The West Wing – CliqueClack Flashback

Ah, the post that started it all. The West Wing Week is an outgrowth of this here weekly feature; the series was simply too mammoth to be contained in just one post. Either that, or I figured it was a good way to get everyone else to carry the load for me (a thought that has merit to it) — I could just refer back to another post instead of actually dissecting a topic.

Seriously though, The West Wing was a show with so many strengths in so many different areas, not to mention so many faithful amongst our writers and readers, that we felt the need to not only share a lot with you, but also to do so from various perspectives.

The point being that a lot of ground has been covered already, with some yet to come. As a result, I figured the best way to flash back on The West Wing was to just look back, retrospective style, at the highlights that came together to make season after season, all adding up to one phenomenal series. Let’s see what we’ve got.

Season One opened with a trumpet blast, and ended on a high-pitched cry. The stuff in between? I think Sam was too smart to imagine that he could get involved with Laurie (Lisa Edelstein) without any consequences. Leo’s divorce, while sad, was necessary for him to play his role in the administration — not a general statement, just Leo specific. We learned exactly who Josh was when he turned down an NSC card, and the privileges that came with it, and we got a hilarious look at Sam, Josh, and Charlie when they stood up for Zoey (Elisabeth Moss) at the bar. The translation chain in the kitchen at the state dinner for the Indonesian leader was all good, while Bartlet’s conversation with the sailor on the maintenance ship caught in the hurricane was heartbreaking. Judge Mendoza (Edward James Olmos) gave Toby a good scare, and Josh a phenomenal acting performance, while Leo’s drug problems showed us what Josh and Sam were made of. And the hail of bullets in the finale was the finest of fine cliffhangers.

Season Two started by telling us how the West Wingers found their way to the Bartlet Administration. Not a single story disappointed. We felt CJ’s after-shock, while Josh’s PTSD was the performance of a career (and yet he turned in many over the life of the series). Ainsley (Emily Procter) was a great, albeit too temporary, addition to the cast, and the Chinese Christians seeking asylum were yin to the double turkey pardoning’s yang — I loved CJ with the turkeys — on Thanksgiving. Leo’s attempted apology to a columnist was a perfect comedy of errors, the “Big Block of Cheese Day” was brilliant levity (Cartographers for Social Equality!), and Stackhouse’s (George Coe) filibuster was one of my all-time favorite moments in West Wing history. “17 People” really began the tale of Bartlet’s MS, which quickly led the hilarious Oliver Babish (Oliver Platt) to smash his recorder with a gavel. “18th and Potomac” and “Two Cathedrals” were truly powerful episodes, and a grand finale to a great season.

Season Three began with a divergence, speaking to September 11th; I actually really enjoyed the story of “Isaac and Ishmael.” The consultants, led by Bruno (Ron Silver), added some flavor and fire to the election season, while the entire special prosecutor arc, from Donna’s testimony to Leo’s, to the Congressional censure, was an interesting way to keep us, and all of the show’s characters, involved in what could have been a very insulated story. “Two Indians in the Lobby” was great (is that the start of a joke?), breaking up the heady MS story and the subsequent Bartlet psychiatric sessions. He and Stanley (Adam Arkin) were just fantastic together. The multiple chess matches, and accompanying discussions, that Bartlet conducted were a brilliant means of telling a story within a story, and yet it was juxtaposed with the Qumar assassination, an event that no one was on the inside for. The highlight, and ensuing lowlight of the season? Mark Harmon as CJ’s Secret Service agent, Simon. His murder was just awful.

Season Four began with an interesting tale of what America was looking for from their next president, in “20 Hours in America.” Bartlet and Charlie’s difficulties over hiring Debbie (Lily Tomlin) was yet another mini-story that was done so well. The real story of the election, for me, was Sam, the California 47th, and Will Bailey — Ritchie (James Brolin) was little more than a stuffed shirt. Election day itself, however, was rich with story, from Josh and his band of inept voters, to Charlie and Orlando Kettles (Omar Benson Miller), to Donna looking to nullify her mis-vote. And of course the news that Sam would be running for Congress in California. Will’s introduction to the West Wing was monumental, Toby’s father’s visit on Christmas taught us a lot about our favorite prickly staffer, Danny (Timothy Busfield) was too good a guy to be the one to suspect about Qumar, and Bartlet and Charlie made the search for a Bible suspenseful. In addition to Will, this season saw one other great addition — Matthew Perry as Joe Quincy was an inspired choice, from his interview with Josh during a lockdown, to his discovering Hoynes (Tim Matheson) in a scandal. Unfortunately, the season ended on a letdown for me — I dislike Zoey, so a story all about her? At least we got a guest spot from Taye Diggs!

