Bored Now Does the complete West Wing (1999-2006)

         

For my latest television project I have decided to rewatch Aaron Sorkin's landmark political drama the West Wing and review every episode for this blog.  The Emmy Award winning show made a star of its creator and showrunner, and many of its talented cast.  I will get more into what I consider to be unique about the show as I get further into the reviews.  But for now I will just highlight that the show represents an idealised version of what Sorkin believes politics or at least the people charged with working in the White House should represent, yet The West Wing never gets preachy or heavy handed about such things (or very rarely anyway), but instead is honest about the flaws of politics on both sides of the divide, and invests its characters with very human flaws, while at the same time making them charming, funny, truly passionate.  Like any great television drama, you do not have to be knowledgable about the core theme of the show to engage with it (although there is plenty for those who are), instead you can be swepted along by the characters and their epic journeys.  Please note that since there is so much going on in every episode of the show I will be picking out what I consider the main talking points from each one, and then summing up my feelings at the end. As with my Buffy reviews I will be doing a ranking system as I move along, although won't start this till I have finished the first season.  Let's start off with a double bill!

  S101 Pilot 
  We open in a bar with the White House's Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) exchanging playful banter with another smartly dressed man who we later find out is a journalist angling for a story.  In any event, it seems as if its Sam's lucky night as he has caught the attention of an attractive young woman, Laurie (Lisa Edelstein).  We cut fittingly to the next day where Press Secretary C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) is trying to impress a guy at a Gym. However, C.J's efforts are brought to a abrupt end when her pager goes off causing her to tumble off the treadmill and land comically flat on her face. Oh the price of working for the White House!   While on a flight, Communications Director Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) recieves news that President Jed Bartlet has been involved in a bicycle accident while away. This shouldn't be a news worthy event, but in the madcap world of politics it could turn out to be just that.  The highlight here is Toby in classic deadpan fashion telling the stewardess that she forgot his peanuts! Sam recieves the news from Laurie who he spent the night with, telling her he will call.  

It turns out that Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer), has bigger fish to fray when cocky Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) makes an off the cuff remark offending political rival Mary Marsh's religious beliefs during a televised debate. Not to mention a delicate situation in Cuba, all of this makes McGarry a bit cranky, he tells Josh that his head isn't in the game. Both Leo and Josh as constructed here are quite different from the characters they would later become, and certainly the changes were made for the better.  Throughout the episode there is speculation over whether Bartlett will fire Lyman once he returns from vacation.  In a sweet exchange Josh's assistant Donna Moss (Janel Moloney) reassures Lyman that Bartlet wouldn't fire him aftrer he won him the election, however in classic Donna fashion, she then puts her foot in it by suggesting that there were at least a few others involved in Bartlet's rise to power. This sequence is a nice introduction to their winning long term bond, as well as the dynamite chemistry between Whitford and Moloney, with the crisp screwball dialogue positively crackling alone.  A nice character beat for Donna is when she tells Toby to "Shut Up!" when Ziegler highlights the rare event of her getting Josh coffee.  This suggests at the equality at play in this verison of the White House, both gender wise, and among the hierarchy of employment. Toby informs Josh that he has set up a meeting between him and Mary Marsh and that he must apologize.  Schiff and Whitford play off each other nicely here, and do an effective selling job of the tension between, and the character's respective points of opposition.  The only thing which undercuts the scene for me, is the light televisional emotive music playing in the background.  Toby also tells Josh that an ex-girlfriend of his Mandy Hampton (Moira Kelly) is in town, and is working for a political rival.  In the next sequence we are introduced to Mandy dressed like a extra from Clueless and getting herself stopped for running a red light.  The OTT acting along with the No Doubt style rock music really don't do this scene any favours.  In any event, it seems like Mandy is a bit of a hot head.

