‘Madam Secretary’ Season 6, Episode 4 ‘Valor’ Review: Mental Health Matters

Mental Health has to be taken more seriously, especially for our veterans. That’s what tonight’s episode of Madam Secretary is trying to fight for in “Valor.”

It’s a good season for the show so far, seeing how this is also it’s last. But with every week that passes come greater predicaments and more weighty decisions that President Elizabeth McCord (Téa Leoni) has to bear. Last week had her weighing the pros and cons of using AI-controlled UGVs. This week, more spotlight is shed on the turmoil that veterans face after serving their country overseas and going through all sorts of hell and mayhem on the battlefield.

“Valor” follows Henry McCord’s (Tim Daly) painstaking ordeal of getting the Veteran’s Affairs Mental Health Modernization bill passed by its own committee. Along the way, Henry encounters policy-related opposition from the Vice President himself, Carlos Morejon (José Zuniga). Meanwhile, it’s Daisy’s (Patina Miller) turn to be grilled by Senator Hanson (Wentworth Miller) and the Senate Intelligence Committee. Her questioning goes well until a minor detail in her testimony proves to be something of great sensitivity to Daisy. Elsewhere, Stevie (Wallis Currie-Wood) is reconnected with Dmitri Petrov (Chris Petrovski) in the most unlikely of ways.

Here’s everything that went down on tonight’s episode of Madam Secretary.

The Fight for Better Veteran Mental Health Care

Henry’s mission to have the VA Mental Health bill passed gains more steam when Elizabeth awards Major Brad Jenkins (San Robards) the Medal of Honor. It comes at the right timing because Henry is set to address the Veteran Affairs committee to get his bill passed. And who better to convince the committee about its need that Jenkins? But it all comes to a screeching halt when Henry is stood up by the committee. Furious, he heads to VA Committee Chairman Senator Peoples’ (Tom Wopat) office to demand an explanation. It turns out that Vice President Morejon has some doubts about the bill and doesn’t want it to walk the floor.

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Henry airs his grievances to White House Chief of Staff Russell Jackson during the picnic and games for the Medal of Valor Honorees. It’s also a frustrating situation for Russell; because, after all, the Vice President isn’t supposed to publicly oppose the President like that. Henry then confronts Morejon to ask why he’s blocking the bill. In simpler terms, the bill’s aim is to add more funding for the medical and mental care of the veterans. But Morejon sees privatization as a cheaper means to achieve the same end. Of course, this does not ethically sit well with Henry.

With Henry losing the momentum, Elizabeth decides to step in. She has Senator Peoples over for lunch (and a bottle of Blue Lid) so they could talk about passing the bill. It’s a good thing Peoples is considering voting for the bill himself after Elizabeth’s probing pitch about the VA’s poor track record in processing claims and follow-up screenings. Later, a drunk and blue-lipped Elizabeth requires emergency intervention from Daisy and Blake (Erich Bergen), canceling her appearance with Scotland’s dancer champions.

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With the bill all set for a meeting with the VA committee, another unfortunate roadblock happens. Jenkins, on his way to the hearing, suffers a massive PTSD attack while stuck in traffic, causing him to ram the car in front of him. A visibly shaken Jenkins climbs onto his car just as the police arrive. He angrily shouts about his frustrations about the government’s ill support of veteran welfare. When he sees the officers resting their hands on their gun, Jenkins commits suicide by cop by pretending to reach out for his non-existent gun. Henry and Elizabeth are devastated, especially after Jenkins’ wife told them that he is going through severe PTSD and stopped going to therapy.

In the Oval Office, Elizabeth meets her core team—Henry, Russell, Daisy, and Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Mike B (Kevin Rahm)—about their next move for the VA bill. As crass as it is, Mike urges them to use Jenkins’ death to tell the committee that his death is due to his frustration over a system that failed to take care of its veterans. And again, as crass as it is, Henry sides with Mike.

