Will We See Alex Again on Madam Secretary

When "Madam Secretary" returns Lord's day night after a two-month hiatus, viewers will finally get a full picture of the show'due south primary characters.

"Information technology'southward going to be deeper, improve, more," star Téa Leoni told TheWrap. "We're getting to know these characters and the extended cast. Nosotros can get that much more than into some of the points we established in the pilot. Things are certainly heating up."

In part 1 of a three-episode arc, Secretary McCord (Leoni) is humiliated at a public budget hearing when her staff fails to find the corruption that exists in her microloan programme. Also, the investigation into onetime secretary of state Vincent Marsh'south decease continues.

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Kevin Rahm guest stars as Michael Barnow, a special consultant McCord hires to assist with the budget hearing fiasco. Journalist Martin Bashir makes a cameo as himself.

The CBS political drama has get one of the network's biggest breakout hits, with more than than 12 one thousand thousand viewers tuning in for its nigh recent episode. Among the evidence's fans, former secretary of state Madeleine Albright.

Leoni met with Albright for coffee when researching the role, and the two have already made plans for a second engagement.

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"It was one of the all-time coffees of my life," said Leoni. "It was then good that I'm getting to go see her again."

Albright attended a special D.C. screening of the show'south pilot in December, and according to series executive producer Lori McCreary, she was impressed.

"Nosotros were all kind of turned effectually to see her give ii little thumbs up," McCreary told TheWrap.

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The show has already received an early nowadays in the form of a second flavour renewal from the network.

"It'south always Christmas morning when you get a pickup," said Leoni, "and information technology'south better than a bike."

Leoni, McCreary, and showrunner Barbara Hall gave TheWrap a sneak peek of the bear witness's upcoming twists.

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The Real McCord
The starting time few episodes of the flavor were spent more often than not introducing the characters and their backstories. Now viewers will finally become to know the real McCord.

"The first half is getting y'all acquainted with this world," Hall told TheWrap. "The second one-half, we become to really plough up the book a little bit on what they're faced with then we become the run a risk to augment our world."

Marsh Madness
The adjacent three episodes will finally respond some of the burning questions surrounding Marsh's untimely death. The former secretary of state died in a plane crash, only McCord suspects foul play.

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"The mystery is relevant to world events," Hall said. "They're going to start post-obit these threads to what Marsh was upwards to and what all that conspiracy was virtually. The next three episodes is when we will absolutely take you lot right to the eye of information technology."

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McCord'south shortcomings
McCord, essentially a newbie to the political scene, hasn't faced a problem she couldn't prepare… nonetheless.

"It'due south inevitable that this character is going to have to be challenged," said Leoni. "It was never intended that she would take a lilliputian red greatcoat in her cupboard. As we get deeper into information technology and we brainstorm to know her staff better and the other players, we take on more trying situations because there's a weariness she's going to have a battle that comes with having your hope challenged and having your decisions neglect."

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Family unit Ties
McCord'south family continues to be ane of the testify's focal points. After her eldest daughter, Stevie (Wallis Currie-Wood), learned about McCord's dubious CIA by, she abruptly severed ties with her mother.

"She's a immature adult trying to enter the world," explained Hall. "Her relationship with both of her parents will be a serial of bumps and starts. Some things will be resolved while other issues volition come. Relationships with young adults are fraught with their parents… that's just the way it is."

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Characters become more circuitous
Now that audiences have been introduced to most of the master characters, comes the good role, according to Leoni.

"It gets more exciting for me," she said. "I think the writers and the actors are in this bully trip the light fantastic because nosotros're both kind of turned on by how things are naturally progressing. My only thing with Elizabeth is to always proceed alive her struggles. I don't want her to ever see her remember that she'south gotten it and then skilful… What I love is that nosotros're never forgetting that and nosotros're reminding the audience of that fallible and maybe, I hope, at times lovable humanity of her relationship with her kids and with her hubby. It's merely getting more than fun. "

"Madam Secretary" airs Sundays at 8 p.yard. on CBS.