Finding a replacement for Elizabeth McCord isn't exactly easy. You know how it is. You finish that final season of Madam Secretary, and suddenly, your living room feels a little too quiet without the ethical dilemmas, the soaring scores, and those incredibly cozy McCord family kitchen scenes. Honestly, the show was a rare breed. It balanced high-stakes international diplomacy with a marriage that actually worked—something TV writers usually avoid like the plague.
If you’re out here hunting for madam secretary similar shows, you’re probably looking for a specific "vibe." You want intelligence. You want a lead who is competent but human. And maybe you want a show that makes you feel like the world isn't quite as broken as the 24-hour news cycle suggests.
It's 2026. The streaming landscape is messier than ever, but there are some absolute gems that hit those same notes. Some are gritty. Some are surprisingly funny. All of them will keep you up until 2 AM clicking "Next Episode."
The Diplomat (Netflix)
This is the most obvious successor. If you haven't seen it yet, drop everything. Keri Russell plays Kate Wyler, a career diplomat who gets shoved into the role of U.S. Ambassador to the UK during an international crisis.
The pacing is frantic. Unlike the slow-burn episodic nature of Elizabeth McCord’s weekly crises, The Diplomat feels like a high-speed chase through London’s historic hallways. It’s a bit saltier than Madam Secretary—the swearing is frequent and the marriage is... well, it’s complicated. Kate’s husband, Hal, is a political superstar who can’t quite figure out how to be the "ambassador’s wife." It’s brilliant.
Borgen (Netflix)
If you’re okay with subtitles (and you should be), Borgen is arguably the best political drama ever made. It’s Danish. It follows Birgitte Nyborg, a minor politician who unexpectedly becomes the first female Prime Minister of Denmark.
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Why is this one of the best madam secretary similar shows? Because it treats the "woman in power" narrative with incredible nuance. You watch the cost of her success. You see the strain on her children and her husband. It’s not always pretty. But Birgitte’s integrity is the North Star of the show, much like Elizabeth's. Plus, it gives a fascinating look at parliamentary politics, which is a refreshing change from the usual Washington D.C. churn.
The West Wing (Max/Hulu)
Look, we have to talk about the OG. If you like the optimism of Madam Secretary, you have to go back to the Sorkin era. The West Wing is the blueprint. It’s fast-talking, idealist, and deeply patriotic.
The dialogue is a rhythmic dance. Sometimes it’s a bit "speech-y," but in a world where everything feels cynical, watching CJ Cregg and Josh Lyman try to do the right thing is basically a warm blanket for the soul. It’s less about the family life than Elizabeth’s show, but the office is the family here.
The Good Wife & The Good Fight (Paramount+)
This might feel like a weird pivot, but hear me out. Alicia Florrick’s journey in The Good Wife is about power, optics, and the intersection of law and politics.
The Kings (the showrunners) are masters of the "ripped from the headlines" format. While it starts as a legal procedural, it morphs into a deep dive into state-level politics and the internal machinery of power. If you liked the "competence porn" aspect of Madam Secretary—watching smart people solve impossible problems—you’ll love this.
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Then, when you finish that, The Good Fight takes everything and turns it up to eleven. It’s more surreal, more political, and features Diane Lockhart, who is essentially the legal world’s version of a McCord.
Commander in Chief (VOD)
This one is a deep cut. It only lasted one season back in 2005, but the DNA is nearly identical to Madam Secretary. Geena Davis plays Mackenzie Allen, the Vice President who becomes President after the incumbent dies.
It’s a bit more "network TV" and definitely feels like a product of its time. However, if you specifically miss the dynamic of a powerful woman navigating a patriarchal system while keeping her family intact, this is your show. It’s a shame it was cancelled so early.
Designated Survivor (Netflix)
This one starts with a literal bang. The entire government is wiped out, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Kiefer Sutherland) is suddenly the President.
The first season is a tight, suspenseful thriller. It loses its way a bit in the later seasons (especially when it moved to Netflix and decided it needed to be "edgy"), but the core concept of an outsider trying to fix a broken system will definitely appeal to any Madam Secretary fan. It’s less about diplomacy and more about survival, but the stakes are just as high.
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Why We Keep Binging These Shows
There’s a reason we search for madam secretary similar shows instead of just "political thrillers." We aren't necessarily looking for House of Cards—we don't always want to see people being terrible to each other for power.
We want to see the "Great Man" (or Great Woman) theory in action. We want to believe that there are people in wood-paneled rooms who actually care about the global consequences of a trade deal or a drone strike.
Madam Secretary succeeded because it was aspirational. It showed a world where you could be the most powerful person in the room and still make it home for family brunch. That’s the dream, right?
How to choose your next watch:
- Want something fast-paced and witty? Go for The Diplomat.
- Want a deep, realistic character study? Start Borgen.
- Need a massive binge with 100+ episodes? The West Wing or The Good Wife.
- Want something gritty and intense? Try Homeland (though be warned, it’s much darker).
- Looking for the "First Lady/Gentleman" dynamic? Commander in Chief is the closest match.
Whatever you pick, just remember that the "perfect" show doesn't exist. You might miss Henry’s theological insights or the quirky staff at the State Department, but these picks will at least keep the withdrawal symptoms at bay.
Start with The Diplomat first. Seriously. It’s the closest you’ll get to that Elizabeth McCord magic in 2026. Once you’ve burned through that, move on to the international flair of Borgen. You’ve got at least three months of solid viewing ahead of you.