The West Wing *Spoilers*

kearneybobs

emeraldstar wrote: »

Well, there are only seven seasons!

Well. I stopped on the first episode of Season 7. Watched it and never went back to it. I tend to do that.

VinLieger

Theres no question that seasons 2-4 are by far the best, its still getting itself off the ground in season 1 and season 5 is a bit jarring due to sorkin not being involved anymore but it all comes together nicely with the nominations in season 6 and the election in season 7.
Overall still in my opinion the best full series of television ive ever seen along with my favorite episode of television ever, the season 2 finale - Two Cathedrals

syklops

Deleted User wrote: »

Have made my way up to episode 21 of Season 4, so nearly completed it. Have read here that people say that the first 4 seasons were it in its prime, so should I stop now or continue?

I'd watch Season 5 and then see how you feel. To be honest if you feel about it as I do, then you shouldn't have to ask.

syklops

VinLieger wrote: »

Theres no question that seasons 2-4 are by far the best, its still getting itself off the ground in season 1 and season 5 is a bit jarring due to sorkin not being involved anymore but it all comes together nicely with the nominations in season 6 and the election in season 7.
Overall still in my opinion the best full series of television ive ever seen along with my favorite episode of television ever, the season 2 finale - Two Cathedrals

Couldn't agree more about Two Cathedrals.

It is one of the finest television shows in history, so a poor episode or poor season is still better than most of the crap on TV.

Faith

MrsD007 wrote: »

Stick a spoiler tag on that last line ^^^^^^ - some of us are only on Season 4

Sorry

Uriel.

syklops wrote: »

Couldn't agree more about Two Cathedrals.

It is one of the finest television shows in history, so a poor episode or poor season is still better than most of the crap on TV.

One of the things I love about some of the big moments in the west wing is the song choice for the background. The two that immediately come to mind are
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
Don Henley - New York Minute

Great moments and when i hear those songs they remind me of them

SarahBM

Damn, now I want to go back and start again there are not enough hours in the day!!!

the earlier seasons were the best. I found season 7 got a bit monotonous, as US election campaigns tend to. But I agree with almost everyone here, it has to be one of the best TV shows ever made and ever written. Like, Ever!

kerry4sam

Uriel. wrote: »

One of the things I love about some of the big moments in the west wing is the song choice for the background. The two that immediately come to mind are
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
Don Henley - New York Minute

Great moments and when i hear those songs they remind me of them

They were definitely two poignant moments alright

syklops

Uriel. wrote: »

One of the things I love about some of the big moments in the west wing is the song choice for the background. The two that immediately come to mind are
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
Don Henley - New York Minute

Great moments and when i hear those songs they remind me of them

On my music playlist in work I always had Brothers of Arms, but I recently swapped it out for the scene in TWW where they play Brothers in Arms, and you have the rain and the wind, which adds to it, and they few lines of dialogue. It gets me EVERY single time. Theres only about 5 lines in the 4 minute segment, but they are all so powerful.

Leo:"Just watch this..."

Another great example is Season 4 Finale where they play Massive Attacks Angel. Just watched it there, and I might have to add that to my play list as well.

Uriel.

syklops wrote: »

On my music playlist in work I always had Brothers of Arms, but I recently swapped it out for the scene in TWW where they play Brothers in Arms, and you have the rain and the wind, which adds to it, and they few lines of dialogue. It gets me EVERY single time. Theres only about 5 lines in the 4 minute segment, but they are all so powerful.

Leo:"Just watch this..."

Another great example is Season 4 Finale where they play Massive Attacks Angel. Just watched it there, and I might have to add that to my play list as well.

I have four episodes left in season four (3rd time through the box set). I vaguely remember the last episode and the song but will pay particular attention this time

VinLieger

Uriel. wrote: »

I have four episodes left in season four (3rd time through the box set). I vaguely remember the last episode and the song but will pay particular attention this time

Do, it sets the scene so perfectly, whoever was responsible for putting that final club scene together with that music is a genius

Also see you bringing up how many times youve gone through it, I can honestly say ive completely lost track how many times ive done full run throughs but im pretty sure its into double digits

Dinner

The music is so well chosen in it. My favourite, is in Season 4, '20 Hours in America Part 2'; "I Don't Like Mondays" played during President Bartlet's speech after

the pipe bomb at the swimming pool

Link if anyone wants to watch it again. I love that scene.

