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West Wing Series 7

330 replies

lilibet · 27/03/2006 12:52

So who's watching and and what do you think?

I'm a bit disappointed, there isn't enough White House stuff and too much on the campaign trail. I think that although at the end of the last season I liked both Santos and Vinnick, there is too much of them so far in this.

Vinnick has started being painted as a bit of a baddie after last weeks episode, but I don't feel that bothered about the election as I know that I won't be seeing the winner in the White House.

Santos new advisor Lou is just a watered down Amy, and I don't feel that involved with any of the campaign staff.

What about the leak? Where are Leo, Jed, Charlie, CJ and the rest?

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lilibet · 03/07/2006 16:50

From Television Without Pity

This would be a good time to go to commercial, which would give you all the chance to run for your Latin dictionaries. You say you don't have one? And you call yourselves geeks. Well, there's no commercial anyway, so let me help you out. Here's the official translation provided. Gratias tibi ago, domine means "I give thanks to you, O Lord." The other Latin sentences can be rendered as follows: "Am I really to believe that these are the acts of a loving God? A just God? A wise God? To hell with your punishments. I was your servant here on Earth. And I spread your word and I did your work. To hell with your punishments. To hell with you." Probably a smart move to have Bartlet say it in Latin; imagine the increased flak from various religious zealots if he'd said it in English. One MBTV user posted an alternate translation for Officium perfeci: "I have finished my service," or possibly even "I have ended my allegiance [to You]." In so many ways and for so many reasons, the choice to use Latin here was brilliant, not just because I'm a big geek who loves Latin, but also because it offers the potential for varying translations, because it evokes Jed's history as someone who was studying to be a priest, because it points to the strength of the foundation of his faith, and because it shows so much respect for the audience's intelligence level. It's a courageous and appropriate artistic choice, like the previous episode's twenty-second shot of Leo's silent reaction to the news of Mrs. Landingham's death. Okay, I'll stop with the Latin already

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Ellbell · 03/07/2006 20:28

Oh good... that saved me from watching with my Latin dictionary with my finger on the pause button! (I do have a Latin dictionary, though... a big one!)

tribpot · 04/07/2006 17:55

Anyone see the trailer on More4 today? If not, should I post or would that be a spoiler? Not sure it can really be a spoiler if anyone else could have seen it too

Ellbell · 04/07/2006 22:26

Have just watched Two Cathedrals. Bloody hell it was good!

Tribpot, haven't seen the trailer, but you're right, anyone could have, so I don't see why you shouldn't post about it.

tribpot · 05/07/2006 19:33

Okay, will rewatch the trailer (sad but true) but the gist is:

Josh walks into a room full of lawyerly types. One stands up and looks around. He says "oh thank god, I thought you would never call". It is Sam, huzzah! Obv a play on the scene where Josh recruits Sam originally.

CJ and Helen Santos are meeting the domestic staff of the White House. Helen says "we can't possibly need all these people". CJ replies "okay, you tell me which ones you want to let go".

Second bit not as exciting as the first, obviously! This is what makes me think, though, it's a trailer for the final ep as I can't see the staff all getting together to greet Helen until she comes to live in the White House.

Ellbell · 05/07/2006 21:05

Sam...! Hooray! Maybe he is going to come and save Toby (from himself, mainly). If so, I shall be forced to refer you to my post of Tuesday 4th April at 16.55 on this very thread, with just a teeny gloat!

Ah, tribpot, you've set my mind a-rolling now (and I won't be able to watch it till Sunday).

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lilibet · 06/07/2006 08:08

I want Sam to be Deputy, then Josh can be Chief of Staff

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Ellbell · 06/07/2006 09:59

And then the series will end

tribpot · 06/07/2006 10:44

Slightly longer trailer was on yesterday. Sam and Josh are talking outside, Sam said "it's a hell of a thing you've done" and Josh said "this was the easy bit, it's what you make of it that's important". Then - huzzah! - Nancy McNally is talking to the pres, to say that Santos had been talking on the phone to the President of China (eh?) and CJ adds "and you're not going to like what he said". CJ and Josh then have a bit of a barney about this as well, with CJ basically telling Josh to tell Santos to wind his neck in.

So this makes me think the trailer is for this week after all.

Ellbell · 06/07/2006 13:59

Nancy! Yay! They are rolling out all the old faithfuls for the last few episodes. I just need Sam to get Toby out of having to go to prison, oh and for Fitz to come back from the dead, and my joy will know no bounds.

Thanks for the updates, tribpot.

tribpot · 06/07/2006 14:34

Given there's not much chance of Fitz (or Mrs Landingham) reappearing, I'd like to see:

  • Bonnie and Ginger
  • Ainsley
  • Ed and Larry, although I think they were in not long ago
  • Zoey (what is going on with Charlie?)
  • Will's sister (where did she go?)

Any more old favourites?

