(S07E20) Hmmm...you would think they would leave a title like "The Last Hurrah" for the last episode of the series (it's not, the title of that episode is "Tomorrow"), but it fit this one. This was a very solid episode. I usually don't like the episodes that are almost all Vinick and new administration-oriented, but this one was great. Alan Alda is a flawless actor, and it's terrific to see what Vinick is going through now that he's lost. And another nice touch? Using the older characters of Amy and Ron to sort of bridge the old cast and the new cast. While Santos is busy as hell (he and the new First Lady have to decide what school their kids should go to, Houston or D.C.), Vinick finds himself with nothing to do.
It was also a really nice touch to leave Josh and Donna out of this episode. If they were in this episode, just one week after Josh goes bonkers and Sam tells him to go on a vacation with Donna, it would have been too soon. Leaving them out of this episode makes it feel real, and gives the plot some breathing room. Smart move.
What should Vinick do? Go on the boards of corporations? Join a law firm? Lecture at colleges? Actually, he's bored as hell and is thinking about running for Prez again in four years. His staff just looks at each other at this notion, thinking he's too old. But Santos calls. He wants to meet with Vinick about something.
C.J. shows the new First Lady around the White House (the Bartlets are in Brussels), and she's completely overwhelmed by the staff and all of the decisions she has to make.
Vinick waits in a room for Santos (nice work here by Alda - you can see the sadness on his face). Santos is running late and calls Vinick to reschedule. Vinick leaves the White House and goes to a Starbucks, where no one knows who he is, he just wants a large drink not a "Venti," and the guy behind the counter calls him "Ernie."
Mrs. Santos finds herself in the Oval Office to meet with the designer. The designer tells her that they don't have much money to redecorate. Only around $200,000. Mrs. Santos is stunned. The designer suggest a fundraising campaign to raise a couple of million "to do it right."
Santos and Vinick finally meet. Santos wants his input on how to select a VP. Santos is offering to put Vinick on the short list for VP. Vinick asks about his tax plan. Vinick thinks that Santos is doing it just to leak it to the press that he's so bipartisan, and then he's just going to announce Baker for VP (note: not sure here, but is that was Santos really was doing, and Vinick guessed it?). Vinick figures out that Santos and Bartlet were in cahoots over the foreign policy mix up in last week's episode.
Santos knows that Vinick is smart and honorable and has a great track record. He asks him to be Secretary of State. Santos staff is worried he's going to leak the info, while Vinick tells his staff he turned down the job. The staff tells Vinick they don't think he'd win in four years, because of his age. Vinick is worried about Santos' second choice for Secretary of State (Reynolds). His staff wants him to take the job.
Meanwhile, the Santos' visit a public D.C. school and like it.
Vinick comes to the White House again. Barry Goodwin secretly tells him to turn it down. Vinick says that Sec of State is way too important a position to use as a political tool. Santos says he agrees. He really does want Vinick for the job. Sincerely wants him for the job. Vinick tells him he's not going to help him get Baker voted in as VP or go to fundraisers for the Democratic party. Vinick says it's a crazy idea. He doesn't see how it's going to work. Santos shows him the daily briefing on China and Kazakhstan. Vinick tells him exactly what to do with the situation. With the Russians and the Chinese. The two stand and talk in depth about the situation.
Next week: Toby returns!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-30-2006 @ 9:20PM
Dorv said...
Brilliant!
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4-30-2006 @ 9:58PM
Jamie said...
I feared they would completely write Vinick off. I'm pleased to see not only that they didn't, but gave him a good parting episode. Too bad nostalgia for a departing show won't last long enough for Alda to win an Emmy for portraying Vinick. He deserves it.
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4-30-2006 @ 10:51PM
Norm said...
I thought that Santos was asking Vinick to consider the VP spot just to see if he would take it. He knew he was thinking about running again and wanted to see if he would jump at it to further his presidential aspirations. By not taking it Santos was convinced that he was perfect for the Sec. of State position. He didn't ask him to consider that, he offered him the job.
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4-30-2006 @ 10:55PM
Caitlin said...
I found this episode brilliant and I'm very happy that Vinick is back in the series for the last episodes. I just with that Vinick and Santos could team up as POTUS/VPOTUS. Go Vinick!
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4-30-2006 @ 10:57PM
Tammy said...
The only bad thing about these last episodes is the fact that it makes you want to have another season. I really want to see if the First Lady adjust to the new role and if Vinick and Santos can work together. Seeing old familiar faces have made you want more and soon it will be over.
I'm glad it's going out with us wanting more. It's just a shame we don't get quality tv shows like this very often.
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5-01-2006 @ 12:12AM
Randy said...
This is the episode I was afraid of seeing. It showed that this show still has a life. As with any good series, some changes need to be made from time to time, and Alda and Smits show that they could have added another dimension to an already great show. The final scene as the show fades out proves that these men would have been great in the White House--either one. Shame we will never get to see what could have been.
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5-01-2006 @ 1:45AM
Brian said...
Well, as #8 points out, at least the show is going out with us wanting more. The show really does have so much life left in it.
