The West Wing: Two Weeks Out

Anyone seeing Santos about to fall? What's with the coffee and I thought I saw him "pop" something in his mouth...? Josh sure is keeping a watchful eye on him! Tomorrow's episode is going to be sad, that's for sure!

Brent: I actually had heard rumors that they were going to do some more "flash forward" but I think that those ideas never came to fruition. Its been stated (By Wells, I think) that the last shots of the series are going to be the new POTUS getting settled in the Oval (or the residence), and a shot of the Bartletts on a plane out of town.

Also, for what its worth... The winner of the election is out there on the internet if anyone is looking for it. I don't think this is the appropriate place to spoil, but I can point folks to the answers if they like.

Either way, I'm going to be damned sad to see this show go :(

Ron Silver's character is a slimy creep--he was when he worked for the Democrats and he hasn't changed his tune. He has proven he will sell himself to the hightest bidder--he is less about ideology than opportunism. I cannot wait for him to be off the screen. Vinick comes across as patronizing. I would be 'snippy' too if every time I got together with someone, he figuratively patted me on the head and gave me the "now run along, kiddie" attitude. He was no saint in this briefcase theft. It reminds me of that old saw, "don't...stop...don't..stop..don't stop". Oh, how awful you have the briefcase--I don't want to know anything! Give it back! Oh, wait...that's interesting, tell me more.

As far as the West Wing's demise: I blame it more on NBC's changing the day/time with barely an announcement. I never see the show advertised--I didn't even know it was back after the Olympics and prior to that didn't even know the new season had started. In checking with my friends who are also fans, they said the same thing: they never heard a word about when it was on!

NBC wanted this show gone--it doesn't matter how great is was, or is. I think pressure was put on the writers to make it more "balanced". It started losing me when Bartlett started putting the current Bush policies, such as the tax rebate, into effect. What nonsense. I wrote to NBC and told them the show was popular because it showed a presidency the public wanted, not the one they had!

That being said, I will miss this show when it is gone. This seasons shows, for the most part, have been sharply and intelligently written. The farewell to Leo will be one to remember.

For the most part I've been of the opinion that over the past two seasons the episodes of "The West Wing" focussing on the election have been excellent, those focussing on the White House not so good. This is a problem when the show is about the inner workings at the White HOuse. I suppose they could address some of their problems with a new administration that does things in a different way from the Bartlett team, but really I think that maybe the best time to end the series is with the end of the Bartlett presidency (or maybe a little after so we can see what became of these people).

This was an excellent episode. Classic West Wing.

Thanks writers!!!

P.S. This episode repeats tonight (Monday) on Bravo at 7 PM (EST)

If the viewers have a vote, I vote for West Wing to continue. In my opinion, there is no better show on TV. Some equal but not better.

If the viewers have a vote, I vote for West Wing to continue. In my opinion, there is no better show on TV. Some equal but not better.

It is disapointing that this show is finally really finding a new voice for itself this close to its final episode. I've been loyal follower even during the "crummy" times... Its not really a new voice, as much as its getting settled into, really.

I've not been a big fan of Alda's Arnie Vinick. This episode didn't change my opinion at all. The original post mentions 'St Bobby,' but I think that Wells and Co have worked overtime to give us St. Arnie. He's perfect, he's got the winning campaign strategy, he's taken a bad hit on the energy thing, he's not going to sling mud to win, blah blah. My favorite parts of Vinick's campaign are Ron Silver and Stephen Root. Silver was really good tonight, IMHO. I love how he seems to see everything from kind of a "non-partisan" angle, and cares more about what the candiate wants.

But really. This episode sucked. I mean, come on. I wait seven seasons to get Donna and Josh to kiss, and then no follow up in the next episode? That's an utter tragedy :)

Ok, if the show couldn't do anything to fix one of my long suffering issues, at least they seemed to have dealt well with one of the more problems. I love Josh's phone calls and campaign advice from 'Bob.' Toby's advice did get walked on, but that's just because St. Arnie figured out the right thing to do at the right time.

At the end of the day, if the show were to carry on past the summer, then the question of whether or not Vinick (or, by extension, us the viewer) believed Santos' story about his brother. I for one do believe him.

Finally, I'm so estatic that they finally got some of the new footage that Rob Lowe has filmed into the previews. The scene of him saying, "I'm here for the President" was from when he went to California to talk Will Bailey into throwing in the towel on the campaign fot the California 42nd (??). Its not new stuff. I don't imagine that Lowe will be back for the President, he'll be back for Leo's funeral. I think. Just as long as Zoey, Ellie, Malloy, and Jordan Kendall show up. Hell, it'd be nice if they could round up Sara Botsford even if she only played Jenny McGarry for one episode.

I love this show. I'll miss it. Thank goodness for Studio 60, though ;)

What I didn't like: in terms of the ethical dilemna Vinick faced, it was convenient for Vinick to bounce back so strongly and torpedo Santos' Fresno appearance - I'm sure it made swallowing the pill of returning the briefcase much easier. The question is, would Vinick have still returned the briefcase? How much more difficult would it have been for Vinick?

What I did like: At least the controversial power plant appearance and the subsequent bounce to the campaign seemed both feasible and creative - the use of "truthiness" to the campaign being a successful strategy. I also liked that Santos came off as a bit of a jerk - I figure most people watching are already leaning towards Santos; I liked that they made Vinick a little more palatable and Santos a little less so. Overall, a nice job by the writers, and a great job by Alda, who to me is completely believable. Santos is someone I'd like, but a little too perfect - smacks of the "Saint Bobby" syndrome from his "NYPD Blue" days, where a few more character flaws would have made him a LOT more interesting.

I agree, tonight's episode was solid. And what's actually about TWW coming to an end, is that they can play the election however they want. Santos or Vinick can win, and it won't matter a hill of beans. And yes, Vinick is portrayed as being a pretty decent guy- actually it seems to me more often that Santos is short-tempered and snippy with Vinick when they meet.

I can't wait for the re-appearance of all the old-timers. Besides Seaborn, having Ainsley, Joey, and Amy come back will be terrific. Makes me long for the old days, when the show was more fun and you just couldn't wait for the next episode.