Regular readers of my
West Wing reviews know that I haven't been a fan of the show the past two years. Oh, it has had a certain
quality, but it's nowhere near the level that we saw in the first four seasons, when Aaron Sorkin was in charge. But I
gotta tell ya: if the remaining episodes continue the quality we've seen this season, then at the end of the year I'm
not only going to name this show Comeback of the Year, it's going on my Top 10 list.The episode opens with not only Vinick's campaign in disarray (Patricia Richardson has quit, Santos has caught up and/or gone ahead in some states), but his hand has been practically broken by shaking so many hands. At least I think that's what it is; I could have sworn I saw a burn mark or something on his hand. Toby (Richard Schiff, yeah!) calls Josh and tells him to keep his eye on the ball and get Santos to California so he can capitalize on the nuclear reactor fiasco. (A good idea, til Vinick goes to California too, tours the reactor and holds a three hour press conference answering questions from reporters.)
But the big wham-o of a story tonight concerns Santos' briefcase. He accidentally leaves it behind in Philadelphia, where it is found and opened by Bruno. Bruno not only finds Santos journal and notes (saying he doesn't like the VP, isn't sure about Leo being on the ticket, etc), he finds monthly checks made out to a Anita Morales. Who is she? Bruno does some digging and finds out she worked for Santos 9 years ago, and has a young son. Could Santos be the father?
Bruno takes the info and goes to Vinick. Vinick doesn't want to have anything to do with it and doesn't want to know what's in the briefcase...but Bruno tells him anyway. Vinick is torn. Should he use the info against Santos? Should he tell Santos about it, and tell him to come clean with the voters (because it's better to lose an election than have this scandal take up all of his time if he's fighting a war)? Vinick tells Bruno to do nothing with it for now, just hold on to it until he thinks of what to do.
I like how the writers and Alda are playing this. When the stuff about the briefcase came up, I said to myself "a ha, that's how they're going to turn Vinick sleazy and have us root for Santos to win." But they've handled it differently. He's certainly not an angel, because he sees how this could help him win, but he also genuinely wants to do what's right for the voters and the country.
Vincik tells the Santos campaign that he wants to meet privately with Santos for five minutes, about a personal matter. Josh calls Bruno and wants to know what it's about, and Bruno agrees that this meeting is a bad idea. But Vinick meets with Santos and gives him the briefcase. Santos wants to know if he looked inside. He said he didn't but Bruno did. They both know what they are talking about.,
Santos says that the monthly checks to Anita Morales are actually for his brother, who skipped out on her and the kid. It looks like Vinick doesn't believe him. Santos takes the briefcase and leaves.
Less than two weeks tll the election, and previews show an intense series of events happening as we approach the series finale: Amy Gardner returns, as do John Hoynes, Danny Concannon, Joey Lucas, and Ainsley Hayes. Oh yeah, and as the election comes closer and we get to that sad moment when Leo dies, Sam Seaborn returns, as he puts it, "for the President." Oh, this is getting good.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-19-2006 @ 9:56PM
Porchland said...
Danny Concannon (Timothy Busfield) hasn't gone anywhere. He was never a REGULAR regular, and he's been on at least one episode that I recall already this season.
I was very glad to see that he's going to be involved with "Studio 60" as an actor and a director.
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3-19-2006 @ 11:47PM
Don P. said...
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.
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3-20-2006 @ 12:11AM
Chris said...
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.
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3-20-2006 @ 3:45AM
Dorv said...
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 ;)
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3-20-2006 @ 11:06AM
Hink2000 said...
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.
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3-20-2006 @ 11:11AM
Hink2000 said...
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.
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3-20-2006 @ 12:21PM
Tool said...
This was an excellent episode. Classic West Wing.
Thanks writers!!!
P.S. This episode repeats tonight (Monday) on Bravo at 7 PM (EST)
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3-20-2006 @ 12:25PM
Brent McKee said...
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).
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3-20-2006 @ 8:15PM
liz said...
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 season’s shows, for the most part, have been sharply and intelligently written. The farewell to Leo will be one to remember.
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3-20-2006 @ 8:24PM
Dorv said...
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 :(
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4-01-2006 @ 11:17PM
Eileen said...
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!
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