It seems like such a long time ago that we had a new episode
of The West Wing. We had John Spencer's death, then the Olympics. Seems like
it's been forever. So when they showed the "previously on The West
Wing..." recap, I was actually interested in it. Where exactly did we leave off? Oh yeah, the nuclear
accident in California, Santos starting to creep up on Vinick in the polls, the aftermath of the live debate. And now
we see that Santos isn't just creeping up on Vinick, he has tied him in several states (including Vinick's California),
and surpassed him in others. Donna and the gang is so happy by the polls that they go crazy and start waking up everyone
in the hotel. Donna goes into Josh's room, and they are so ecstatic about the numbers that they...Oh, for God's sake, they kiss, alright? You "Shippers" happy now? Actually, I am. It seems like the way
the Josh and Donna story has to end. Though later they seem a little uncomfortable about the whole thing. Josh says
it's inappropriate, and Donna tells him "don't worry about it."Meanwhile, President Bartlett wants a plan as to how U.S. troops are going to invade Kazakhstan, if it comes to that. A good scene between Debbie and Bartlett, as she tries to talk to him about picking the Presidential portrait he wants. Bartlett wants to meet with Santos and Vinick about the Khazekstan situation, so C.J. talks to Josh about it. Josh isn't too happy about taking his surging candidate off the campaign trail, but he also doesn't want Vinick at the White House alone. Vinick has a cold and Josh thinks he can get out of having Santos go, but after a call from Bartlett himself, Josh knows he has to go.
Oh, and Kate left her bra at Will's house. They're hiding their relationship. Donna visits and asks Will if she and him had been seeing each other when they worked together, would that be appropriate? Will guesses she's talking about Josh, but she denies it. He won't say who he's saying, but he tells Donna that if that were to happen, it would be weird, but not inappropriate. Donna goes to visit C.J., and C.J. guesses IMMEDIATELY that something happened between Josh and Donna. Ha! Later, Donna quietly slips her room key to Josh (that minx!), but one of the other staffers thinks she just forgot it and runs to give it back to her. Josh and Donna look at each other from across the patio.
The Republican party members want Vinick to start talking about the usual Republican issues: family, morals, gay marriage. Bruno isn't happy about it, and suspects they want to get rid of him. But he might not be the scapegoat that Vinick needs...
Barlett meets with Santos and Vinick in the Oval Office to talk about Kazakhstan. If they go to war, you can kiss Vinick's tax cut goodbye, along with Santos' education plans. At least $70 billion for the first 6 months of the war.
I like when this show goes back to the White House for several scenes. And it's a neat idea to have all the new and old characters there in the White House: Santos, Vinick, Leo, Debbie, Josh, Donna, Bruno, C.J., Tim Allen's wife from Home Improvement (who offers herself as the scapegoat) and Stephen Root from Newsradio (sorry, I can never remember their character names on this show). Oh, and there's Carol! Cool. And there just aren't enough scenes between Martin Sheen and John Spencer like we had tonight.
This show is going to get a little sad in a few weeks. There are only a few more episodes that will feature Spencer, and then they'll get into his death and how that will affect his friends and the election itself. But that's also leading up to the return of Rob Lowe, Mary-Louise Parker, Marlee Matlin and other characters from the past (hopefully Richard Schiff and Dule' Hill too). At least that's something we can look forward to.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-12-2006 @ 9:50PM
Rich Keller said...
John Spencer did not look good at all in this episode. He was hunched over and puffy. he must not have been getting sleep in real life because he had bags under his eyes. He looked alot older than the 59-year-old he was.
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3-12-2006 @ 9:55PM
Dottie Palomb said...
Not so sure that will be the wrap-up scenario. How do you replace a vp candidate three weeks out from an election? Alternate.. Santos wins the election (may already be part of the remaining four shows in the can) and THEN something happens to Leo. An accident, or if you want to go over the top (but not beyond the realm of possibility) an asassination .....
Whatever, I will be among those present and taping. *s*
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3-12-2006 @ 10:39PM
tammy said...
So what are the odds that Sam is going to be the new VP candidate for Santos?
Josh and Donna.... about damn time!
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3-13-2006 @ 12:05AM
Mark Rabinowitz said...
From what I read, Leo dies less than a week before the election which is too close to put a new VP on the ballot, so who knows how it's going to go. Josh? CJ? Vinick!? It doesn't really matter, as the show *sniff, sniff* is ending.
