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Wow.
A powerful return to political theater as only the West Wing can offer. This episode ranks as one of the top ten all-time, IMO.
It's amazing where they're taking this primary campaign storyline. The chess match of the different candidates (Russell, Hoynes, Baker, Santos) is shaping up, and I loved the casting of Ed O'Neill. I thought that Josh was going to work with Santos, so the prospect of him joining Hoynes is interesting. What I would love to see happen is for Josh to hook on with Hoynes, Will working for Russell, and have Toby seek a top job with another of the candidates (Santos.) This would leave CJ, Leo and Charlie to manage the Bartlet lame duck-illness storyline while the other senior staff members find their friendship strained by the primary battles to see which prospective candidate gets to face the powerhouse republican, "Alan Alda."
This would maximize the drama of the campaign game which is very interesting. It would also completely obliterate the established dynamic of the show. Still, they did do some of that style tonight. Perhaps they will go that way?
The clincher tonight was yet another brilliant use of a vocal track to underscore a powerful scene. That James Taylor song at the end complimented the drama of Bartlet's situation brilliantly. It reminded me very much of the usage of Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits in "Two Cathedrals." Very moving.
And Martin Sheen's performance? Bravo!
Overall, an exceptional episode.
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