Later Josh and Mandy meet for coffee where it is revealed that not only is his ex working for a senator, but Mandy is dating the senator to boot.  Josh attracts the attention of some girls (more on this later), and it becomes clear that Josh and Mandy lack the magic of Josh and Donna (much more on this later).  Through a mixup of pagers Sam finds out that Laurie in addition to being a law student is also a call girl.  Concerned about his position if news of their night together gets out, Sam later visits Laurie at home where they come to a understanding, she says "I should have told you,but just wanted you to like me" He says that he does, but that if it got out, at which point she cuts him off, telling him she understands, and just to go, "you don't know who I am."

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcRule9aF0Y

Sam is put on edge further when he gives a talk to some school children whose teacher calls him out on his lack of knowledge about White House history.  In a bigger misstep Sam reveals the inccident with Laurie to the teacher, who just happens to be Leo's daughter!

Josh does his duty and apologizes to Mary Marsh, but the ice queen is not prepared to let the matter rest there. She gives Josh and Toby a dressing down, including a remark which attacks Toby and his Jewish background.  Schiff handles this shift in tone like a pro, as Toby fires back at Marsh and we get around to a discussion about The Ten Commendments.  As someone asks, "Then What was the First Commendment?" Offscreen comes the reply, "I am the Lord your God.  Now I shall worship no other God before me." The camera focuses in on a beaming President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen), who carries on, "Boy those were the days."  Bartlet then proceeds to dominant matters, taking the religous figures to task over past actions and firmly insisting that they get out. I like the next beat of Toby, C.J. and Josh bantering about the meeting with Marsh while forgetting that Bartlett is in the room.  Anyway, the President is back to business, although he does calmly and with authority warn Josh never to do it again, referring to the remark to Mary.   

A strong debut episode certainly compared to many pilots.  It sets up many of the show's core themes.  For example how such small and mundane events can become a crisis in the crazy world of media and politics.  It set in motion the fast moving everyday lives of those who work in the White House.  I really liked the tension built up over the course of the episode surrounding the first appearance of President Bartlet.  It was a great narrative hook to leave the viewer guessing whether Jed was going to fire Josh who on the face of it is a major character for the show moving forward.  Another dramatic question concerning Bartlet's first appearance was just what sort of personality he would have.  This dramatic plot detail felt like a nice wink to the fact that originally the character of the President was only intended to be a supporting character on the show, unthinkable now.

There are a couple of rough edges.  Firstly, characters such as Leo and Josh are very different here to how they would become known.  For example, Leo feels way too spikey in this opening episode.  One of the remarkable and unique aspects of character is that considering his high profile position in the White House is how he faces these challenges with a calm, and measured head.  Not just that, but this version of Leo just feels like a cold and dated stereotype of a ticked off, grumpy old drill Sergent, very different from the composed, loveable, but principled character who fans of the show would come to love.  Thare are elements of the classic Josh Lyman here, but he is much too smooth, and assured.  The swooning girls during the seqence with Mandy felt over played.  Sure Josh is a good looking guy, full of intelligence, however this still felt like a forced moment.  One of the most important things to Josh is how grounded the character is, his mix of passion and sly sense of humour.  I will comment more on Mandy in the next review, but certainly her introduction into the show is not very promising.  The character is not likeable, and is overblown. Rob Lowe as Sam hits his stride from the off.  A actor with such looks, such charisma, and the ability to effectively deliver deadpan lines makes him the perfect foil for the more dramatic characters.  Those characteristics set the character up perfectly to be cut down to size such as during the sequence with Leo's daughter and the school children.  At the same time this is the most charming Lowe has ever been, and the relationship between him and Laurie is one of the high points of the first season.  The music during this opener and I think during the whote of the first season I think is too televisional or heightened and I think in some cases undercuts some of the fine acting being done.  Mostly a solid pilot, with a effective main plot, and introduction to the themes and tone of the show.

