Should I watch seasons 5-7 of The West Wing?

Cafe Society
1

I just finished watching all the episodes of The West Wing up until the fourth one of season five.

I know Sorkin leaves the show after season four, and I am really feeling his departure. The dialog just isn’t what is used to be. It was fun watching John Goodman be president, but the next two episodes were painful to watch. The show stopped using its quick and intelligent dialog to highlighting the ironies of government. The plot still remains interesting, but loosing Sorkin is a big blow.

I still like the characters in the show. C.J. Craig, Charlie, Leo and The President are excellent on screen. I like how C.J. is lame at everything except being a press secretary. Charlie is a pleasure to watch because he comes from a poor neighborhood, but he still values education and professionalism. Leo is good at putting the entire staff of the white house ahead of himself and President Bartlet is always struggling to rise to the expectations of the office. Even a fictional character as near perfect as Bartlet struggles with such an enormous task.

I would not mind watching to see these guys in action for a few more seasons, but the experience will be dampened by the lack of Sorkin. So what do you guys think I should do?

2

Season 7 is very good again. You can probably watch season 7 without watching seasons 5 and 6, if you’d prefer.

I wouldn’t pay for seasons 5&6 on DVD, but if you have the option to borrow them or see the episodes in some other way, then, sure, they’re worth watching for free. TWW at its worst is still better than most of what’s on television.

3

Season 7 raised the bar back to Sorkin’s level. It was excellent. Of course, you’ll have to watch season 6 to get the backstory on the election, so…

Yes.

4

Except for the series finale. The single most disappointing one I’ve ever seen.

5

No.

And because this won’t let me put in a three character post, just don’t. Pretend it ended right when you learn that babies come with hats. And that’s how we left the WW.

6

Keep watching. The dynamics changed, certainly, but I don’t think that was a bad thing for the show. I’m rewatching seasons 5-7 now, and I’m enjoying watching these characters struggle to adjust to their new roles, yet remain themselves.

Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda were excellent.

7

Quoted, because I couldn’t say it any better myself.

8

The first half of Season 5 is the real low point of the series, but I thought they returned to quality mid way through S.5. Season 6 and 7 were both good, with 7 being as good as 1-4. While 5 and 6 aren’t at the top quality, they are still enjoyable seasons, save for the first few episodes of 5.

9

In season six, the show essentially split into two different series; the election series with Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda running for President and the White House series back with Bartlet and the remaining members of his staff (some of them joined the campaigns). The election stories were generally better than the White House stories.

This pattern pretty much continued through season seven with the exception that there was a storyline about a national security leak in the White House. The climax of that story was one of the best episodes of the series.

10

Agreed, except that they were depressing. I mean, the election was this Republican who I would have loved to vote for in real life against a Democrat who I would have loved to vote for in real life. And then the credits would roll. Depressing.

11

No. When Sorkin left, the show died. It just took another three years to fall down.

12

Season 5’s good episodes (not as good as anything in seasons 1-4, but not ugly-bad)
Full Disclosure
Eppur si muove
The Supremes (best of the bunch!)
No Exit

Skip Season 6 and 7 because nothing lives up to the Sorkin-style.