Not a bad episode, but you could tell that someone other than Sorkin was heading it. Everything seemed to move at a glacial pace. And I bet the script was only half as long as usual. I know they were indicating silent anguish with all those looks and pauses but nothing felt quite right.
They’ve set up some good tension for the future and lots of potential for conflict - and not of the armed variety.
It’s amazing looking at the gravitas of John Spencer as Leo McGarry and remembering that Dick Chaney was Gerald Ford’s chief of staff - at the age of 32.
I hear ya, Mama. I’m an anarchocapitalist; so I loathe republicans and democrats equally, but West Wing is still far and away my favorite TV show because you get the sense that the characters genuinely believe in what they’re doing (however misguided), and the show’s love of the language is simply moving.
The whole episode was, in my opinion, mis-handled. And badly. The characters were completely dull, without any of their personalities showing (Abby Bartlett? Pulling the passive-agressive crap? When she’s proven time and time again that she’s Jeb Bartlett’s equal? Where did that come from?). The dialog was uninspired, the direction was choppy and listless, the dramatic scenes lacked any drama.
The show lacked the attention to detail that Sorkin brought to the operation as well. The graphic for the news show late in the ep was totally unbelievable; who at CNN would have approved a head-shot of Zoe over a map of Qumar with the headline “Retaliation for Assassination”? And who would believe that the White House staff, in the middle of the worst crisis ever seen, certainly on their watch, would go home to bed? They’ve pulled three-day sleepless binges for state dinners, for crissakes. Go home, I’ll need you at your best tomorrow? What if something happens tonight?
The first season ships on DVD November 18th, according to Amazon. I’ll be watching that, as I fondly remember last season’s last episode as the cliffhanger at the end of a great long run.
CJ telling Danny to run the story was a mistake on her part. Even though she promised, her duty is to the President. It was perfectly in character, and wrong. I thought that was a good plot point. Walken played it just right, let her know that he knew, and moved on. It got CJ’s respect.
I don’t like the completely partisan aide who is trading barbs with Josh. That part (while probably pretty realistic) seems out of place with the rest of Walken’s character.
The big problem is that next week Angel starts and is on at the same time. Gotta find another VCR.
A pretty decent episode, overall, though not one of my favorites. I’m willing to bet the Zoey Bartlett ends up dead as well.
I also thought that Goodman overplayed Walken just a tad, though that could also be how it was written. Still, I’ll be interested to see what happens with him.
The strongest point of the show, IMO, was the montage at the end, which was very nicely handled. Does anyone know what the piece of music played in the ending montage is? It sounded like it was Lisa Gerrard singing, but that’s just a guess.
I’m not sure that’s correct. Since Bartlett resigned based on inability to discharge his duties as present, the applicable section would be (2), which as you noted provides “if his discharge of the powers and duties of the office is founded in whole or in part on the inability of the President or Vice President, then he shall act only until the removal of the disability of one of such individuals.”
But I will be surprised if the result is not to have Walken nominate a VP, who will be confirmed immediately for purposes of national security, and then Bartlett will be saddled for the rest of the term with a VP he would not have chosen – maybe a Republican. Plot potential galore!
As to the episode: I thought it was significantly less good than Sorkin’s stuff. But I also know that we are starting the season out with a Very Serious Plot Line, where the usual MO of fizzy repartee and multiple issues popping up all over would not be appropriate. So I’m willing to see how it develops once the crisis is over. I also agree that there was too much reliance on Significant Looks, especially among and by the Bartlett women. The thing with the dog? Pointless.
Actually, the more I think about it the less I think it was very good. But I love the show, so I’ll keep watching.
Oh, and my money is that ZB does not end up dead. I just see no way to do justice to Bartlett’s character as President and as a father in that scenario – you just can’t cover both aspects of his life adequately. And if his daughter dies, they won’t be able to put the focus back on him as President without the audience continually wondering what the situation is with the family. How does he feel? How do his other daughters feel? Will his marriage survive it? Then it’s the Bartlett Family show, and that’s not the intent. So they can’t kill her off. IMO.
It would seem that it is being set up that the new VP will be a Republican, although probably a moderate one with some nationwide popularity.