      S102 Post Hoc, Ergo Proper Hoc
    Mandy finds herself out of a job when Russell's team decides that he has no chance of running for President.  Kelly's OTT performance in this scene is like nails on a blackboard.  The White House is attempting to handle the bad media around a rejected invitation from a the Ryder Cup team, and a misplaced joke.  There's a nice moment where Bartlett and C.J. discuss the President's underperformance in the polls.  I enjoyed CJ's line about Bartlet losing Texas when he learnt to speak Latin.  And another reason to hate Mandy is because she owns her roommate rent money, as it turns out losing Russell as a client effected not just her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL_vHDjG5Wk&feature=player_embedded

A comment from vice President John Hoynes (Tim Matheson) concerning a legislative bill calls into question his support for the president and puts CJ under pressure when handling the press. However, she deflects the situation with charm and sharp wit.  Its a smart character beat that CJ wishes a member of the press a happy birthday.  Having a close relationship to the media is a crucial public relations tactic for the White House, and opens up many different narrative possiblties for CJ as a character, not to mention this is just a sweet moment.  Later CJ is given the cold shoulder by Hoynes when comfronting him over the remark.  Bartlet bonds with his Physician Morris during a eudring if slightly over long scene.  Mandy decides that hitting the bottle is the best course of action, and in the process lists her many impressive qualitfications. Although this scene is played for comedy it just adds to the distance between Mandy and the audience for me.  Sam comes clean to Josh and Toby about his night with Laurie, and more importantly her choice of profession. Both are convinced that Sam wants to reform her, and as it turns out their right. Josh is talked into the idea of hiring Mandy as the new Political Consultant as long as "she answers to me and she anwers to Toby!" Leo is unconvinced by CJ's cover story for Hoynes, so he calls the Vice President in and warns him that if he doesn't give Bartlet his backing on such issues in the future than his career will be ruined.

Later Sam shows up at a function where Laurie is working, he introduces himself in front of company, only to discover that on this night Laurie is going by the name Britney.  Laurie storms out and is pissed at Sam for showing her up not least because of the quiet dignity in which she handled their previous encounter.  Laurie insists that she has no emotional issues and is not ashamed of her profession as she is using the income to fund Law School.  Sam motions that he would like to be Laurie's friend and they go for a drink.  This is a charming scene where Laurie is given greater agency than in the previous episode.  The White House learns that a plane carrying Morris has been shot down in what appears to a terrorist attack.  In a emotive speech to Leo Bartlet says that he is going to blow them off the face of the earth.

This was a step down from the pilot episode.  The involvement of Mandy's character is a big part of that as she just grates all the more, and feels like a very hollow presence.  I'm not sure if it is the casting of Moira Kelly who I really liked as Donna in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me or if its the writing of the character.  In this episode she falls flat on both a comic and a dramatic scale.  Mostly, I think the draw back to the episode is that its main plot is just not as strong as that of the pilot.  There are some nice character moments with CJ, Sam and Laurie.  However, the pacing of the story is a bit sluggish and the crucial narrative beats do not hit home as effectively as in the previous episode.  The dialouge isn't as crisp either.

S103 A Proportional Response 

  

 CJ shows up by surprise in Josh's office. The cat is out of the bag about Sam and Laurie, and the Press Secretary is mad at Lyman for keeping it a secret.  Josh defends Sam pointing out that he didn't know Laurie was a call girl when they slept together, and more importantly that he did not pay her money as part of the transaction.  Cregg insists that those facts don't matter to the press and she intends to give Sam a talking to before the end of the day.

Later C.J tells Sam that he cannot see Laurie again regardless of the nature of their relationship.  They have a strong back and forth on the issue of morality as Sam puts it to her than "its time to stop doing what looks good, and to start doing what is good" Over stepping the mark a bit Seaborn calls into question Cregg's courage when standing up to the press.  This is a great scene and wonderfully played between the two.  Still hurting from Morris's death Jed is against the idea of the White House's standard 'Proportional Response' to the terrorists.  An emotive Bartlet is in favour of a more ruthless attack on the enemy and challenges the defence team to come up with an alternative plan in the next forty minutes.  Josh interviews Charlie Young (Dule Hill) for the personal aide to the President.  Young is taken aback as he originally intended to apply for a messagers role. As the interview progresses we learn that Young's mother was a police officer killed on duty within the last few months, and that Charlie has been looking after his family.

