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April 25, 2005

Reviewing the West Wing

I’ve been meaning to talk about the West Wing finale since it aired but then I didn’t get to see it for almost two weeks and then things came up and I thought too much time had slide by.

But then, today, Peter David endorsed Senator Vinick, opening up the debate.

Honestly, I don’t think we know enough about Sullivan, Vinick’s running mate, to speculate on what sort of ticket they represent. I do know that Democratic candidate Matt Santos picked wisely when choosing former Chief of Staff, former Labor Secretary Leo McGarry to lend gravitas to his campaign.

I really liked watching the primary season storylines which made the West Wing feel fresher this season. John Wells is no Aaron Sorkin but he’s trying and his earnestness helps. He’s aided largely by John Sacret Young who appears to have consistently penned this season’s best episodes.

However, the season finale felt like it should have been two hours or even 90 minutes because the last quarter felt rushed, cramped and implausible. McGarry spent the last few episodes telling everyone, especially Josh, that Santos was a nice idea, but too lightweight and he had to step aside. McGarry was genuinely scared of Vinick, the consummate campaigner with a terrific portfolio. So, what changed McGarry’s mind enough to agree to run with Santos? Certainly it had to take more than Bartlet threatening to kick his ass.

From September through November, we get an almost real-time view of the presidential campaign. Here are a few things we can hope for:

  • Some logical extrapolation of what happens to Will Bailey’s political career now that he failed to win Bingo Bob the nomination. (And what happens to Russell…)

  • Whither Donna? She was being groomed for better things, acting as spokesman at the end of the Russell campaign so does Josh bring her aboard? Does she want to work in his shadow again?

  • Will someone of note be cast as Sullivan, the Republican veep candidate, someone who will have some nice on-screen chemistry with Alda?

  • Will the Vinick campaign receive as much screen time as the Santos campaign? During the primaries, it was weighted too heavily on the democratic side of life.

  • What happens when the press discovers Santos’ wife posed for Playboy? OK, that was actress Teri Polo, and there doesn’t seem to be much career damage for the move.

  • And then there’s the less interesting storyline with C.J. having broken federal law by leaking the existence of a military space shuttle. By the time the season opens, I hope they find a way to rescue the men trapped on the space station, get C.J. off the hook and move on.

    • While working my way through the second season DVD set of West Wing, I am reminded all over again how much interesting information Sorkin managed to pack into 60 minutes. Additionally, he made the characters quirky, and fun, and real. I kept imagining the fun Sorkin would have had with the scene when Charlie Young was caught sneaking out of Zoey’s bedroom by a sleep-deprived Bartlet. What we got was ham-fisted and trite. The one thing Wells has failed to do is keep the characters real while retaining their optimism for the jobs they are privileged to perform.

    Still, West Wing remains one of the best dramas on TV and has refused to talk down to its audience.

    And that’s worth voting for.

    Posted by Bob Greenberger at April 25, 2005 04:11 PM

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    Comments

    I want to get a Santos for President button. And I think Nomi wants to balance things out by getting a Vinick for President button. :-)

    Posted by: Michael A. Burstein [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 27, 2005 05:35 PM

    And then there’s the less interesting storyline with C.J. having broken federal law by leaking the existence of a military space shuttle.

    She didn't do it.

    It was Toby.

    Wait and see.

    Posted by: Leviathan at May 1, 2005 08:45 AM