Favorite West Wing Episodes

[Hippo_Tron]

Okay I'm in the mood for some West Wing discussion (I know it's 2am, but hey).

Favorite episodes and why

Mine

20 Hours in America - I think this may have been the funniest episode ever written. And the speech after the bombing was truly Bartlet at his best. I sure wish that we had a president like that.

The Stackhouse Fillibuster - Howard Stackhouse is pretty clealry written as an older version of Paul Wellstone. I love how the white house eventually changes their mind and decides to support him.

The Midterms - The part where Bartlet recites bible passages to the Dr. Laura clone is priceless. The ending scene on the stoop is great too.

Celestial Navigation - Roberto Mendoza is quite an incredible character and those scenes with Toby and Sam in the car are great. Josh doing the press briefing, Charley having to wake up the President, and Sam telling the redneck cop that he knows missle codes.

Inauguration (both parts) - I love the whole marching soldiers thing and how Bartlet decides that he will intervene in Kundu. "They're saying I'm rewriting the Constitution on the back of a napkin. They're saying on FOX that a guy who couldn't run a local sheriff's department wants to send troops around the world. They're saying it's liberalism with a grenade launcher. But they're not saying it was badly written, so that's something. And they sure as hell know I was serious, so that's something else."

Process Stories - The President and Leo are both reciting the states that Bartlet won to their respective women. I love when Abby says, "Honey this is like hot talk for nerds." And then when she comes out in her underwear and Sam is in the room.

[Pharlo]

1. It would have been easier to ask if there were any we didn't like....

But, since I can't really recall if there were ever any of them, I'll list the best I can think of right now....

Bad Moon Rising: Introduction of Oliver Platt as the White House Counsel - Opening scene with the tape recorder and the gavel was hilarious.

Celestial Navigation: See OP

Game On: The Night of the Debate with Gov. Ritchie. When she cuts his tie with the scissors, just cracks me up.

2167 Votes: The last episode of this season where Santos/McGarry became the Democratic ticket.

Las Palabras: The episode where Matt Santos was trying to get the backing of the Gov. of California and the next round of Hoynes sex scandal reports came out.

Ellie: During a controversial episode concerning the Surgeon General and marijuana, Ellie made a public statement in support of the S.G.

Fifth Night: Brought in Elliot Gould as a psychological consultant for President Bartlett who hadn't slept in five nights.

Bartlett for America: Leo testifies before the Congressional Committee concerning the MS.

In the Shadow Of Two Gunmen (Parts I and II): The attempted assassination of President Bartlett.

[LSdemocrat]

2. My top ten list

1. Two Cathedrals
2. 18th and Potomac
3. In the Shadow of Two Gunmen
4. Bartlet for America
5. Celestial Navigation
6. The Supremes
7. Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going To Jail
8. Noel
9. Let Bartlet Be Bartlet
10. And It's Surely to Their Credit (and every Season 2 episode I haven't mentioned yet)

[cestpaspossible]

3. I only saw the first two seasons

sounds like I'm gonna be happy whenever I get those DVDs.

[BlueIris]

4. Great topic. It's so hard for me to pick my absolute "Wing" favorites.

5. "The Short List." I want Justice Mendoza to be real. Why can't he be real, goddamnit?! The slow, but, as Bartlet said, eventually solid realization on the part of the staff that their sucky, snobby, anti-choice jerk of a potential nominee is the wrong choice in the fact of the more progressive, intelligent Mendoza, is fabulous. And I loved his exchange with Jed at the end: (B): "Will you accept?" (M): "With honor." Tears, people. Tears.

4. "Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail." As an actor and a person, Rob Lowe sucks. But his performance as Sam in this episode is pretty decent. Plus, I love C.J.'s exchange with the people who try to explain to the undereducated that cartographers of the world have made their maps in some culturally insensitive and geographically inaccurate ways. (CJ, after the map people have flipped a map upside down, showing the actual size of Antarctica): "But, you can't do that!" (MP): "Why not?" (CJ): "Because it's freaking me out!"

3. "What Kind of Day Has It Been?" I thought this episode contained a charming example of the mutually respectful bond between Admiral Fitzwallace and Bartlet. Oh, and an example of the way the military SHOULD respond, when their C-I-C turns a blood-thirsty and unjustified eye toward the Middle East--ie; do everything it (legally and responsibly) can to STOP him from invading a country in that region.

2. "Election Night." Much of this episode for me is about characters who have previously been behaving like selfish, asshole pricks deciding to suck up their own crap and be decent and helpful employers, employees, coworkers, friends and spouses. Sam tells Donna he wants to run for Congress, and she's spontaneously sweet and supportive about it. Toby and Andrea go through their first ultrasound and Josh offers Toby sensitive reassurance about his impending fatherhood. When Abby politely and compassionately confronts Bartlet about the physical issues he's been having all day, even though he is obviously freaked and expecting a lecture like the ones she has bitchily given him in the past, they have a nice conversation in which she offers her medical and spousal comfort regarding his health, and Barlet feels better. Why can't everyone in our society choose to behave this way toward our friends, neighbors, colleagues and leaders?

1. "Bartlet For America." One reason really: John Spencer. He rocks this episode from start to finish (and Aaron's dialogue isn't terrible, either).
(Leo, of Bartlet): "A podium is a holy place to him and he makes it his own like it's an extension of his body...he sees it as a genuine opportunity to change minds. He also sees it as his best way of contributing to the team, he loves teams, God, I love him so much." I'd give just about anything to feel that for an American president again.