We see that Leo has been brought back into the White House, an ambassador without portfolio, so to speak. The staff runs through the gamut of emotions from “let’s have a welcome back party” to polite avoidance and embarrassment, and finishes with helping him define the last year of the Barlet administration.
The big thing I liked about this episode is that each of the staffers gets a couple of minutes with Leo to talk about what’s frustrating them. That was something Leo was always good for, listening to people while they talked out a solution.
But do we really need to redefine the administration in its last year? I think so, because plots have been kind of drifting this season, and the show was always best when the staff was working towards a definite goal, usually a piece of important legislation.
And nice preview of next week. So do you think the plane with Santos and Josh is actually in trouble, or is Santos making a reference a la Bette Davis’s “It’s going to be a bumpy ride?”
A question: A Navy officer called the Super NSA assistant “Commander”. Is she still active duty? And if so, why isn’t she in her dress uniform when at work?
Actually, I don’t think I’ve seen a duller West Wing episode. It never really engaged me, something that never happend when Sorkin was writing it (hell, even the reruns draw me in).
The bumpy flight is obviously a reference to “All About Eve.” The previews on the West Wing have lately been completely misleading.
[QUOTE=RealityChuck]
Actually, I don’t think I’ve seen a duller West Wing episode. It never really engaged me, something that never happend when Sorkin was writing it (hell, even the reruns draw me in).
[quote]
Ditto. I like Annabeth, and I’m open to giving Charlie more to do, but I’m suffering from serious CJ fatigue. Jed’s less active as well, so the series needs some new blood. More Santos I say!
It looked like Santos was in the pilot’s seat. Can he fly planes? I’m guessing this was the first time his candidate piloted a plane he’s on.
I rolled my eyes and blew a raspberry at the end. I have deleted my most recent recap from TWoP without reading it.
WW has become a pale shadow of what it once was. I’ve given up on ER for the same reason…I don’t care about the characters anymore.
Watching the reruns on Bravo really shows the difference. I still get chills when Toby discovers Josh has been shot, and that haunting Ave Maria while CJ wanders the streets of Manhattan after her bodyguard is killed, or Toby’s speech about Babies Have Hats, or Jeb’s tirade about grandfathers during The Stackhouse Filibuster.
This? Meh.
I give up. Looks like I have time now after Lost to catch up on my recorded shows.
Dammit, the board ate my post - when was the last time that happened?
Anyway, it was a little bit of both. It was pretty damned boring, but it did what it needed to do - give a focus for the rest of the Bartlet Admin. But it did so in a slow, plodding, hamhanded way.
And good lord am I sick of the metaphorical imagery! Oh look, Leo’s being put in the same office that they’re stuffing all the rest of the old furniture - how symbolic! Oh look, everyone’s stopping by Leo’s office like it’s a museum exhibit - how symbolic! Oh look, they’re slowly building up a little plot regarding the support staff, just like Margaret is pregnant! (Okay, that last one was a stretch. But don’t think they won’t pull something just as cheezy with Margaret’s bun in the oven in the future.)
Munch are you on some kind of personal quest to use “hamhanded” once a week? I got to agree with you, though.
While there are bits and pieces of each show I like, none this season (or most of last season, in fact) fill me with joy. And my girlfriend doesn’t even pretend she’s interested in watching them anymore. As soon as the drumbeats start, she’s out of the living room and doing something she finds interesting. She would at least try to watch them before.
She’s a retired military person. I don’t think its unheard of that a retired high-ranking person is still called “General” or “Captain” (for Navy-types) out of respect for their previous achievements, especially amongst still-in-the-military types. They wouldn’t warrant salutes anymore, but the title can stick.
Santos graduated first in his class out of Annapolis, but that’s all that’s been mentioned about his military career, I think. It would appear from the preview that they’re making him as an ex-fighter-jock…
I really, really hate the way the show seems to be going. It seems like they’re setting the stage for either Jimmy Smitts or Alan Alda to be the new pres. Sadly, neither of them have the apeal of Martin Sheen. I mean, I guess it had to happen eventually, unless they rewrite the constitution or change the title to “24 Sussex Drive”, which I’m not sure would have the same sort of apeal…
That was what I thought, but I missed a couple of eps last season. I still get a few people using my rank as an address, but only until I tell them to stop. And she’s not nearly old enough to be retired. Probably did about six years or so in, then resigned her commission.
But he was on the left side of the cockpit. Isn’t that the co-pilot’s seat on small commercial craft? So he might just be up there watching the view. Or he could be driving - it’s already been shoved down our throats that he’s a hands-on type of guy.
I’m missing the Sussex Drive reference. Getting Jimmy Smits is quite a coup for a network show. He’s been a featured performer in two highly rated shows, “L.A. Law” (also featuring John Spencer for awhile) and “NYPD Blue”. He’s a proven performer and if The West Wing is going to continue after this season, he’s the one that the producers will want in the role of President. If this is the last year for TWW, I’m betting Alan Alda wins the election.
No, the left seat is always the “captain”'s seat, even on four-seater Cessnas. I didn’t pay enough attention to the previews to see if it looked like he was flying.
I’m with ivylass on this show, I think it’s just gone downhill so much since third (?) season. Of course, my mom still loves the show, which means I can no longer discuss it with her without a disagreement. Although, I do think this episode was marginally better than recent ones, and the ending in particular was an attempt to resurrect some of the Sorkin magic. I did have to :rolleyes: when I heard someone say “assault weapons ban”.
I got to agree with you, though.