Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Telly addicts

Related: Film discussion forum.

Original poster

I have made the terrible mistake of starting to watch The West Wing again

288 replies

BlueRaincoat1 · 07/10/2022 02:05

... on Prime.

Sigh. I have watched it all before, but not in years. Maybe 10 years. I love it so much. I'll never get to bed at a reasonable hour again 😫So many episodes!

What are your favourite scenes? Best episodes? It's so brilliant, every time.

OP posts:
tigger1001 · 07/10/2022 18:45

Laughingravy · 07/10/2022 17:00

I so enjoyed it when first broadcast. The scene that comes straight to mind is when Donna calls her old school teacher on the day of her retirement to offer congratulations. I forget why but she calls her from the Oval Office. The President is there and quietly encourages Donna to tell her old teacher where she is calling from.

Was it that she retired?

Original poster
BlueRaincoat1 · 07/10/2022 18:50

Laughingravy · 07/10/2022 17:00

I so enjoyed it when first broadcast. The scene that comes straight to mind is when Donna calls her old school teacher on the day of her retirement to offer congratulations. I forget why but she calls her from the Oval Office. The President is there and quietly encourages Donna to tell her old teacher where she is calling from.

Ah this is such a great scene! I had forgotten.

I often think of when Bartlett goes to an area that's been hit by (I think) a tornado, and he wants to stay because he feels like he's being helpful - whereas he'd become frustrated at hitting impasses all the time politically. And he had to be kind of told to leave in the end by his team, because helping tornado survivors in the first instance isn't really his job, there are qualified people who do this. He needed to go do HIS job. I'm not explaining it well, but it's it's really insightful, well written episode.

OP posts:
Fiderer · 07/10/2022 19:34

I do like a West Wing thread, haven't seen one in a while. Makes me also nostalgic. Used to be on several, including a v good "Trivia/Quiz" which according to Advanced Search, I started in 2012. Was off today and went looking. Can't believe it was that long ago, but TWW stands the test of time.

@CaveMum got a 1st in electoral maths!

Have also not watched in a while but inspired by the thread, started again. Reminded while watching "5 Votes Down" in S1 how the party in charge of Congress have to negotiate with fellow party members to pass legislation. As Leo said, "There are two things in the world you never want to let people see how you make 'em - laws and sausages."

Love Leo. And Toby. And and and...
(not Mandy though)

sweatyannie · 07/10/2022 19:38

I didn't watch it first time round.

Am currently on Season 5. Love it.

thefemaleJoshLyman · 07/10/2022 19:40

I must not read this thread... just makes me want a rerun. Love it all. Especially love Josh.

CaveMum · 07/10/2022 20:35

You summoned me @Fiderer! So glad to find my people, I come baring the finest muffins and bagels in all the land!

@LemonLymanDotCom I do the Oh Cleveland Ohio, Oh Me O O My O thing too 😝

I actually said to DH yesterday that we are overdue a rewatch of the series.

If you’re into podcasts I highly recommend The West Wing Weekly which is a watch along podcast Co-presented by Joshua Molina (Will Bailey). They’ve done every single episode (podcast is a few years old) and have cast members/writers on as guests. I started registering to it just last week.

chapsatchapel · 07/10/2022 20:38

I've just started it for the first time due to this thread - absolutely amazing

Stravaig · 07/10/2022 20:40

Danny!

Bobbybobbins · 07/10/2022 20:42

So jealous of people getting to watch it for the first time!

Joshanddonna · 07/10/2022 20:45

I love the episode when Josh and Toby get left behind.

PerkingFaintly · 07/10/2022 20:47

Oh my word. Those of you who haven't seen it...

CLEAR YOUR DIARIES.

GET IN COMESTIBLES.

MAKE YOURSELF COMFY.

You're going to be there a while...

Piffle11 · 07/10/2022 20:55

So glad it's available... DH has never seen it. I love the episode where Sam defends Ainsley against the bullies, and the Stackhouse filibuster… From the moment Josh slips in his new shoes, to when they help out the congressman. I have a child with autism so I had a tear in my eye at that one!

Ablababla · 07/10/2022 20:56

I’ve never seen it but don’t want to watch it now as it seems part of a world that’s gone after the trump/Brexit years. I imagine I would have loved it if I’d watched it when it was on and I still believed that people cared about liberal democracy.

chapsatchapel · 07/10/2022 20:56

Ablababla · 07/10/2022 20:56

I’ve never seen it but don’t want to watch it now as it seems part of a world that’s gone after the trump/Brexit years. I imagine I would have loved it if I’d watched it when it was on and I still believed that people cared about liberal democracy.

I don't know.. it's also a lesson in how some things never change!

Makemedoit · 07/10/2022 20:58

I’ve always wanted to watch WW. Where can I get it free?

Fiderer · 07/10/2022 21:05

@CaveMum Was hoping you'd appear!

TWW certainly taught me more about US politics than a politics degree with months on it did, no matter how much the landscape has changed in the last few years.

And I do enjoy the way they speak to each other. Josh asking Donna why she never knows who is in his office. The first (CJ) she says "I didn't know" and the second (Mandy) "I didn't care."

CaveMum · 07/10/2022 21:05

Makemedoit · 07/10/2022 20:58

I’ve always wanted to watch WW. Where can I get it free?

It’s on All4 and apparently on Prime, though not sure if it’s free there. I’d recommend just getting the box set on DVD 😜

Original poster
BlueRaincoat1 · 07/10/2022 21:06

Makemedoit · 07/10/2022 20:58

I’ve always wanted to watch WW. Where can I get it free?

It's on All4 for free. Also on Prime subscription. Both with ads.
Weirdly I can't get it on All4 on my TV, only on my laptop. But it probably works on a Smart TV

OP posts:
CaveMum · 07/10/2022 21:09

For all the newbies I’d say give it a couple of episodes to find it’s feet. It’s a bit twee in places to begin with, though the excellence is still there.

I’m still hoping to be CJ when I grow up 😁

GrouchyKiwi · 07/10/2022 21:11

CaveMum · 07/10/2022 21:09

For all the newbies I’d say give it a couple of episodes to find it’s feet. It’s a bit twee in places to begin with, though the excellence is still there.

I’m still hoping to be CJ when I grow up 😁

Yes, and there's a lot of Mandy at the beginning and she is the worst. (Sorry, Moira Kelly, but they did you wrong with that role.)

Haudyourwheesht · 07/10/2022 21:11

DPotter · 07/10/2022 02:46

Just finished my latest re-watching of the whole 7 series - still love it. My absolute favourite scene is when Bartlett asks CJ for a favour

Jump off a bridge.

😭😭

spurs4ever · 07/10/2022 21:13

My absolute favourite. Named my eldest after my favourite character. Two Cathedrals is perfect x

Stravaig · 07/10/2022 21:13

It's on Prime without a subscription, on their new Freevee thing (with ads). The ad breaks are very short though.

Original poster
BlueRaincoat1 · 07/10/2022 21:16

Stravaig · 07/10/2022 21:13

It's on Prime without a subscription, on their new Freevee thing (with ads). The ad breaks are very short though.

I did not know this!

OP posts:
Bumply · 07/10/2022 21:17

Babies come with hats.