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3-13-2006 @ 12:33AM
Matt said...
It's Kazakhstan.
(hey, at least it's not "Qumar")
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3-13-2006 @ 2:56AM
Tool said...
This was like a Christmas present. Everything you would want in TWW show. (Question: Why Couldn't They All Be This Good?)
I also liked the intermingling of "old" characters and new, and I like that there might actually be resolution to the Josh and Donna thing.
I don't like the whole Vinnick story line (so far, at least). It seems too predictable, but I am hoping for something to come out of it that would be a surprise.
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3-13-2006 @ 8:51AM
amanda said...
holy crap. i intended to record this show as i was out and about last night. who taped the wrong station? me. that's like, the stupidest mistake ever! my friend called and told me about josh and donna and it's the next day and i can't believe i missed this eps. seriously, come on. what i've been waiting for forever and a simple stupid mistake... i'm so grossed out. however, so excited for next weeks eps... which i will *not* miss!! =) looking forward to all the upcoming new episodes!
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3-13-2006 @ 9:22AM
Tim said...
Actually:
re Leo's death and how it is handled, the election winner etc has already been leaked.
Check the JD Talk forum on yahoo if you want all the spoilers
ts
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3-13-2006 @ 9:24PM
Dorv said...
Wow, this was pretty good (And, FWIW, I mean good for now, and not good for Season One).
I was pretty spoiled for this one... Not that the NBC Promo department didn't give away the big moment in the episode (At least for us J/D 'Shippers).
I love that the old J/D banter is back... Or, you know, kinda back. "You feel sorry for the guys at the Bee." Where is this relationship going? I trust that the spoilers are borne out, as are my hopes and dreams (Tim, you've got your Boomer, I've got my Donna... If this explains my, er... opinionated posts in other places, I've been told that I share some, er... personality traits with the character of one Joshua "Lemon" Lymon).
Other stuff? This war, while not "ripped from the headlines" is informed by current foriegn politics. Someone mentioned (not on this board, I don't think) that Leo sitting at that seat at the desk is a call-back to the conversation he had with POTUS several seasons back, where Leo said that he if could be anywhere in history, it would have been in the Oval right after the Gulf of Tonkin, so that he could change Johnson's mind. Good call-back (if we're remembering correctly). If this is the way that Wells and the writing crew would be going, I'm glad I don't have to watch this storyline play out next season (and probably season after season after...). The political dynamic is interesting, as well. The canidates have it right, this will change the landscape of the election (At least, you know, the issues, maybe not the results). I'd wish that there hadn't been two "Election Shifting" events (The reactor problem, and this).
I like Will and Kate. I've been on the fence about Kate for a while (Like the character, hate the Cuba episode... It was so bad). I've always liked Will. I can forgive him the VP's run at the Presidency, just because he was so good in the second half of season four, and the first parts of season five (And, obviously, for those that know me, its mainly because he was on Sports Night).
I like Alan Alda. I like Patricia Richardson. I like Ron Silver. I like (LOVE) Stephen Root. I love the RNC guy (From Starship Troopers.. He was great). I'm a Republican. This show has done nothing... NOTHING to get me interested in, his "canidacy," or, you know, anything about him. I don't understand how Alda gets nominated for his performance here (Again, I like him). I don't know if its the fault of the writers, or if its the incredibly bias I have to Josh, but I don't care. Still don't care.
I'm looking forward to the end of this show. I love watching shows wrap themselves up (Never watched Friends until the end, as an example). Being so invested in the characters, I can't wait to see what they'll do. Unfortunately, it will be impossible to wrap up every thread of every character (Elizabeth Moss wasn't in the "returning actors" press release, which leaving her and Nina S. out and bring back Gish I thought is odd, as Gish has done far fewer episodes). As much as I love Emily Proctor, I'm surprised they felt the need to bring back Ainsley Hayes (but, giddy about it anyways).
These episodes are a big thank you to the fans that have stuck with the show through the end.
Just saying...
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3-14-2006 @ 4:05PM
Karen said...
I loved Barttlet asking about jackets for the troops. He would never have sent Canadian soldiers to Afganistan with green fatigues.
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3-14-2006 @ 4:13PM
Anne Bockenkamp said...
What was the music at the beginning of The Cold episode? Great energy.
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3-16-2006 @ 8:47AM
Isabella McFarlin said...
Does anyone know if Zoey WILL return for any of the final episodes?
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