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During the final hearing for the bill, Henry delivers a speech that Jenkins was supposed to deliver. “He was a war hero. A Medal of Honor recipient. And even he fell through the cracks,” Henry says. “I think Major Jenkins said it best so I’ll echo his words: let’s do better for the people who give most to our country.”

It’s a touching scene that mirrors that of former Daily Show host John Stewart’s shredding of Congress’ lack of health care for the 9/11 first responders. Henry’s speech is then met with resounding applause from the veterans present and even the VA committee themselves.

After Jenkins’ burial, Morejon expresses his regret to Elizabeth over delaying Jenkins’ testimony before the committee and for signing on to be her VP. Elizabeth assures him that it’s in that difference that they are able to make progress.

Will Stevie and Dmitri Get Back Together After That Fateful Forced Separation?

We know that Dmitri’s back in action after being stationed in Alaska following a devious threat to his life. In a desperate attempt to get him back with Stevie, Dmitri’s sister Talia takes matters to her own hands by setting them up for a not-so surprise date. After “bumping into” Stevie shopping fro camping supplies with her new man, Talia asks her for a coffee soon to talk about a “new project” for her hospital. But instead of Talia showing up, Dmitri appears (who apparently was told by Talia to meet with her there so the rom-com ish meeting could happen). They awkwardly catch up, but it’s definitely clear that Stevie still has something for the Russian spy extraordinaire.

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Exhibit A: Stevie told her parents about bumping into Dmitri that night but proceeded to assure her parents that she’s going on a camping trip with her soon-to-be boyfriend and that they won’t have to worry about her (oversell much?). Exhibit B: Stevie appears out of touch on their way to the camp; her eyes obviously screaming out, “I wonder how Dmitri is doing?”

Since this is the show’s last season, will we finally see them back together once and for all? I’m calling it now.

The Senator Hanson Probe Project Episode III — Daisy Grant

First, it was Mike, who was outrageously suspected of a Senator’s death. Then it was Blake, who successfully deflected all foolish inquiry to his love life. Now, Press Secretary Daisy Grant is grilled by Senator Hanson and the Senate Intelligence Committee. This time, Hanson is setting his eyes on Daisy’s bar fight incident where she single-handedly saved Nina Cummings (Tracee Chimo Pallero) from being sexually harassed by a drunk guy. The footage shows her delivering a powerful uppercut that floored the guy and had the police interfere because there was so much blood. Hanson believes that Daisy used her job to get out of a police predicament swiftly, the official term being “color of office.”

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The inquiry didn’t last as long as it did with Mike and Blake, but it proved to be more probing than the first two proceedings. Hanson was able to figure out that Daisy left out a key detail in her statement, one that piqued the committee’s interest. Russell earlier had to ask Daisy if she was holding out on some details, but Daisy insisted that she was telling the truth. But after Hanson discovered Daisy didn’t mention the presence of her friend who works at the French embassy as one of the witnesses, he ends the inquiry in ominous haste. They are on to something here, and Daisy knows that she’s screwed.

Later, she heads over to Russell’s residence to ask for help. She left out her friend from her testimony for a reason—and that’s something we’ll have to wait for next week.

‘Madam Secretary: Valor’ Overall Verdict

Sunday night’s episode of Madam Secretary was another strong one—an impressive combination of pressing issues on mental health, a probe that seems to dip towards the administration’s losing side, and a forward-paced narrative that gives depth and importance to our veterans.

We have come a long way from these small, intimate moments of Elizabeth as Secretary of State to handling bigger (but still emotional) responsibilities as President of the United States. Written by Lyla Oliver and directed by James Whitmore, “Valor” once again succeeds in proving that Madam Secretary is one of the best current political shows, more so that it now tackles the West Wing life. I really liked this week’s episode, and I’d easily put it as one of the show’s strongest chapters to date.

Madam Secretary continues Sunday, November 3rd, with “Daisy” at 10:30/9:30c on CBS.