West Wing
October 29th, 2005 at 4:43 pm by David FarrarMy God. Just watched the latest episode of West Wing (Series 7, Episode 5) and it is a stunning episode, Will go down as one of the all time great ones.
Even the sarky Television Without Pity reviewers have given it an A+.
There are major major spoilers in this episode, so if you are only watching the NZ screenings (which are around a year behind) then don’t read on.
Okay the background to this episode is that at the end of season six the space station got into trouble and it looked like the astronauts on board might die. Bartlett has to decide whether to launch the secret military space shuttle to save them.
The problem is, well doh, it is secret, and revealing they have one will set off an international furore. CJ especially advocates he sends it, but Bartlett resists. CJ talks about it to Toby as his brother is an astronaut and at one time also was in space and looked like he might die.
The existence of the secret military space shuttle is leaked to the New York Times. Bartlett orders a full investigation, with the focus on NASA. However as it goes on it looks like the leak came from the White House, and all clues point to CJ who knows the reporter who got the leak.
In Season 7 the inquiry goes on, and the White House Counsel informs CJ she is a suspect. Then at the end of Episode 4 Toby tells CJ that he leaked the information. She just stares at him.
This sets up Episode 7-5. The final few minutes are stunning acting. Basically CJ calls in the WH Counsel immediately, Toby’s office is sealed and he is questioned at length until his lawyer forces him to stop answering questions and makes him aware he is facing six years jail.
CJ and Oliver Babich inform Bartlett that Toby has confessed. Bartlett is astonished yet in his own words not totally surprised. He then asks to meet Toby, and below are some extracts from the conversation:
Bartlett: But the one thought that hits the hardest is that this was somehow inevitable. That you’ve always been heading for this sort of crash and burn as you believe you are morally superior to everyone
Toby: I don’t think I’m morally superior to everyone.
Jed: No. Just to me.
Toby can’t answer this, as it is plainly true.
Then Toby reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out his letter of resignation.
Bartlett: Rip it up. I can’t accept your resignation.
You think he may be relenting.
Bartlett: I have to fire you. For cause.
And then finally:
Bartlett: Toby? When you walk out of here, there’ll be people out there, perhaps a great many, who’ll think of you as a hero. I just don’t want you for a moment thinking I’ll be one of them.
A wonderfully well acted episode. One of those episodes there is no going back from. I can’t wait for next week’s to see how everyone reacts.
October 29th, 2005 at 6:33 pm
I agree David, it is a great episode. Series 7 is much better than series 5 or 6. I really am enjoying the election campaign, albeit with the slight detour in episode 5.
I am still waiting to hear what Margaret testified about as she seemed worried she had caused CJ trouble.
Vote:October 29th, 2005 at 9:26 pm
Season 7 isnt showing in NZ yet is it? I only just got the whole set of Season 6 DVDs. Where did you see this, David?
Vote:October 29th, 2005 at 9:28 pm
I’m giving Commander in Chief a try too. A little more soapy, but the tension between the President and the Speaker makes for good drama so far. Has the potential to be as good as WW if they choose to do so as long as they peg back on the “impact on the first fasmily angles” a bit.
Vote:October 29th, 2005 at 9:30 pm
I’m giving Commander in Chief a try too. A little more soapy, but the tension between the President and the Speaker makes for good drama so far. Has the potential to be as good as WW if they choose to do so as long as they peg back on the “impact on the first fasmily angles” a bit.
Vote:October 29th, 2005 at 10:58 pm
JBA: Tt is available on bit torrent. I am not sure if David will allow a diret link to the torrent file, but you can certainly find the torrent file from a google search.
Vote:October 29th, 2005 at 11:18 pm
There is also a good article on the episode in the New York Times which you can access here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/29/arts/television/29wing.html?th&emc=th
Vote:October 30th, 2005 at 3:22 am
Everytime you post on this I get more and more pissed at AFN Korea for moving it to their pay channels. Got to find me a new solider.
Vote:October 30th, 2005 at 10:21 am
Yes Commander in Chief is looking very good also.
And no direct links to torrent files please.
