(S07E21) This was an odd episode. I mean, it's the next to last show, and we're supposed to believe that everyone is getting ready to leave the White House and they're packing up and they're thinking about new job offers. But at the beginning, even though C.J.'s office is filled with boxes and Will goes to see someone about a possible political job, it didn't "feel" right. Focusing on C.J. is fine, but focusing on Will and Kate? I just don't see it.

Then Andy walked into C.J.'s office and asked her to ask the President about pardoning Toby, and that's when the episode kicked into gear for me.

While C.J. is thinking about a serious job offer from billionaire Franklin Hollis (he'll hire her and give her $10 billion to attack any problem in the world) and considering Toby's pardon, Will goes to see someone about becoming more involved in the Democratic party, helping various candidates in various districts around the country. But Will seems a bit more interested in Oregon ...

Charlie brings C.J. the pardon list, and tells her Toby isn't on it. He hasn't even applied for a pardon.

Will talks to C.J.  about the Oregon 4th. She gives him several names of people who could run. C.J. goes to meet with Santos, who  asked to see her. Will meets with someone from Treasury about running in the Oregon 4th. But he doesn't want to do it.

Santos meets with C.J. He wants to hire her, Special Counsel to the President. Santos tells her that Arnold Vinick is going to be Secretary of State. Before she can answer, Santos has to leave for a meeting. He tells her that he wants her to call him later with her answer, and he won't take "no."

C.J. is still waiting for everyone's "transitional  memos." She's freaking out about it, but a lot of that is the fact that she still doesn't know what to do after she leaves the White House, and she's really considering Santos' offer. C.J. asks Kate if she should talk to the President about Toby, and she says that Toby compromised a Defense Department project and he should go to jail (another reason to dislike the Kate character). She asks C.J. if if she has spoken to Toby since all this  happened, and she says no.

Kate talks to Will about the Oregon 4th, and surprise (um, not really, saw this coming 3 miles away), she thinks he should run. Will doesn't think so, though it has crossed his mind too. Kate tells him to move.

Danny takes C.J. to lunch. She tells him about the offers from Hollis and Santos, and he's taken aback that she would consider staying at the White House. Wasn't she going to talk  to him about it? She says no, she doesn't think that they have that type of relationship (?). He tells her they're not 25 anymore, and there comes a point where you have to make a decision about having a relationship. C.J. tells him that she doesn't really see him in her future, whatever she does.

Ouch.

Santos comes to the White House to meet with C.J., and she snaps at Margaret about her schedule. They walk to the Situation Room and argue about the budget. She also wants to talk about a gas tax, and Santos says they should work together on it. But she still doesn't give him an answer about the job offer.

C.J. goes to see Toby and brings a bottle of wine. Can I tell you how much I loved this scene? I was practically orgasmic. There hasn't been a scene like this  on the West Wing in two years. It felt like old times, the playful banter back and forth, a little bit of arguing. And the scnee was exceptionally well written, staying true to the characters and really giving Richard Schiff something meaty to bite into. He doesn't want to talk to the President about a pardon, and he also tells her that Danny isn't some guy she picked up in a bar. She's known him for eight years, and maybe she should stop thinking about her career and pick him.

C.J. goes to see Danny (and this was a really nice scene too, with a great mix of the old C.J. and Danny banter and an undercurrent of "where's our relationship going, is this the end?"). She says that her job, her career is what she's good at. But he doesn't buy it. She shouldn't just forget about him because she's scared. So she agrees to try, and tells him about Hollis' offer. He says it sounds like fun. C.J. and Danny are finally talking seriously ...

Next week: the series finale!