Uriel.

VinLieger wrote: »

Do, it sets the scene so perfectly, whoever was responsible for putting that final club scene together with that music is a genius

Also see you bringing up how many times youve gone through it, I can honestly say ive completely lost track how many times ive done full run throughs but im pretty sure its into double digits

Double digits. Wow that's some going i have to say. Do you have a particularly favourite season?

Otacon

Uriel. wrote: »

Double digits. Wow that's some going i have to say. Do you have a particularly favourite season?

Season 2. Every day of the week, Season 2

kerry4sam

Faith wrote: »

I'm 3 episodes into season 7 now. Stick with it! I found season 5 tough going, but season 6 was brilliant again.

I miss Sam

, though .

Sam returns

to the White House again in Season 7

meoklmrk91

So I have kept watching, and I'm nearly finished the first season, for me it seems to be slow grower, the characters are great, particularly love Josh and Sam, Josh and Donna crack me up. Alison Janney has been one of my favourite actors for years, is there nothing she can't do, fantastic comedic actress but can bring the drama home just as well. President Bartletts overly sentimental monologues do grate on me but that's just something I am going to have to get over. Off to watch another episode now

cjmcork

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

So I have kept watching, and I'm nearly finished the first season, for me it seems to be slow grower, the characters are great, particularly love Josh and Sam, Josh and Donna crack me up. Alison Janney has been one of my favourite actors for years, is there nothing she can't do, fantastic comedic actress but can bring the drama home just as well. President Bartletts overly sentimental monologues do grate on me but that's just something I am going to have to get over. Off to watch another episode now

I also think that Fitzwallace and Nancy don't ever get enough credit - the supporting cast were amazing - one of my fav scenes was between Nancy and CJ

they're beating the women Nancy

VinLieger

Uriel. wrote: »

Double digits. Wow that's some going i have to say. Do you have a particularly favourite season?

Yeah agree with Otacon, Season 2 all the way no question

cjmcork

yeah, if I had to pick a season also, I"d pick 2 (if I can have Celestial Navigation from S1 in that pack please!) woot canaw and all that!!!

syklops

Uriel. wrote: »

Double digits. Wow that's some going i have to say. Do you have a particularly favourite season?

Yeah Im definitely in double digits as well. It ended in 2006 and I probably watch it 3 times or so a year so that adds up to around 18 times. I'd say I've watched it a few more times on top of that.

For me, Im torn between Season 2 and Season 4. Season 4 was the first box set I ever bought.

For a random and hilarious clip from season 3, check out this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQsvcs9IB8A

SarahBM

above clip - CLASSIC!!!

ok, Im getting out my box sets

angeldelight

Time to start again from season 1 I think!

cjmcork

I'm defo up to watch 8 or 9, actually could be on double-digits now........it's definitely worth it, there's v few tv shows that I'll do this for........possibly Life on Mars (NOT Ashes to Ashes :P)

Faith

I just watched Election Day: Part 2.

I'm in FLOODS. Naturally, I knew it was coming because I knew John Spencer had died, but it was so bloody sad

I'm already ready to start watching from Season 1 again though!

syklops

Faith wrote: »

I just watched Election Day: Part 2.

I'm in FLOODS. Naturally, I knew it was coming because I knew John Spencer had died, but it was so bloody sad

I'm already ready to start watching from Season 1 again though!

When I rewatch it I usually end around midway of season 7. It didnt have the ending it deserved. John Spencers untimely death didn't help. According to a source of mine(whom I trust, but I can't publish), the planned ending for the season had been for Leo to win the election and become POTUS, and Santos to become VP. There was concern it would be deemed racist, having the electorate look at the two candidates and for them to go "Well of the two of them I prefer the white guy", but with his political smarts, national security experience and general likeability, it is easy to see how he could become the front runner. Especially the way he organised the debate late in the season.

kerry4sam

Another poignant moment for me was in 'Tomorrow' when President Bartlet opened the gift from Malerie from Leo of the

framed napkin saying 'Bartlet for America

Riskymove

kerry4sam wrote: »

Another poignant moment for me was in 'Tomorrow' when President Bartlet opened the gift from Malerie from Leo of the

framed napkin saying 'Bartlet for America

a nice moment but I prefer when Bartlett gave it to Leo

VinLieger

syklops wrote: »

According to a source of mine(whom I trust, but I can't publish), the planned ending for the season had been for Leo to win the election and become POTUS, and Santos to become VP. There was concern it would be deemed racist, having the electorate look at the two candidates and for them to go "Well of the two of them I prefer the white guy", but with his political smarts, national security experience and general likeability, it is easy to see how he could become the front runner. Especially the way he organised the debate late in the season.

Not what i heard, all the stuff i have heard is much more along the lines of whats on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_McGarry#Influence_of_John_Spencer.27s_death
,

where Vinick was supposed to win

but they changed it so it would be more bittersweet, also such a thing as your describing is completely impossible afaik under american election law and very unrealistic

Edit : Relevant http://legendsrevealed.com/entertainment/2009/06/23/tv-legends-revealed-11/

syklops

VinLieger wrote: »

Not what i heard, all the stuff i have heard is much more along the lines of whats on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_McGarry#Influence_of_John_Spencer.27s_death
,

where Vinick was supposed to win

but they changed it so it would be more bittersweet, also such a thing as your describing is completely impossible afaik under american election law and very unrealistic

Edit : Relevant http://legendsrevealed.com/entertainment/2009/06/23/tv-legends-revealed-11/

Interesting read, but there is quite a lot of speculation in the piece. Truth is we may never know the truth.

hamsterboy

I've been late to this particular party but I am truly amazed at how awesome it is, upthere with BSG,The Wire and Breaking Bad easy.... And I'm only on Season Three.
Finally got to the much heralded Two Cathedrals episode over the weekend.
I'm not ashamed.... I DID shed a tear at the finale. It deserved it. Whoever made the decision to include

Knopflers Brothers in Arms, along with the weather..... Bravo

it combined into something so powerful.
I already know this is something I will watch and re watch for as long as I have eyes and ears.

HB

hamsterboy

Just re watched Two Cathedrals and noticed something that I missed first time round.

Just as the music kicks off at the finale, Bartlet is standing in the rain when Charlie arrives to tell him it's time to go and holds his heavy coat open for him. Bartlet just walks by him in the rain. Charlie follows him into the office and puts Bartlets coat on a chair, pauses for a second then removes the heavy coat he himself was already wearing and follows his Persident into the rain.
Could be looking too much into this but I'd imagine that was a show of solidarity, going into battle together..... Brothers in Arms etc.

Either way it is now my favourite episode of any series I've watched......

HB

Jimmy Iovine

hamsterboy wrote: »

Just re watched Two Cathedrals and noticed something that I missed first time round.

Just as the music kicks off at the finale, Bartlet is standing in the rain when Charlie arrives to tell him it's time to go and holds his heavy coat open for him. Bartlet just walks by him in the rain. Charlie follows him into the office and puts Bartlets coat on a chair, pauses for a second then removes the heavy coat he himself was already wearing and follows his Persident into the rain.
Could be looking too much into this but I'd imagine that was a show of solidarity, going into battle together..... Brothers in Arms etc.

Either way it is now my favourite episode of any series I've watched......

HB

Yea, I noticed that last night. I don't think you're looking into it that much.

I still think the episode The Son from Season 4 of Friday Night Lights is the best episode that I've ever seen.

So I managed to finish this all last night. Absolutely delighted I stuck with it because the 6th season was wonderful. Alan Alda was wonderful, plus there were so many standout moments.

VinLieger

hamsterboy wrote: »

Just re watched Two Cathedrals and noticed something that I missed first time round.

Just as the music kicks off at the finale, Bartlet is standing in the rain when Charlie arrives to tell him it's time to go and holds his heavy coat open for him. Bartlet just walks by him in the rain. Charlie follows him into the office and puts Bartlets coat on a chair, pauses for a second then removes the heavy coat he himself was already wearing and follows his Persident into the rain.
Could be looking too much into this but I'd imagine that was a show of solidarity, going into battle together..... Brothers in Arms etc.

