West Wing - Last Season (7th)

?

the show was cancelled right after and reportedly unrelated to John "Leo" Spencer's death.

 

IMO Santos wins. From what I read, they were planning on Leo dying before the election anyway, but John Spencer's death just makes it that much more sad (the preview for the next episode with Annabeth bawling looks like a hard one). This way, they can play out the drama of "Who's going to be VP?" for an episode or two. There are what, 6 episodes left? Next one is the election, the one after that is Leo's funeral. Then you figure they have one dedicated to the VP situation, one for Toby's legal problems, one for Bartlett wrapping up everything in the office and one episode for what all of the characters are going to be moving on to.

This season has been one of hte best ones in a long time though. IT's almost as good as a Sorkin-led season. Considering how God awful season 5 was, this is an unexpected twist. I'm enjoying it again, just in time for it to be yanked off of the air.

 

Couldn't possibly disagree more. I missed most of seasons 4 and 5, but I've seen every ep of 1, 2, 3, 6 and this year. Of those, this year is the worst by far. Virtually every plot twist is 'ripped from the headlines,' from Santos ordering a Philly cheese steak with the wrong kind of cheese to the exit poll thing from Sunday. The lack of imagination is painful, especially after all that came before. I never imagined I could be bored with WW, but I barely even care this year. And I thought last season was rad.

 

See, part of the problem is that you didn't see season 5. If you would have seen that season, you would think that footage of grass growing is Emmy worthy.

I do agree with you that 1, 2 & 3 are better than this one. Notice I said "almost as good". Sorkin was the man on TWW. Sadly, those days are over. I do prefer this season to season 6 though personally.

 

Yeah, I've heard season 5 was lousy. I have a hard time believing it was worse than this season and it didn't get cancelled. Season 6 had some great, innovative twists and turns and great character development. Show me anything in this season that compares to the storyline that began with the falling out between Bartlet and Leo at the Israeli/Palestinian peace talks and continued with the heart attack, Bartlet's guilt and refusal to name a successor, asking CJ to "jump off a cliff," her difficult transition and ultimate success and Toby's awkward attempt to replace her. Or the episode where Josh and Toby fought. Or even the campaign stuff which was so, so, so much better last year. This year they've turned Vinick and Santos into cookie cutter candidates from our actual, recent political history. Yuck. The way last season ended it really felt like we were going to get an interesting election between two good men with good ideas. I haven't looked into who was writing the show last year and this year, but I guarantee the writing staff has changed. And not for the better. And that debate episode was maybe the worst WW ever. The cast sucks this year compared to last too. Even Janeane Garrafalo, whom I usually love, is boring. And Ron Silver (and his lady hair) makes me throw up in my mouth. I can't remember being surprised or excited even once this season and I am a junkie for the show. I had to take up Lost (which I also love) just to fill the void.

 

I too have very much enjoyed this season. As for the "Ripped from the Headlines", that's always been a part of the series, but in the early years it was primarily historical riffs that the writers modified. I'll agree that some of them were more extremely creative and subtle.

The one thing I haven't enjoyed this year is the Toby "military shuttle" leak subplot. The issue itself is completely in-character for Toby except his moral imperative should have been to resign his post and then do what he felt needed to be done.

I know the writers are going to spring a twist on what happened, but whoever he's protecting probably doesn't deserve it more than his president did. And now I look at Toby as pathetic, whiny self-righteous dweeb. Tis a shame.

Alda's performance in the live "debate" really impressed me. He looked like he was doing a play he'd done hundreds of times before.

I'm going to miss the show.

 

Am I the only one that thinks the person who ordered him to do the leak is the President?

Agreed. Alda was the only thing that kept that episode afloat.

 

The season finale for season 6 felt almost Sorkin-esque. I haven't like most of the rest since he left though. Just not the same feel.

 

Nope. But I think they want us to think that. He was specifically asked about C.J. and Leo and he said it wasn't either of them, but he wasn't asked about Bartlet. Unless he was lying about them or his brother (and Toby wouldn't lie), who else is left?

 

Wait, why would anything think the Toby got the go ahead from Bartlett to leak the info. My memory is a bit hazy, but I recall that Jeb was pissed as hell about the leak, and basically said that he had no respect for what Toby did.

 

He doesn't need to have given him the go ahead, he only needs to have discussed the existence of the program with him. He could have done that and still have been pissed for Toby for leaking it.

 

How perfect was that speech to the staffers the morning of election day?

I'm going to miss this show terribly. Has bad as it had gotten, to me, it was still better than most stuff on network television which, admittedly, isn't saying much.

I got a little misty-eyed at the end of the last episode. I was really into that episode, even if it was ripped straight from the 2004 election. By the end, I started thinking about how much I loved the show during its run and that it won't be around next year, then knowing that Leo's death was coming up was just too much. I shed a tear for Mr. Spencer.

 

I think that was the hardest part. You see Annabeth bawling hardcore in the preview and you know that those tears were real, as Spencer really died. That's gonna be a serious goosebump moment.

 

Two of my favorite WW moments

Ainsley Hayes

"Say they are smug and superior. Say their approach to public policy makes you want to tear your hair out. Say they like high taxes.and spending your money. Say they want to take your guns and open your borders but don't call them worthless. . . . The people I have met have been extraordinarily qualified. Their intent is good. Their commitment is true. They are righteous, and they are patriots. And I'm their lawyer."




Josh: Tell me democracy doesn't have a sense of humor. We sit here, we drink this beer out here on the stoop in violation of about 47 city ordinances. I don't know, Toby. It's election night. What do you say about a government that goes out of its way to protect even citizens that try to destroy it?

Toby: God bless America.

 

My two favorite episodes were Two Cathedrals and The Supremes.

 

Two Cathedrals is one of the greatest single episodes of any show in TV history. Every time it comes on Bravo I watch, even though I own the DVD.

 

Well Nuggets4 said that he thinks, "the person who ordered him to do the leak is the President?" and you agreed with him, so that confused me since it sure sounds like you guys are saying the prez gave toby the go ahead.

And Two Cathedrals is a great, great episode. I highlighted it in the "Favorite episodes for each show" thread we had a month or two ago. When they start playing that Dire Straits song at the end, I get goosebumps every single time.

BTW: Which one is The Supremes. It doesn't ring a bell.

BTW2: For some reason, I loved Ainsley. Maybe I should blame it on the Bossa Nova.