 

Loved the POTUS and Bess scenes. They are always a highlight for me on this show. Bess is bad@ss and brilliant but I find POTUS has this quiet wisdom and I love the speeches he makes to her in their scenes! 

This is my second favourite mid season finale I think! I even laughed at the Evans cartoon evil bit. He looked really pale and peaky though which made the scene even funnier.

Does anyone know if the actor who plays POTUS is still signed on? POTUS HAS to win right???? It won't be the same without him!!!! I will cry!

[betsyboo]

On 12/19/2016 at 8:41 AM, Quark said:

Whilst the resolution between Israel and Iran was wrapped up very quickly, that was a brilliant episode.

It would be nice to see more of Russell's wife in the future, I quite like her.

Stevie has come on leaps and bounds since the first season.

ALL OF THIS.

I still have a girl-crush on Admiral Hill and so glad they made her NSA(dvisor).

On 12/23/2016 at 0:29 AM, sinkwriter said:

It may be my mood, but I totally teared up when Russell got emotional at the President's phone call. 

And then Russell's heart grew three sizes that day.

ICYMI, that was Tim's daughter who played his niece. Gosh, his son and daughter both looks SO MUCH like him. (says the person who has no idea what their mother looks like....)

[CheshireCat]

I don't know why but the medical stuff in that episode cracked me up. Stevie's "he's not breathing" came this close to sounding like a doctor on one of the medical dramas. And then Conrad was asking if he was breathing and the EMTs determined that he wasn't breathing either... Somehow, this was all so un-Madam Secretary.

Wouldn't the EMTs wait until they have restored Russell's heartbeat before transporting him? It looked a lot like he still had no heartbeat and they did so anyway.

I agree that it was great that they decided to keep on Ellen Hill. I like her character and I like her with the others.

Who is that Taylor/Tyler Wilson? The campaign manager? Would a campaign manager have the security clearance to be in the Oval Office when the NSA briefs the President?

This episode actually made me feel for Henry because each time the phone rings in the middle of the night, it wakes him, too. That can't be fun. Of course, it's no fun for Bess either but she's at least the one who the call is for.

I'm always liking family scenes, so it was nice to see some of Henry's family again.

Did we ever learn why Juliet and Co killed Marsh? I don't remember if that was addressed. I do wonder why Juliet didn't try to work any of what she said to Bess in this episode into a conversation with her. If she was on the Israel desk for so long, I'm sure Bess would have listened, especially since she's the out-of-the-box-thinker. Of course, it's doubtful that she would have gotten Conrad to listen. She would now but back in S1, she probably wouldn't, mainly because of Russell. But I liked the scene between Juliet and Bess, it was really well done! (Although, I still can't figure out why Juliet realized it wasn't a curtesy visit when Bess mentioned Juliet's kids).

Overall, I really liked that they picked the Iran deal as a subject and that they used it over more than one episode. As I mentioned, I love it when shows remember what they've done before anyway but I think using something they had used before worked so much better as if it would have been a totally new problem.

And speaking of call-backs - I love Bess' use of being "cautiously optimistic". Great use of diplomatic language that she now knows how and when to use.

I liked how comfortable Bess was in the Oval Office when they were on the phone with the Iranian President. I don't think she would have been pacing behind the President and his desk a season ago.

I also liked the scene between Russell and Dalton in the hospital. We usually see them all professional, so it was a nice change that it was a bit more personal. Made me wonder how they know each other, actually.

Regarding Russell's heartattack, I think it does make sense that it had to be the previous episode. I'm now wondering though if they already knew they were going to do that by the time they set it up last episode. I have a hard time believing that since it first came up in ep 8 of the previous season which is almost a year prior. But since it didn't come up again, maybe they didn't plan to use it but just wanted it as a story for the episode?

Overall, I absolutely loved this first half of a season, despite the election. There were so many great moments, so many great episodes and good use of Henry, I thought. This is how I like him!

Edited May 12, 2017 by CheshireCat