r/thewestwing

Toby or CJ?

Loving season 4 so far but I expected the election to last a while and be some of the best storylines. Anyone else a little disappointed that barlet won so easily? The debate and lead up was amazing.

All of the scenes inside Air Force One, except for maybe one of the later ones, include announcements from Lt. Colonel Gantry.

In “20 Hours in America: Pt 1”, when the President is interviewing secretaries, he says that Air Force One is piloted by an Air Force general.

So was Gantry the co-pilot making announcements, or was that a dialogue faux pas?

Don’t really care. Just curious.

I’m watching this show for the first time (was way too young for it when it aired) with a friend of mine, and I’m blown away by all of it.

As someone who’s in recovery from alcohol addiction, I’m also just in awe at how well-written Leo is. His monologues on addiction have been shared with me by the amazing friend I’m watching with, and it’s like someone copy-and-pasted my own thoughts and put them on paper. I carry a lot of shame around my addiction and how I never have the “willpower” to stop thinking about drinking. Leo’s “smart and stupid” monologue is imprinting itself inside of my brain as I type this, hoping it’ll make a difference.

I’m really struggling right now (still sober!), and I’ve been watching this show every night to get some form of escapism from my brain as I wait for an inpatient bed.

So thanks, West Wing writers and John Spencer, for just “getting it.”

They preface the article with a nice three-paragraph blurb about how great TWW was, how it's now a classic, etc. ... then at the very end of those three paragraphs, give themselves an excuse to "capture modern political topics and sentiments that would give the show a different feel, but these contemporary actors would still embody the essence of The West Wing's iconic cast of characters."

Except, no. No, no, no. No.

Their casting choices just proves they loved The Diplomat and The Americans and want that power couple back again along with a number of other popular and "up-and-coming" actors with no thought about the CHARACTERS at all.

Jeremy Allen White for Josh? Are you serious?

Cillian Murphy for Leo? Leo may have been from Chicago, but he wasn't a mobster.

I love Toheeb Jimoh. He was great on Ted Lasso. But he's about a decade too old to play Charlie. Sure, if we're doing magic and making him younger, then he'd be great.

The others, MAYBE. But overall, it's like someone just picked some random actors with no thought about the characters whatsoever.

So, I'm on my like umpteenth rewatch, and I had a thought. I don't believe this is a truly original thought about this episode/arc, but I think a lot of what drove President Bartlet's actions in Disaster Relief was his desire to step away from the Presidency being taken away by not getting the VP he wanted.

In Episode 3, Jefferson Lives, Secretary Berryhill is almost universally considered to be the best choice to fill the VP spot. Josh even mentions that "He looks good now" when they are talking about him as the Democratic Nominee in 4 years.

But the block of Berryhill by the Republican leadership nixed that and the White House had to settle for Bingo Bob.

I believe Bartlet wanted Berryhill because Bartlet was planning on stepping down as President, and letting Berryhill take over. Not getting Berryhill, and instead settling for Russell pretty much stonewalled Bartlet's plan as he couldn't fathom leaving the responsibility of the Presidency to Bingo Bob.

I think this frustration is why Bartlet acts the way he does from Han through the Shutdown, but it reaches it's worst point in Disaster Relief where, for the first time, Bartlet can take control of something for the first time since Zoe's kidnapping.

Again, probably not an original theory, but one that I think is what they were trying to subtly tell.

In the opening credits of the later seasons, why does Alan Alda have regular billing but Jimmy Smits, like Martin Sheen, is billed at the end as “with Jimmy Smits”? Alda was/is certainly a much bigger star.

Like many of you, I’ve watched TWW many times. I didn’t get to watch it when it aired since I was always working. It was my step-dad’s favorite show, so I gave it a chance. The cast feels like family, now.

Every episode title evokes an emotion, usually around the main theme. There are a few that just kind of bring me down. In the past, when they’re next in the queue, I say I’m not going to watch it, yet I do. Until the last couple of rewatches.

