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Original poster

The West Wing

63 replies

Zettina · 26/06/2015 22:53

OK, so I'm really really late to this but have only just started watching. Took me a few episodes, but now I'm halfway through first series I am hooked. It's very good, no? Yay for the next load of episodes I have waiting !

OP posts:

Mrsfrumble · 30/06/2015 18:20

I did wonder why CJ's struggle to balance her work and personal life was portrayed so differently to the other main (male) characters. In the end she literally had to choose between a man and a job.

Agree about Toby and the house OnlyLovers. "Because you're too sad." [Sniffle]

tribpot · 30/06/2015 18:24

This is a good article about some of the issues but it contains spoilers for anyone on their first watch.

chipsandpeas · 30/06/2015 18:43

In the end she literally had to choose between a man and a job.

i took it she had to choose as he was a journalist so with her position at the time it could be a conflict of interest

nothing to do with feminist issues unless i picked it all up wrong

to me all of them had issues with a work/life balance, obv dont want to say to much for those who are watching it for the first time at the moment

candykane25 · 30/06/2015 19:00

My favourite WW line (by a male NASA guy) "i once loved a man. I never told him." Made me howl.

Mrsfrumble · 30/06/2015 19:10

Yes, I think it did show how working in that environment fucked up everyone's personal life, but no one other than CJ appaeared to panic at the thought of ending up alone (at least in those last few episodes). It seemed a bit cliched to emphasize that the woman in particular couldn't have it all, or cared more than the male characters.

SPOILER ALERT
The revelation about her and the former VP really pissed me off too! CJ would have had so much more integrity (and taste!); it just didn't seem true to the character at all.

Vivacia · 30/06/2015 19:20

There's that scene were Jed surveys the room and makes a patronising comment about every woman in sight.

tribpot · 30/06/2015 19:26

Yes, 'The Crackpots and These Women' - look at Mandy, she's arguing with Toby! Er, yes. That is in fact her job. I did find the story about Mrs Landingham's patriotism inspiring, though.

The VP revelation was post-Sorkin, in series 5, when they first started to mess about with the back stories. I seem to recall howls of protest at the time about how inauthentic it seemed.

marshmallowpies · 30/06/2015 19:27

Sorkin definitely has form for being an asshat - wasn't there some more recent controversy about how he treated female writers on a show (or was it women blogging about his show, or both?)

On the plus side though....the one off episode they did after 9/11 was exceptional. I kept asking DH 'how're they going to handle 9/11?' And he was all like 'wait and see'...No spoilers from me on that!

tribpot · 30/06/2015 19:39

Opinion is very divided on that episode, marshmallow. Some people love it but others really hate it. I thought it was excellent given the time in which it was written. I wonder though if there's a reason Sorkin comes back to the difficulty of writing just post 9/11 in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. It's a recurring plotline in that.

Plateofcrumbs · 30/06/2015 19:41

Another one here with a DC named after a West Wing character!

Mrsfrumble · 30/06/2015 21:29

When I was first pregnant with DC2 I had my heart set on Josiah / Jed for a boy thanks to WW. DH just rolled his eyes indulgently. We found out it was DD at 20 weeks, so I'll never know whether I could have swayed him!

Original poster

Zettina · 01/07/2015 20:09

I've stopped reading this thread in case of spoilers, but, I'm a bit confused by series 3.

SPOILER ALERT

It seems that Bartlet is accepting censure because he wants to protect Leo - seems like they don't want his alcoholism to come out. And Toby asks Josh if he is on the inside wrt to this. But, Leo already told the public about his alcohol and drug problems - so what's to hide? I don't get how that could be a motive for accepting censure?

OP posts:

tribpot · 01/07/2015 21:11

I think as it's your thread, Zettina, you can call for spoilers on stuff that happens after where you are in the series.

I think it was two things. The pills - this was far less 'acceptable' back in the day, and was not generally known (recall Josh specifically asked Leo what that senator (Claypool?) had on him that wasn't booze). The other is the rewriting of history that made Leo drunk whilst in charge of the campaign (or even as Chief of Staff?). Leo had previously claimed to have been sober for years, which this scene doesn't tally with.

It all seems a bit erratic and 'let's clear away this storyline now we've used it as a season cliffhanger'. It's never clarified whether Leo lied when he had previously claimed long term sobriety or what.

Original poster

Zettina · 01/07/2015 21:14

Thanks tribpot!

OP posts:

FranBrodie · 01/07/2015 21:23

Love TWW! We watch it 1-7 then start over again (skipping some here and there.) I wasn't so keen on season 7 though.

The miracle is, I don't think it has dated, apart from the technology. Even the clothes seem ok, but maybe I'm making allowances for Americans?

We also considered naming DD Claudia, but Jane rather than Jean

marshmallowpies · 01/07/2015 22:59

FranBrodie I like your thinking - Claudia Jane is a great name, but we'd already used Jane as a middle name for another DC...

candykane25 · 04/07/2015 22:44

Eek

Reached the last series. 2yrs working through the box set.

Vivacia · 06/07/2015 13:51

Two years?! You're not trying hard enough

Isthiscorrect · 06/07/2015 20:10

The Stackhous filibuster makes me cry every time. And and my love to Sam please. I'm not really fond of Toby, he always seems cross and miserable. CJ is awesome. Agreed the Vp thing was ridiculous.
Love love love TWW. Ds and I only started watching about 3 years ago and have seen it maybe 3 times. We have also watched Studio 60 and Madame Secretary, good but not as good.

Vivacia · 07/07/2015 06:32

I never really understood the Josh love.

woundbobbin · 07/07/2015 06:44

Am watching TWW for the 1st time on season six at the moment.
Love Toby want to be CJ although also loved ainsley Hayes and was disappointed when she disappeared!
I do occasionally call our front room the situation room and find myself muttering "what's next" at work sadly I've got no assistant because I want more than anything to shout "Margaret" through the door!
If I'm lucky enough to conceive soon I reckon I might go for a Toby or a Claudia Juno

bigkidsdidit · 07/07/2015 07:02

Where did Handsome Joe disappear to? I thought he was great

OnlyLovers · 07/07/2015 09:35

Me either, Vivacia.

Vivacia · 07/07/2015 21:57

I'd quite like to have a Mrs Landingham to holler at.

Lovely Mrs Landingham.

Zamboni · 07/07/2015 22:11

Love love love TWW. That and Battlestar Galactica are my most favourite box sets ever and I regularly rewatch them both.

Adore Josh and CJ. Too many favourite things to pick any out but regularly quote from it like other posters.

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