Vote:October 30th, 2005 at 3:21 pm
I used to quite like West Wing, but gave up on it once it became apparent that the producers seem to think that Government is, to invoke a cliche, the solution rather than the problem.
Vote:October 30th, 2005 at 4:17 pm
DPF, obviously you know your politics, but I doubt most Tories, would understanding “The West Wing” They still can’t figure out MMP. Let alone whats the difference between Congress the Senate, fedral law, even how primaries work, etc. Well I suppose having them watch US TV politics is better than having them pine about a NZ election defeat.
Vote:October 30th, 2005 at 4:58 pm
Heh in Thailand a couple of years ago I had a lengthy discussion about US politics with the CHair of the College Republicans. He commented that I seemed to know more about US politics than 99% of Americans
Vote:October 30th, 2005 at 7:09 pm
That maybe so DPF, politics is your life. But at least most Americans knows how the Senate & Congress operate.
Vote:I doubt most Tories here would have any idea of a Primary if faced with it. Thinking out of the square by ticking only one box for multiple Tory candidates would be a major obstacle for most National voters. We know McCully wanted FFP back so National voters are not burdened with having to even worry about the candidate. In true Tory fashion, just vote National we will do the thinking for you! Well he tried and failed! Keep up that mentality and you will be in opposition longer than you think. Hey I’ll keep quite, your colleagues are capable of sinking their own ship.
October 30th, 2005 at 8:05 pm
Good God Cadmus you are a rather obsessed personality. You even take a thread about a TV show and turn it into a whine about the National Party. You really need to get a life – seriously.
And frankly your opinions on the average Tory is probably about as useful as my opinion on the average Cardinal’s sex life.
Vote:October 30th, 2005 at 9:22 pm
Cadmus,
I’m a tory, the real kind of conservative pro-monarchist Tory Traditionalist. If you want to debate ANY subject regarding politics here, in the US or in Britain, feel free to email me.
I would wager that the average Tory is in fact better informed and generally more intelligent than your average Labour voter.
And David is right, the only time you ever comment here is to make personal attacks on Tories. I have yet to see you actually engage in a real intellectual debate with anyone here that was not simply ad hominem.
By the way, your average Conservative is intelligent enough to understand that allowing brothels to set up next to kindergartens and primary schools is stupid in the extreme. The average Labour moron is not. That difference alone speaks volumes.
Vote:October 30th, 2005 at 9:31 pm
‘I would wager that the average Tory is in fact better informed and generally more intelligent than your average Labour voter.
Oh yeah. And I’m really sure that guys with medium length slightly curly brown hair are much smarter and more generously endowed than guys with differently shaded hair of other lengths.
Vote:November 1st, 2005 at 7:22 am
Back on topic, I have just watched episode 6. All I can is wow! The campaign is really hotting up.
Vote:November 1st, 2005 at 11:44 am
Agree with most of the comments on this episode – it was outstanding.
I have a question though — what is the significance of CJ’s comment about Leo being in trouble and why did she call him, knowing that it would be a bad move.
Is this really just because he had received a subpoeana or is there something more significant going on???
Can’t wait for next episode…
Vote:November 2nd, 2005 at 7:33 am
Livers: I am not quite sure what the meaning was about Leo being in “trouble”, but I understood multiple staffers thought Leo would be in trouble – with trouble here being it would be bad for the Santos campaign. Obviously, though it could also mean it could be bad for Leo personally.
It is difficult to know whether there will be a sub-plot over Toby taking the rap for something he didn’t do. They seem to have left enough for this to happen and I feel it is just dangling there.
I still can’t get what she called him from her work phone, it was stupid. She was stressed about the situation so she could be calling for advice, she could also be calling to let Leo know in advance it was Toby. I assume though know Leo doesn’t have to testify before the Grand Jury so it could just simply to let him know.
Vote:November 2nd, 2005 at 7:52 pm
“Oh yeah. And I’m really sure that guys with medium length slightly curly brown hair are much smarter and more generously endowed than guys with differently shaded hair of other lengths.”
Thanks for proving my point
Vote: