I’ve just rewatched The West Wing Two Cathedrals. Please tell me there’s other tv shows that come close to this that I just haven’t seen yet.

[Woodfordhound]

For me this has got to be one of the greatest episodes of one of the greatest shows ever made. Alongside early ER, nothing else has yet come close to blowing me away like the acting and writing esp in this episode. Please tell me what you all found that filled the gap left by such tv genius. I probably watch TWW once every couple of years but I need something new to raise my emotions. Something to make me cry and marvel at the same time. Thank you.

[Hassled]

No, I don't think there ever has been anything as good as that. Sorry. The only series which for me has come close in the "OMFG that was amazing" stakes is Breaking Bad.
Homeland is a great watch and I'm more than a tad obsessed but it just doesn't come close to the quality of the acting and writing of the West Wing.

[TheHodgeoftheHedge]

I have found myself rewatching The West Wing for easily the 10th time recently and apart from the technology, it hasn't aged a day. I admire and enjoy it and learn or spot something more every single time.
It's just magnificent. And that episode is just superlative.
I am always looking for something new that will live up to it, so I'm hoping someone will come along on here to enlighten us ;)

[Cookiefiend]

I don't think anything will ever measure up. It is worth watching news room and studio 60 for a bit of a sorkin fix. Not as good, but worth watching if you haven't.

[Fluffiest]

Nope sorry. I can't think of anything else that comes close.

Does anyone else ever imagine Bartlet running against Trump and the quips the guys would be making on the campaign trail?

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

No, I haven’t found anything that comes close. Sorry.

[Danglingmod]

Oh my. One of the best episodes of the best television series ever made.

No, nothing comes close, but The Wire - though very different - is my closest, for both intelligence and emotional sweep.

[Trinity101]

Nope definitely nothing else

[rhnireland]

Nothing is quite as good but Justified and Friday Night Lights have amazing writing and acting in it.

But nothing will ever be better then The West Wing.

[Woodfordhound]

Thanks all. Sadly, I thought as much. I now have Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms going round my head. It just doesn’t seem to age. I can’t wait for my preteen to be old enough to watch it. When I think about what’s actually going on in the White House at the minute it makes it all the more poignant.

[Sillysausage123]

Another vote for The Wire.
If you haven't seen it give it a go. It takes a bit of getting into and I had to have subtitles on to understand what was going on but after one season I got used to the language and what they were on about.

[MrFMercury]

It was the first episode of West Wing I ever saw and unsurprisingly I was instantly hooked and remain so all these years later.
I'm sorry to say I've not found anything close either although I've enjoyed endless tv shows since nothing has come close to being on that level.
Sigh.

[Hassled]

I'm going through all WW for the second time with my DC4 at the moment (he's 15), having enjoyed introducing it to all of the older ones - it really is a wonderful feeling when you know that your DC has fallen in love with it just as you did.
The WW Weekly podcasts are well worth a listen. Some of the podcast episodes are longer than the episodes they're dissecting - that's how obsessed they are. And some great special guests - I especially enjoyed Ron Butterfield.

[trilbydoll]

The Wire is awesome overall but definitely has highs and lows, it isn't consistent like WW.

Studio 60 on the sunset strip is a very easy watch if you like AS writing.

[TheHodgeoftheHedge]

I do highly recommend Justified. Very different but I love it too.

I have found rewatching the West Wing since the Trump era equally comforting and depressing. I want Bartlett in charge!!!

[Woodfordhound]

Thanks. I’ll check out The Wire. I have watched the first couple of episodes of Sunset Strip and I enjoyed it but didn’t let myself get into it too much as I knew it wasn’t going to continue.

[Mrsdoubleskulls]

I regularly rewatch The West Wing. My all-time favourite episode is “In Excelsis Deo”. The Toby story line. Probably because my favourite Christmas song is “Little Drummer Boy”.

But in reply, other than Breaking Bad, I can’t think of another show that consistently delivers such exciting drama. (Comedy might be a different answer).

[InDubiousBattle]

I haven't found anything yet i'm afraid. I reckon I've watched The West Wing in its entirety three times and I'll still sit down and watch an episode if it's on. Agree with pp, The Wire whilst completely different is the only thing that's come close to the quality of writing and depth of story line and character s.

[Woodfordhound]

Oh is that the one where Mrs Landingham talks about ‘missing her boys’? Yes, I like that one too. I think they did all their Christmas episodes well. Christmas tv episodes are traditionally predicable and formulaic and safe but I like the WW ones esp the one with Josh and his counselling session.

[calzone]

Why haven’t I seen The West Wing?

[mommybunny]

I have found my people. I’ve been watching WW with DD10 and DS12 and they’re hooked. We just watched The Dogs of War (S5 ep2) tonight. I’m American and it has been a wonderful opportunity to expose them to the American system of government. DD and I use our school runs to get her questions answered and find out what she thinks about certain things. It’s wonderful.

Sorry OP you won’t find anything to top Two Cathedrals- a TV show that gives its audience so much credit for intelligence that it has its protagonist shouting at God in Latin won’t be a dime a dozen. But good luck trying.

[ValleyClouds]

I adore The West Wing but it tailed off for me around Season 5, I won't say why in case you aren't there yet as spoilers.

As dramas go in terms of rankings for me it's :

The Wire
Breaking Bad
Game Of Thrones
West Wing
Mad Men

The Wire has a dud last season and both it and Breaking Bad are hard to get into but so worth it.

I have to give a shout out to brand new Netflix drama Dark (German Lang) just one series so far but the best thing I've seen in a LONG time, just remember if you try watching it it automatically goes to a dubbed version and it works far better in German with English subtitles

The West Wing was really ahead of its time in many ways, and at the same time a dying breed a network like NBC wouldn't make it now, it would be Netflix or HBO because of it not being attractive to ad time buyers it was considered too high brow

[Danglingmod]

God, yes, WW even makes Dire Straits cool.

In Excelsis Deo is amazing.

The podcasts are definitely worth a listen if you've not discovered them (daft ads notwithstanding).

[Piffpaffpoff]

Is the west wing in any streaming services in the uk at the mo? I know it’s on Sky Atlantic during the day but it’s not in the box sets. Only available for purchase in Amazon. I’ve got the DVDs but it’s so much easier on the iPad!

[Hassled]

If you have Brothers in Arms stuck in your head, find the Radio 4 podcast of the series Soul Music for that song. It covers its use in the WW. Also you will cry - but it's still well worth a listen.

[ValleyClouds]

piff

I'm having the same problem I spotted it yesterday on Atlantic thought, I'd love to watch that again and went to download - not there.

My DM borrowed my box set and then lent it out, never to be seen again