Season Five is lamented by many people as a stumble for the show, but I vehemently disagree. Sure, the Zoey story was still alive, but it gave us John Goodman as Acting President Walken, Haffley (Steven Culp) as the new Speaker, and the ridiculous Bob Russell (Gary Cole) as the new VP. “Han” was a beautiful story about a very sad, yet brilliantly talented, young man, Joe Quincy was back to speak to Chief Justice Ashland (Milo O’Shea), Josh blew it with Senator Carrick and saw his portfolio scaled back, and Bartlet shut down the government. How could you not love his struggle with the Speaker? A presidential funeral brought back Walken and his dog, while mandatory judicial sentencing clemencies showed us Donna at her most engaged and compassionate. Toby whiffed on social security, Hoynes wrote a tell-all, CJ opened the press secretary’s job up to a documentary crew, and she fought with the mega-media conglomerates over seating — it was hilarious when she took out all but four or so chairs in the briefing room! I was disappointed in the finale — “Gaza” was a bad idea, in my opinion — but “The Supremes” (Glenn Close and William Fichtner together were amazing) was The West Wing at its best. Simply unbelievable!

Season Six was really about Bartlet’s legacy. The Israel-Palestine peace process left Leo in the ER for heart surgery, and CJ in his place at Bartlet’s right-hand. The Taiwan Independence Movement flag could have made history, if it wasn’t just failing eyesight that led to the misstep. China was the diplomatic trip of Bartlet’s career, and even crippling MS couldn’t keep him down. And yet levity existed as well — Josh, an SUV, and a Prius? The season also laid the groundwork for what could have been The West Wing 2.0: Josh recruited Congressman Santos (Jimmy Smits) to run for president, and Donna went to work for Vice President Russell. Santos defined who he was with ethanol production, and he battled his way into the New Hampshire debate. Arnie Vinick (Alan Alda) won the Republican nomination, only to turn around and face a backlash from his right. Meanwhile in the West Wing, Leo challenged the staffers to make the most of their “365 Days,” Toby argued the suffrage of middle-schoolers, Leo negotiated with Cuba, and a West Wing leak threatened to implode the administration. Not to mention the Democratic mud-wrestle for the allusive 2,162 votes needed for the nomination. The Convention episodes were great political TV.

Season Seven could have also been season one of the next show that never was. The Santos/McGarry ticket was a puzzle, but it was an honor long due Leo. Toby as the West Wing leak was a ridiculous twist, but his brawl with Josh in season six had ended the possibility that he’d find anything else to do. I found the live debate to be refreshing, if not great television, while Ellie’s (Nina Siemaszko) wedding was a bit of a bore (except for Will as wedding planner). It was also unusual to have people coupling up on the show — Will and Kate (Mary McCormack), and Donna and Josh — although I did like the former pair…. The Kazakhstan crises gave us an interesting insight into the struggles of lame-duck presidents and the transition of power, while Bruno finding Santos’ briefcase showed us just how ugly politics can be, while at the same time how some politicians can rise above the fray. And the series would have ended differently had John Spencer lived — his loss was such a blow that Santos couldn’t lose the election. Mr. Spencer will be sorely missed. The win, however, rolled right into a really interesting look at the formation of a new administration, and it brought Sam back to the fold. And “Inauguration Day” was a perfect close to a seven-year book….

As well as the perfect opening to the next novel in the series. I believe, all things being equal, that The West Wing could have lived on with the Santos administration. Half the main characters were signed on for the next 4-8 years, and the transition would have been such a simple thing. Plus, Jimmy Smits at the helm? Alan Alda as a series regular? Was this ever considered?

Whether it was, or it wasn’t, the seven years we did get were something I’d never trade for anything. The West Wing made a huge impact on me, and it will continue to do so for years to come — I can keep going back and enjoying my DVDs forever!

This is in no way a comprehensive account, but hopefully it brought back some nice memories for all of you — I know it did for me. But what did I miss?

And to everyone who was a part of The West Wing, from crew to cast, all I have left to say is this: thank you.

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Sep 30, 2009 @ 11:00 EST5EDT