Ellbell · 06/07/2006 16:05

Mallory - to flirt with Sam

prettybird · 06/07/2006 16:08

How many more episodes are there?

tribpot · 06/07/2006 17:10

I assume we'll be seeing Mallory in this ep, for the funeral

I think there are 3 or so eps to go?

tribpot · 06/07/2006 17:15

Sorry, just checked IMDB and there are five eps to go. Mallory is in this week's ep, Requiem. The stuff with China is in the episode after, Sam isn't in this week apparently, although it seems extremely unlikely that he wouldn't come to Leo's funeral (or that Rob Lowe wouldn't want to honour John Spencer).

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lilibet · 07/07/2006 08:18

Has Mallory had a baby or have I dreamt that one?

As long as they don't bring Mandy back!

and what about a reappearance of Joe Thingy, played by Matthew Perry?

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lilibet · 08/07/2006 18:07

Has everyone watched it yet?

I won't say anything to spoil it but can I jsut say that I think CJ and Danny are a great couple!!

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Ellbell · 09/07/2006 00:02

Hi, I'm back... did you miss me?

Haven't seen it yet, so shhhhhhh. Dh has taped it, but says it's boring. Hmmmm, think I'll be the judge of that!

I thought Mallory had got married (not to Sam!), but I'm not sure about a baby.

Will check in when I've seen this week's offering.

Ellbell · 10/07/2006 13:16

Have seen it now. Not at all boring! Thought the Charlie/Toby moment in the church was touching. (Charlie should, of course, be beatified or canonised or whatever it is.)

Nice to see Ainslie and Amy (I suppose - but I don't like her character much) back, but am finding the total absence of Zoey (Can that spelling really be right? Surely a Nobel laureate like Bartlet would be able to cope with a diaeresis...) and the lack of any resolution to her relationship with Charlie implausible.

I agree with Lilibet that CJ and Danny are lovely together. Shame the old simpering Donna seems to have returned. I was so impressed that she seemed so in control before...

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lilibet · 11/07/2006 08:21

The thing that got me was the frequent commetn that the funeral was a 'celebration', sorry but it didin't look very celebratory to me. It looked like the most formal catholic service.

Did you notice that the pall bearers couldn't carry the coffin properley becase of the difference in height between Jed adn Matt?

Anyhow I'm off to France tomorrow, my friend is taping them for me as we are only back late onthe th so I'm looking forward to a bumper watching session that weekend

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tribpot · 11/07/2006 08:33

Agree with you about the spelling of Zoey, Ellbell. Surely a classic scholar like the Pres knows how it's meant to be spelt, but anyway.

Again from my perspective, another disappointing episode. Again you felt the writers knew nothing about Leo and hence why nothing was mentioned of his many accomplishments, his military service, etc. For fun I rewatched "In This White House", the episode where Ainsley first appears and honestly, every line is a classic, every scene is brilliantly thought-out. Out of many my fave quote from this ep is:

LEO: Where are you going?
AINSLEY: I'm not going anywhere, I'm standing up which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilised society.
LEO: Well you go, girl.

All the business with Danny & CJ and Josh & Donna, it was like some kind of French farce, ooh la la, who is in which bed etc.

Btw, I think Mallory did have a baby, but in the (now) traditional WW way where it's mentioned once and then never seen or heard from again.

I have a theory about the new V-P, I wonder if Santos is going to ask Vinick? And whether that's even possible?

sfxmum · 11/07/2006 08:47

yes yes please Vinick you got to love him despite his traditinal right wing ideas the man has honourclearly fictional, pretty sure its possible and let the battle start with the Hill

Ellbell · 11/07/2006 23:01

lilibet... I thought the 'celebration' thing was meant to be ironic. Or, at least, I certainly got the impression that Santos didn't believe it for a minute. I thought that formality of the ceremony was rather splendid - loved it when the priest raised his arms at the end in his white robes... like a giant white dove, I thought!

tribpot... I sort of agree about the lack of any real reference to Leo's life, although the burial (which we didn't see) was at Arlington... Isn't that a military cemetery?

That exchange between Leo and Ainslie is just superb.

Ellbell · 14/07/2006 23:10

So, tribpot (since lilibet is away...). Have you seen this week's episode? It had some very good moments for me (especially Sam). Won't say any more till I know you've seen it.

(By the way, have just seen on an old-but-resurrected thread that you are in Leeds, so we are almost neighbours... sort of!)

tribpot · 15/07/2006 12:57

Yep, watched it this morning after disgraceful trip to the pub last night Have never been out later than 9 since ds was born and at 5:30 this morning I knew why

Stuff with Sam was quite good wasn't it - would be funny if the girl he is marrying is Laurie/Lori (the prostitute from Series 1 aka the boss from House). Although no mention of Leo/why Sam wasn't at Leo's funeral?

Glad that Josh and Donna are moving forward, and even more glad that Will and Kate are nowhere to be seen!

Can't work out if Helen's job offer is a good one for Donna, better than being at a lower seat at the big table?

Whereabouts are you, Ellbell?

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