They could have kept around just enough of the old characters to make it feel like the old days (Josh, Donna, probably Amy) and breathe so much life into the show by having the new First Family and a new, different administration.
At least we've got our DVD's, that's what will keep me going after the show ends.
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5-01-2006 @ 9:24AM
nick said...
The episode went by way too fast. The bit in the coffee shop with Vinnick was a classic. Bringing back Patricia Richardson and Stephen Root to counsel Alda was an excellent touch. The indifference of the aide in the beginning and the line about whose going to tell him the election is over was a nice touch. The only thing that seems questionable is the short takes on some of the others. Mary-Louise Parker and Jeanne Garafolo seem like they're just doing drive-bys here. And if Rob Lowe is becoming the deputy chief of staff, where was he? He didn't go on vacation with Josh & Donna. Thought it was a nice touch that Tim Matheson directed. I always thought he was underused in the series and should have been on camera more.
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5-01-2006 @ 9:29AM
Anita said...
I will miss this show. Yes I agree, this show leaves me wanting more. It is so well written, that I wish real politicians could have said some of the lines from this show over the years. I would continue to be a loyal fan if they would follow through with the new administration in another season or seasons. I do want more West Wing!
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5-01-2006 @ 9:44AM
fran said...
How can they possibly want to take this show off the air? Last night's episode was brilliently written and performed and just proves that there is much life left in the writing and I will be very disappointed when the final episode airs.
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5-01-2006 @ 10:26AM
dee said...
They really need to rethink cancelling this show.
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5-01-2006 @ 10:42AM
Sue Johns, Spring Texas said...
Please, please... don't take this show off the air! The public needs the importance of shows like this. I've watched since the beginning, and I feel like I'm losing my family. NBC did not do this show justice! C'mon, NBC, you know you need to keep this show!
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5-01-2006 @ 10:57AM
Alison said...
I thought this episode was fantastic! The twist when Santos offered Vinnick sec of state was really good, especially as in the commericals they showed Santos offering Vinnick the VP. I thought that was very clever because I never heard anyone speculate about Santos offering sec of state. Loved it!
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5-01-2006 @ 11:02AM
Rob said...
I was torn on this episode. If the show was continuing, this was a GREAT episode, with humor, and great advancement of the newer characters.
But the show has only 3 episodes left. It's time to put on the breaks and give us what we deserve: Closure around the characters we know and love. Where were Toby, Charlie, Jed, Abby, Sam, Will, and more?
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5-01-2006 @ 12:03PM
Chris said...
Since the show is being canceled, would you guys like to see the characters return maybe in a series of tv movies or a miniseries?
Or would that cheapen it?
They could called it "The West Wing: Countdown to Kazakhistan". A 4-hour tv event!
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5-02-2006 @ 4:51PM
Matt said...
Am I the only one who thinks that the emotional tugging this entire past season is only a distraction from the poor writing? I would like to see stats on words spoken per episode. The West Wing used to be exciting, now it has four montages per episode. I get it! Santos is busy and Vinick has nothing to do. Where is the dialogue!
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5-03-2006 @ 12:34PM
P AYMOND said...
BRING BACK WEST WING!!! IT'S SMART TV. WE WANT TO LEARN SOMETHING. IT'S RIDICULOUS TO TAKE WHAT LITTLE QUALITY PROGRAMING WE HAVE AWAY. WHY IS THIS BEING DONE? WAS IT JUST TOOOO SUCCESSFUL? WHO WANTS TO WATCH BUBBLE HEADED 20 SOMETHING'S SHOWS WITH CANNED LAUGHS AND EMPTY SITUATIONS. SUCH A LOSS FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.
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5-04-2006 @ 9:39AM
Norma said...
This is one of the few shows I turn my TV on for. Please don't take it off the air.
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5-04-2006 @ 11:01AM
Debra said...
While I sat watching this episode of West Wing, I was honestly overcome with the feeling that this can't be the end. There is still so much to do. Our country is still so screwed up!
I can't see why NBC cannot at least try to carry on with Santos and Vinnick. The show would be awesome because it would and could show the pull of Party for Vinnick over his feeling of doing the right thing for HIS President, a President from another Party.
I'd love to see how a young First Lady handles all the problems of the day, ala' Jackie Kennedy with children, Carolyn and John Kennedy and even Rosalyn Carter trying to raise Amy Carter with the daily "Hostage Day 246" etc. etc. happening every day.
There are just so many angles this new West Wing could take. If there are 50 Law and Order Shows, which I watch, why can't this be a NEW West Wing?
"West Wing: The Santos Years" sounds wounderful!
We could see the transition develop more fully. See all the old characters blending with the new. It would be wonderful seeing a President of Latino decent do a good job in the Presidency. It's all so new!
It would be such a great show.....
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5-06-2006 @ 8:44AM
Michael Rubin said...
Having someone from the other party on the Cabinet is not without precedent. William Cohen, a Republican, served as Secretary of Defense for President Clinton's second term.
Don't get me wrong. I think the idea of Vinick as Secretary of State is *fantastic* (Hawkeye as a diplomat!). But it's not completely original.
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