The Democrats would have to go along with it as the Republicans would probably be asking for it in exchange for a graceful departure from the White House.
He only seemed presidential in front of the press. In front of the staff, very much less so.
However, the writers don’t know how Margaret talks - which is a shame, because I’m going to miss her.
They also didn’t get Abbey at all (duh, of course he didn’t ask her permission before committing an assasination…that was the stupidest thing), and apparently didn’t watch the episode “Ellie”
There were also way too few words. And way too many significant pauses. And far too much “listen to the mood music” I heard it… I don’t know if there’s ever been background music before (I don’t mean like using ‘Brothers in Arms’ or ‘New York Minute’ but soap opera-y music) - if there has, I haven’t noticed it, as it was woven in well. Tonight’s was not…it was overdone and heavyhanded.
BTW, where’s the other half of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern? (not their real names, but the guys who are always together - tonight, one was replaced by the republican? where is he?))
The cameraman needs to be removed from this job. There wasn’t a single decent shot all night. The camera in WW should sweep… tonight we had bizarre closeups of Leo’s forehead, NYPD Blue in the situation room, and even a few failures of the infamous “walk down the hall and talk” thing.
I don’t think she’s dead yet.
Question - what, exactly, can the VP do? Break ties in the senate (which is one reason this is a big deal - it’s supposedly a Republican controlled senate, but very nearly balanced. Hoynes had to break a few ties) obviously, but what other than that? If they do nominate and get through a republican (which in a republican controlled legislature, they might), can he be shut out of everything? (do they have to let him attend cabinet meetings? etc.?) and become shoved into just the “official funeral attender” position? Can they block him out of power?
Well, I think the writing was OK. Not Sorkin quality but fairly good. I’m not sure Danny would have broken his deal to waith three days, for instrance. But I can deal with it.
However, I found the directing to be very distracting. The blurry pans in the beginning. Having Leo pop up from behind a lamp like some kind of Democratic Prarie Dog.
And the director was a fan of one of my pet peeves - the needlessly dark room. It was bad enough that the staffers were hanging out in an underlit room early in the show, but Will was trying to write. Turn on some lights!
OK ep. The thing that kept going through my mind as I was watching it, was “It’s not crisp.” I don’t know exactly what that means, but it’s what I was thinking. I guess it’s just an overall feeling about the writing and pace of the show. It was no where near as bad as I expected, and while Abbey wasn’t herself from a character standpoint, I thought the way she looked when she and the pres were alone, was right on - not 100%, and not her usual put together self.
I laughed out loud as Josh went through the list of Republicans at the White house. “He hates me. He hates me too. He really hates me.” That to me was classic Josh.
I bet Zoe makes it out alive, if for no other reason than it would be hard for the show to have any of its light-hearted moments at any point this season with the death of the President’s daughter and the country’s subsequent reaction casting a pall on everything.
No, Zoe will be alive, leading to this - Frenchy LeBoyfriend will somehow make his way to the White House to apologize to her and/or the family, where he will get a Class A BEATDOWN from Charlie. I was disappointed they offered that prick immunity, I thought they should have stun-gunned the shit out of him until he 'fessed up his info, and then stun-gunned the shit out of him some more.
[guiltyconfession]Criminy was I disappointed when they mentioned during the Emmy’s that Allison Janney now has a boyfriend. [/guilty confession]:mad:
Okay, since when does the Prez consult his wife on matters of national security? IMHO, it would have been absolutely inappropriate to pillow talk in bed about the pros and cons of assasinating Omar. She’s his wife, not a member of the cabinet or his staff, and there are some things that are none of her business.
When Walken said, “I think they’re going to kill her anyway,” that look on Leo’s face was priceless. I missed the first 20 minutes, so I missed the line from the promo about bombing the hell out of somebody.
I’m somewhat confused…Zoey was kidnapped before the news about Omar came out. How can it be retaliation? I see the bombing of Turkey was retaliation, but not Zoey.
I want to know where Prince Smarming is. (That’s what we called him last year, right?) I would think Charley would be beating the crap out of him by now.
I agree with you completely, ivylass, that part made no sense at all. Why should the FLOTUS feel she needs to be consulted on top secret missions? Bizzare.
