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BartlettNet - The West Wing Appreciation Society - May Contain Spoilers!

442 replies

CaveMum · 19/05/2011 13:28

A thread for the discussion of West Wing - the best tv show ever made!

If you haven't seen all 7 Seasons be aware that this thread may contain spoilers!

OP posts:
Bumperlicioso · 11/06/2011 19:04

Happy to do a book swap when mine comes and I've gorged myself on it! I got the unofficial one.

changeforthebetter · 11/06/2011 19:13

I was a bit puzzled by Will's shift from idealist (there are worse things than being dead in this district) to Bingo's Boy Friday with no morals (Dotty Baker's MH issues) back to idealist - unseating Heffinger (sp?) in Oregon. The actor sounds nice though - sent a resume to WW when RL left saying he was a cheaper less attractive version of RL which makes me like him but not fancy him sorry JM

Grandhighpoohba · 11/06/2011 21:01

I think Will was an idealist who lost sight of his principles in the heat of a campaign. Much like Josh did on several occasions.

fiderer · 12/06/2011 08:30

If Russell had been in any way presidential material it would have been more believable. Bingo Bob though?
Even with Will's frustration at the mundane message calenders and being 2nd fiddle to Toby - it's still a hell of a gig (in WW parlance) to be Deputy Communications Director and write speeches for the president.
Agree that he got in and got so involved he couldn't or didn't want to get out.

Clunky still, why didn't he (as would anyone with any interest in the Washington playground) know that Russell was chosen because the Republicans wanted a lightweight?

Acekicker · 12/06/2011 09:03

I think the guy who plays Will is one of Sorkin's 'go to guys' when he writes shows isn't he, he's been in an awful lot of them I seem to have read somewhere.

I didn't like the way he seemed to sacrifice his principles in order to back Bingo Bob at all, it also seemed odd the way he was still kind of 'inner circle' even during the campaign.

fiderer · 15/06/2011 10:38

Season 5 "Slow News Day"

CJ
No news is very, very bad news. If we're not running offense, we're
running defense. And if we're playing defense, then ... there's some
clever sports analogy that explains what happens then.
JOSH
We're screwed.
CJ
That'll do.
JOSH
I thought we were proposing that streamlining of federal adoption law?
CJ
DPC says it's not ready, OMB says it's not revenue neutral and I'm
declaring a war on all acronyms.
JOSH
There's gotta be something happening somewhere. It's a big government.
CJ
That time I accused the Speaker of welshing on committee assignments and
had to apologize to the Welsh people... slow news day.

C+P from a transcript site

I only got the Welsh thing last night and I don't know how many times I've watched all 7 seasons.

cjbartlett · 15/06/2011 10:41

I'm just watching the end of season six for the first time
so it was cj, not toby?

cjbartlett · 15/06/2011 11:47

I'm also not buying Leo going for vp after he said he'd already found his man

Deliaskis · 15/06/2011 13:44

cj I am still not entirely sure on the who did it thing. See how it plays out in season 7, there are some clues, but it's still quite unresolved I think by the end, or maybe I read too much into things.

D

Paschaelina · 15/06/2011 13:46

I think its very open too. I'm not really sure what they intended us to think about Toby, after at least 3 reruns.

octopusinabox · 15/06/2011 18:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bumperlicioso · 15/06/2011 19:45

Isn't it 'to welch'?

Acekicker · 15/06/2011 20:39

I've just started watching them again .. I actually get the first episode now (mostly). First time round I had no idea what was going on.

We only started watching at s2 so I spent the first episode (when it's batshit crazy at the hospital) utterly mystified! I'd heard such good things about s1 that I'd decided we had to watch it and I don't think I could get s1 on video at the time so I just started right in with s2!

TinyPawz · 15/06/2011 22:56

Even after watching WW many many times I still don't think it was Toby. I reckon it was Leo.

changeforthebetter · 16/06/2011 08:59

It was CJ who asked Toby if his astronaut brother, David, had ever mentioned "another kind of shuttle". So I think she is culpable (even though I love CJ with all my heart in a wish-she-was-my-big-sister way Grin) and Toby defended her. What I can't place is when she asked Leo and the President "are we weaponising space?". Was that before or after her question to them?

fiderer · 16/06/2011 11:24

I think CJ would have owned up if she had leaked it - she was always straight and outspoken about what she thought, even if it went against what the others wanted or what was strategically/politically important.

Richard Schiff said (I think) that he thought Toby was covering for someone but that may have been wishful thinking on his part.
I vote Toby, guilty as charged.

NormanTebbit · 16/06/2011 11:42

I think it was totally out of character for Toby - but they sort of gave him a motivation that he felt he was morally superior to Bartlett, he had had a tough time with the death of his brother, disintegration of the team, fight with Josh, pressure of briefings etc

I suppose they felt they couldn't end the series with everyone snogging/holding hands.

I thought Leo was a fascinating character too. Very hawkish, sinister sometimes. I never really understood the whole fallout over Israel which caused POTUS to fire him. But I think I remember earlier on Leo was made a 'friend of Israel,' - did I imagine that?

megcleary · 16/06/2011 12:41

You see I thought it was the President, so that he could get the shuttle up there and Toby took the blame to cover it.

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 16/06/2011 12:53

God, I can't remember this! Must watch the entire series again.

NormanTebbit · 16/06/2011 12:54

but POTUS struggled to pardon hi, do you remember the bollocking Toby got when he confessed? I would have been a juddering heap on the floor. Surely if set up by Bartlett, he would have pardoned him immediately instead of swithering

tribpot · 16/06/2011 13:02

Norman, Leo did get made a Friend of Israel, yes. And then the ambassador's plane was shot down on his way home. The fall-out with POTUS was definitely out of character, and surely one of the more unbelievable plotlines had to be Leo having a massive heart attack at Camp David and no-one notices for hours.

NormanTebbit · 16/06/2011 13:21

Yes what happened to the much vaunted secret service agents? They would be watching him all the time that was all very strange. I can'y imagine the US committing themselves like that and likewise POTUS' adventure in Kazahkstan (?) I mean, who the hell thought that was a good idea?

changeforthebetter · 16/06/2011 15:38

Yes! Yes! Yes! I was watching a little season 2 last night (it's my nightcap Blush) "17 People" and definitely saw a sinister aspect in Leo. I think he is generally one of the good guys but he is utterly ruthless.

ITA re Leo going missing at Camp David btw.

Hassled · 16/06/2011 17:48

My fellow WingNutters!
Do you remember there was a TV quiz about the West Wing - David Tennant was a panellist? I've tracked down this link about it. I will give £1 million to the person who can find me a link to a recording. Or can anyone else remember it? I remember much talk about WG Snuffy Walden, but that's it.

Bumperlicioso · 16/06/2011 17:51

My west wing book came today :)