Percy Fitzwallace (John Amos) tells Bartlet that a all out assault without support from America's allies would be too great a risk, and would restrict their options in the future.  A dejected President agrees to Fitz's original plan of action, but is clearly mad at the system.  As Charle's interview goes on Sam is annoyed at Josh for asking in a round about way about Young's sexuality. This is a nice touch as it further explores some of the outdated practices which such an institution might still engage with, and furthemore it addresses that Gay panic issue within the media which sadly is still a problem today.  Sam's reaction is another strong character moment which further pushes home the direction he takes during the episode.  Josh later confesses to Leo that he is worried about the thought of hiring a young black man (Charlie) to open the door for the President.  In a moment of common sense Leo tells Josh that if he should just hire Charlie based on his ability to do the job and not worry about such things.

In case you are wondering there is a small scene involving Mandy in this episode.  Josh is feeling bored and left out of the major goings on that day, so Mandy cheers him up with a old picture of the two of them from the night they met.  And the scene is easily the weakest of the episode, and only exists to give Mandy a part in the story,  It should have been cut.  Danny Concannon (Timothy Busfield) a friend of C.J's from the press warns her that his paper has picked up the rumour about Sam and Laurie. In a twist Cregg actually defends Sam to Concannon.  Danny agrees to drop the story but reminds her that others in the press might not be so kind.

When Bartlet shoots down Charlie for simply trying to make a suggestion to the President Leo decides that its time for him and Jed to have a word in private.  McGarry slams Jed's outbusts and strongly defends the White House's terrorism policy as to take on more extreme measures would just make the problem worse and would just increase the blood shed.  In a powerful speech Leo reasons that their strategy is far from ideal, but is the best they have, and that to go out of character for a superpower nation.  Jed and Leo laugh about old times, the President makes amends with Charlie, saying that he is sorry for his loss and that the White House are going to do everything it can to tackle Americans gun laws which sadly played a part in his mother being killed.



A Proportional Response is the strongest episode of the opening three of this season.  It largely lives on the big speeches and debates at the heart of the episode.  With the exception of opening face off between C.J. and Josh which I felt was a bit over blown and too comic in tone, the rest of these big setpieces hit the mark perfectly.  Not only do these moments make for great drama, but they furthered the themes of the shows and advanced the characters.  Broadly speaking the episode tackles some important themes concerning American politics and the media with great insight and power.  Jed's reaction to the White House's policy on terrorism grounds him as a very human President, and at least raises an important discussion on such issues. For Sorkin to show us such a vulnerable side to Jed this early in the show's run was a brave move, and Sheen plays these scenes to perfection.

Both the debuting characters Charlie and Danny made impressive starts.  It makes sense that reference is made to Charlie's race and background as it ties into some of themes of the episode and the show as a whole, and after all any show about politics worth anything should face up to such issues.  But its refreshing that following this episode than Charlie's race is barely mentioned and certainly the character does not show any of the racial stereotypes which often befalls such a character in a mostly white television show.  Janney dominates every scene she is in, adding dramatic weight to Cregg.  She balances so much throughtout the episode and demonstrates the extreme pressures the character faces, and the moral conflict.  A big theme overall here is that of getting the balance right between doing what is right from a humanistic point of view with what is best for everyone and the bigger picture.  Janney's performance here is a key part of exploring that complex narrative.  A couple of minor complaints would be the needless Mandy scene, the opening scene like I said isn't as great as it could be, and Toby is a little too sidelined in the episode.  However mostly this is really great stuff and the first sign of the show at its best.