Monday, December 31, 2012
I WATCH AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT: All seven seasons of The West Wing are now available on Netflix Streaming, and Vulture has some suggestions for five essential episodes, which somewhat surprisingly excludes Two Cathedrals, though I can't quibble with four of their choices--the fifth, on the other hand? Well, that's for discussion in the comments.
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The inclusion of "The Cold" strikes me as little more than an effort to find something in the post-Sorkin years worthy of inclusion. I think you can write off season 5 altogether, but maybe from Season 7 the Debate episode (one of the rare instances where a gimmick worked) or the Election Day two parter (Leo dies! Josh and Donna finally resolve the unresolved sexual tension! Santos wins!) would have been a better choice.
ReplyDeleteThe Cold over The Supremes? Really?
ReplyDeleteThe last episode of season 6 -- the DNC -- would be a worthy choice. And overall, I can't imagine such a list without "Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail".
ReplyDeleteNoel is my all-time favorite, but it's a little bit one-note if you're trying to give people an overall feeling for the series - still, though, it kills me every single time. Two Cathedrals is definitely up there, but my number 2 is probably Filibuster, which is a great, across-the-board episode. I also love the Season 1 Christmas episode whose name I can't remember at the moment.
ReplyDeleteSounds like I can clear the rest of the discs off our queue...
ReplyDeleteJeez, not even close to the season 7 episode I'd have picked, which is the excellent "Two Weeks Out." (And what's with the back-handed slam at 7? That's a really enjoyable season.)
ReplyDeleteIt's a head-scratching list, and I can't imagine choosing most of those for an early revisit (the Shadow of Two Gunmen episodes excepted of course). Really, no "In Excelsis Deo"?
ReplyDeleteI actually like the cold as a stand alone episode. Shows the positive momentum of the campaign, good geopolitical stuff and the last scene between Sheen & Spencer. I don't understand why we couldn't make the list a top 7 list with a. Episode from each season. That way you have the Supremes and the episode where Santos sits on Donna (I can not remember the title, but it's a great season six episode).
ReplyDeleteWord to that. That episode is West Wing godhead.
ReplyDeleteAdam, do you mean 2162 Votes, where Hoynes and Bingo Bob are fighting for 2nd place? I love, love love that episode.
ReplyDeleteYes, that one. Other than the very very end, at which the vice presidential nominee is implausibly selected.
ReplyDeleteAdam, I thought that was supposed to be how Cheney got the VP nod in 2000?
ReplyDeleteTwo Cathedrals, Posse Comitatus, Noel. Those are the WW episodes that give me (the most) feelings.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could choose just five. There are too many threads to follow, too many characters I love.
ReplyDeleteBut the idea that there isn't a Thanksgiving episode on this list is ludicrous. No show has ever done better Thanksgiving episodes. Charlie and the knife? CJ pardoning a turkey? Come on.
I really didn't like "The Cold." But the one I'd pick from season 7 would be the episode (forgot the title, and I think it's the second to last one) which focuses on CJ and what she's going to do after the White House - as well as where her relationship with Danny is going to go. I loved it, from her conversation with the Bill Gates like character to her visit to Toby.
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