I skipped Somebody’s Going to Emergency once, and The Long Goodbye. Burnham Wood is very hard for me to watch because of John Spencer’s eventual passing, but I can’t bring myself to skip it.

Skipping them means I don’t get to see the enjoyable sub-plots, but sometimes I’m just not in the mood to watch them.

Can anyone else relate?

what's an episode you always go back to for either comfort, laughs, or just a good time. an episode that's fun

I have now finished season 2! I'm glad someone from the previous post reminded me transcripts exist. I think I found one of the sites years ago (but that one doesn't have most of the last few seasons. Thankfully there is another site! I definitly need to review transcripts sometimes because I'm watching with captioning only and everyone talks fast especially when they all get going. I may also be watching a bit too fast - some stuff is starting to blur together which isn't good when you need to follow along with what's happening.

I'm going to focus on the reveal of President Bartlett's MS for this post. As a disabled person I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. And my preference would be that we not discuss the current administration in relation to this.

I wish things were different and Jed had been able to disclose his MS beforehand and still become president but I know that's completely unrealistic. Disabled people can't be president as far as anyone is concerned. (ETA: I should have stated this different - more like it would be extremely difficult to get elected) (Yes I realize MS comes with possible cognitive issues that could impair his ability make important decisions - I'm not disputing that part). I think the problem is that there's this idea that you have to be completely 100% fit to be President and no one would ever vote for a disabled President (some definitly would but enough?). Governors and Senators and Representatives sure ... even if they're assholes (we're not discussing them) ... but not Presidents. To be clear I understand some of the arguments that fitness to lead (even with employment laws you have to be able to perform the functions of the job) is important but still the blanket idea that no one can ever show any sign of "weakness" is frustrating as hell. I would rather not get into a debate about what sort of disabilities would be acceptable (and what kind of accommodations should be allowed) to be president either.

Side note I know the show is set in an alternate timeline with different presidents after Nixon (I think that's the right one) but I'm assuming most of the laws that were passed still passed just different administrations doing it like for example the Americans with Disabilities Act by Bush the administration in our timeline would have been another administration. With perhaps some differences?

What I do like is the way that President Bartlet ends up deciding to run again after going through so much, including the death of Mrs. Landingham (those scenes with her service and everything were well done). Granted the storm was a bit much but still... He's not going to back down without a fight (which as a disabled persons rings true - you don't back down ever). I do understand why Dr. Bartlet upset - it's mostly fear that he will die as president vs living a relatively normal life if he avoids stress), but that was a promise that never should have been made.

For the show in general I have to say there are some visual elements that I really like - especially scenes when they all end up walking through the halls together to go somewhere (when it starts with one of the and then they all form up is awesome). Shit's about to happen. Maybe it impacts me more because I'm not hearing anything just seeing so the visuals are more obvious. Also wanted to mention the random one off guest characters and how many them I know from other shows and getting a kick out of it. More than a few "hey that's X!" moments.

So the MS storyline is going strong - I did like the White House lawyer and the way he handled everything. CHARLIE is the best person ever (and don't try to tell me he didn't have a reaction to Mrs. Landingham's death - do you not see his big sad eyes?). I mean honestly so good. I liked that while we got Toby almost blowing up the rest of the staff doesn't have that sort of moment (I figure they did it all with Toby why rehash all that). I liked how they brought Joey back to do the test poll even though there are obvious flaws with the results. You can't really determine anything based on that question. Though I think the framing of the president having lied being the bigger issue rather than the fact that he has MS is a good choice - and the right concept because that should be the real issue even though I know if he hadn't lied he might not have been president so that also sucks for a different reason.

Anyway going to start season 3 - I started the first episode in it but was to tired to focus last night so I need to restart the episode.

Previous posts: Ainsley discussion, Finished season 1, started season 2, Rewatching