Either way it is now my favourite episode of any series I've watched......

HB

Ive always thought that since the first time i watched the episode, pretty sure its what your intended to think

IvySlayer

I love when

CJ has to get emergency root canal and Josh briefs the press, Bartlets reaction is 'Oh God...'

Secret plan to fight inflation

Yup, I'm going to watch it all over again,

I've always wanted to enter into a room and proclaim 'I am the lord your God, thou shalt worship no other God before me.'

syklops

IvySlayer wrote: »

I love when

CJ has to get emergency root canal and Josh briefs the press, Bartlets reaction is 'Oh God...'

Secret plan to fight inflation

Yup, I'm going to watch it all over again,

I've always wanted to enter into a room and proclaim 'I am the lord your God, thou shalt worship no other God before me.'

To be honest, I could dedicate a blog solely to "I love when..."

I didnt start watching it when it started, and I started watching it around season 4, and before I knew how bit torrent works and before there was Sky+, there was this lovely situation where the West Wing was shown on E4, and then shown again an hour later on E4+1, so you could watch an episode, have it sink in and watch it again. It was great.

Have I mentioned the President ringing the butterball hotline, in this thread yet? Thats another I love when moment.

EDIT: Yes I have mentioned the president calling the butterball hotline. I even embedded it one page back.

With regards to the wonderful Two Cathedrals speech.. I thought it was such a wonderful move to not only not translate what Bartlet was saying with subtitles, to have it as quite a substantial bit of the whole monologue, but also to have it in such an archaic language like Latin. Added so much to it, but also showed that here was a TV show that was not willing to treat it's viewers like idiots, without being smug about it.

Layinghen

Delighted I stumbled across this thread. I LOVE the West Wing and like others here I watch the entire series at least once a year. The writing, the actors, the sets, the directing all came together in this brilliant series and made it in my humble opinion one of the best ever made. Anybody who is struggling with some of the episodes or seasons just keep going the brilliant far outweigh the good which far outweigh the not so good.

Dave!

I just finished season 1 last night

For the (approx.) 8th time

Dave!

IvySlayer wrote: »

I love when

CJ has to get emergency root canal and Josh briefs the press, Bartlets reaction is 'Oh God...'

Secret plan to fight inflation

Yup, I'm going to watch it all over again,

I've always wanted to enter into a room and proclaim 'I am the lord your God, thou shalt worship no other God before me.'

Twy vewy hahhd not to destwoy us!

IvySlayer

Another personal favorite moment is Leo telling the story of how the man who fell in the hole, and Josh returning the favour!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQJ6yqQRAQs

IvySlayer

Is it me or does Abbey Bartlet just lets the entire show down? If Jed divorced her and married Mandy it would be an upgrade imo.

No disrespect to Stockyard Channing, all that plastic surgery made her face kind of expressionless.

syklops

IvySlayer wrote: »

Is it me or does Abbey Bartlet just lets the entire show down? If Jed divorced her and married Mandy it would be an upgrade imo.
.

:eek:

Your kidding right?

In the "Bits I love theme". Leo talking about scotch is brilliant. Even if I do disagree with the practise of putting ice in good scotch.

The Black Oil

I'm not so found of the butterball hotline scene - it's uber cheese, really.

Elsewhere, I liked Matthew Perry's character/arc.

SarahBM

Glen Close was a fav guest star of mine.

IvySlayer

I don't how they did it, but the supporting cast were amazing. Hoynes, Fitz, Bruno, Nancy McNally, Haffley, Lord John, Ron Butterfield were pretty cool to name a few, wish they'd had more screen time.

Ryan Pierce probably appeared more times than most of those *shivers*

Another one of my favourite moments is Bartlets bitch slap to Amy Gardner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-ZAydKyxQw

The Black Oil

See, I've no recollection of that at all despite generally liking Amy. Rewatch is due, methinks.

wp_rathead

Gives me goosebumps everytime
Spoilers:

syklops

If you didn't like the butterball hotline one, you won't like this turkey.

SarahBM

I love that!