Genuine West Wing dilemma ... (series 7 if spoiler alert is needed!)

[AtiaoftheJulii]

Perhaps I should be asking this in teenagers or similar, but I feel it might get answered by more sympathetic people here

Have been watching TWW with dd, now 13. We've just started series 7, the Santos-McGarry campaign is well underway, and obviously we've been watching it for months, she's very invested, etc. Problem is that she doesn't know that John Spencer/Leo dies, and I've started worrying about how upset she's going to be!

She was reduced to a sobbing red-faced swollen-eyed wreck for about an hour by the end of How I Met Your Mother, and I'm starting to fret ...

Do you think I should try to introduce the idea that John Spencer isn't still alive now, so at least she knows he's died at some point? Argh. Can't believe I'm worrying about something that happened ten years ago!

Lucky you that your d is watching it, mine saunters by sometimes when I'm on (another) re-watch and only ever asks if CJ is in the scene. Which is good I suppose but as good as it gets

It's very emotional, the whole build-up, the election, then Leo. Esp watching it for the first time but even after several re-watches. If your d was so upset by the HIMYM, I'd warn her tbh.

Gosh yes. I would warn her.

Personally I'd say let her experience it for real - it's such a huge moment in that series and it's so incredibly well handled given they had to write the episode suddenly.

I'm a great believer that film, TV, literature just like things like pets and grandparents are part of how we learn to handle death and grief. I still remember sobbing myself to sleep after Bruno's dad died in Fame, I was probably around 7 or 8, for a teenager I'd say it's fine.