Who saw the first West Wing of series 7 (E4 tonight)?

[Ellbell]

We were channel-hopping and hit on it completely by accident.

Thought CJ looked a bit rough (... well, compared to her usual standards, anyway). Very sad watching Leo. DH wondered if the storyline had been 'tweaked' to prepare for his exit, but I think that this episode was shown in the US before he died, wasn't it?

Anyway... hope someone else (Lilibet? Anyone?) saw it, or I'll be talking to myself here...

[charmkin]

How is Leo written out then?

[saltire]

Is that the same series that is on More 4 at the moment then, i'm all confused

[Ellbell]

I'm confused too... I thought that they were showing series 6 on More4 (which I've already seen on DVD, because I couldn't wait!). But last night it was definitely the first episode of series 7. I don't know if they are showing the whole series now, or whether they just showed that first one to whet people's appetites (like they needed whetting!?).

Charmkin... in this first episode it was all about Santos not really trusting Leo and Leo's popularity ratings being much lower than Santos's. The press were raking up his alcoholism and also questioning his health (appropriately enough ) in order to suggest that he wasn't really up to the job. You got the sense that that was what Santos thought too. But at the end of the episode they seemed to 'bond'. So there are 'ways out' there, iykwim, but nothing certain at the moment. I hope they are going to show the rest of the series.

Oh, and there was an interesting little snippet of 'three years later' in the 'before the credits' section...

[Ellbell]

Also Joey Lucas is back, so I reckon there's going to be a bit of an on-going 'Josh's love life' sub-plot!!!!

[ladymuck]

Assume that the snippet in the future gives away the result of the election (otherwise why is Josh there?).

Have to say that I wasn't that taken with it. I have loved most of the previous series but this episode just didn't grab me. I think that one of the strengths of the previous series has been the interaction and dialogue between the characters. Not sure that Santos really can take Bartlett's place in that respect.

[Ellbell]

Hmmm... hadn't thought of that LM. But have always been convinced that Vinick will win the election...

[lahdeedah]

I caught the repeat of this last night. They are definitely showing the whole series - they have just run it back to back with series 6.

I wondered as well about the whole Leo thing - I wonder how he will be written out. Also the bit with Josh at the beginning - it wasn't explicit that "here comes the new Chief of Staff" - they just say "here he is..." so it it still leaves it open for Vinick(sp?) to be the Pres - which I'm pretty sure he will be, surely?? They could be referring to Josh now having high rank in the Democrat party or some such other important role - considering all the others seem to have left politics by then.

But the thing bugging me most is - will we ever get closure on the Josh/Donna relationship??? surely they must get it together eventually..... please???

[ladymuck]

But wouldn't Josh have just been standing around with the others at the start?

Have to say that given all of series 6 was based on the nominations it will be a bit tiresome if all of this series is based on the elections. I think that you need to have some real dilemnas to get your teeth into - campaign issues just get a bit too dull imo.

[prettybird]

About a month or so ago, they still hadn't filmed the final episdoe - apparently even the scriptwriters were arguing over who should win the election.

They've just run series 7 straigt on from Series 6. Series 7 hasn't even finished showing on Amrican TV yet.

Think that Josh running up like that can be "explained" either way - for example he could ow be wroking as a pecial assistant to Bartlett and had been waiting outside so as to let him know when POTUS arrived.

[prettybird]

Found \link{http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2006/01/23/ap2467679.html\this} which says that the will find out in April who wins the presidency - and that they had quite a debate.

They've apparently worked Leo's death in to the storyline.

[saltire]

TBH it's no wonder that ratings dropped so much in the US. All that the politicians seem to dois have votse, and wait for results - i.e mid terms, half terms, etc, so if the Americans are getting real "elections" on their news shows, and then all the pretend stuff on the West Wing, no wonder they got bored.
I thought the last series was starting to get a bit boring, but that could be because lots of the political stuff i just didn't get.
Mind you, i do like Jimmy smits!

[prettybird]

Even though it isn't as good as it was in the early series, it is still one of the best things on TV at the moment

Often feel sorry for America (and the world) that Bartlett, or a president like that is purely fictional. I also wonder how West Wing could have got the ratings that it got - and still re-elected Bush (or should I just say, "elected" Bush, as he didn't actually win the vote first time around )

[ladymuck]

Probably because there was no way that the democratic candidate was going to live up to Martin Sheen!

[lahdeedah]

But it was a very close race. Kerry was very popular on the East and West coasts - the more cosmopolitan, liberal parts of the US - and probably where the majority of West Wing viewers reside!

I agree though it is a fantasy world - there's no way in real life you would see an election between candidates like Santos and Vinick - Vinick has to be the least conservative Republican ever!

we can but dream.....