Elizabeth McCord (Téa Leoni) has gotten into many difficult situations this season on "Madam Secretary," but she has handled them all with professional poise and grace. This time, however, she will face major hurdles, as she travels to the Pacific Rim to help establish a modern power grid.

In Episode 12, titled "The Middle Way," it appears as though Elizabeth is trying to find a better way for countries in the Pacific Rim to maintain trade relations with the U.S. and other more developed countries, according to TV Guide. But when she takes a flight in the next episode to help work out a solution in the region, she encounters resistance, but not from the natives.

According to Spoilers Guide, her attempts to bring Myanmar up to par with the rest of the world and modernize the country's power grid with a trade agreement are met with some resistance from her own people. Her own diplomatic representative abroad undercut her plans.

Elizabeth has to contend with the ambassador to the small country from America. It doesn't seem to be political sabotage, but rather an issue of local customs. The ambassador has immersed himself in the country's native culture and sees the move toward progress as something that can inhibit their traditional way of life.

Apparently, he has enough of a reason to give his own boss friction on the matter, and he doesn't seem too willing to back down on either. Elizabeth has handled much worse situations than this before, so there is likely a compromise to be reached. But it likely won't go down smoothly.

Meanwhile, fans will also get to see Nadine (Bebe Neuwirth) attempt to repair her fractured relationship with her estranged son, no easy task.

Episode 12 will air on broadcast network CBS this Sunday, Jan. 17 at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can watch a preview of the next episode below.


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