brabbel123 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
brabbel123) wrote2010-08-31 09:01 pm
brabbel123) wrote2010-08-31 09:01 pm
It's done...
... my first sweep through 7 seasons of "West Wing". So I'll treat you all to some random thoughts and ramblings *g*...
Let's start with season 7. Which didn't quite impress me as much as season 6 I'm afraid. I quite liked the way the campaign never quite left actual factual differences - although Vinick was handed multiple options to start a negative campaign against Santos, he never did. And that supports the positive and honorable impression I gained from him in season 6. He'd have made a good president, I guess.
Up till the end I was never quite sure what to think of Santos, though. Charisma, youth, brilliant oratory, ideals he wouldn't part from - and yet, perhaps it's because he opposed Josh at every corner, because he never really got used to Leo as his running mate, because Helen was never defined as being more than wife and mother (not that that's bad per se, just the way it was presented bothered me as some kind of fait accompli, not as a conscious choice on her part) that has me hesitating. He definitely wasn't shown as the likeable, somewhat naive candidate any longer that he was during most of season 6. Maybe that's the way it is. Maybe that's what happens when reality sets in and the pros get to spinning their candidate's story. But I don't have to like that.
Leo, or rather John Spencer's death must have thrown everybody - and I really missed him especially after all the banter he shared with Annabeth earlier in the season. But honestly, I could not imagine a ticket being elected when the VP candidate dies on election day. Especially with an inexperienced presidential candidate. I read somewhere that originally Vinick should win the election but the writers made a last minute change. I think, however, they should have stuck with the plan - it would have been far more realistic... and that's what TPTB were aiming for with this programme after all.
Let's move on the the west wing. Bartlet continues his foreign peace keeper missions, this time in Kazakhstan and thus leaves a hard legacy for the incoming administration, having to come up with some kind of exit strategy... Sounds somewhat reminiscent of Iraq and Afghanistan, if you ask me. CJ finally gets together with Danny - although the most intriguing question concerning her, i.e. why the change in hair colour?, never gets answered. *g* I've said before that I never quite liked Toby - and while I understand why he leaked the info about that military shuttle to the press, I hate the way he often comes across as self-righteous. It's as though his moral standards are higher than everybody else's, and everybody else therefore can never live up to them. Why not talk to Bartlet about that shuttle? He never did before leaking the information. It wasn't his decision to make, no matter what he knew or thought about the issue. I'm not sure what to think about Bartlet's pardon - I'd have liked for him to at least serve some time.
Well, and last but not least, there's Josh and Donna... finally. *g* Of course, the nitpickerish side of me couldn't stay quiet as Josh was shown with a bare chest with no scars... Rosslyn anyone? Okay, I digress. Honestly, it's about time. I always found their devotion very endearing, so the progression of their relationship felt natural enough. I'd have loved to see how they handled their jobs and their relationship, with Sam keeping an eye on them *g*, but alas, it was not to be.
Speaking of Sam, I was delighted by his return, especially his dialogues with Josh reminded me of season 1. But honestly, couldn't he have made an appearance in "Requiem"? Everybody was at Leo's funeral... that is, everybody but Sam. And he offered no explanation in "Transition" which was the next episode. I could have done without Sam in "Tomorrow" - I mean, that 1 minute long appearance would have been more precious in "Requiem", to be sure. That's actually a major annoyance to be honest, that that was so badly handled.
Well, what remains is the impression that "West Wing" ultimately was about that next generation of politicians, i.e. Sam and Josh - especially Josh, of course, after Sam's departure. Throughout those 7 seasons we saw Josh grow from the impulsive pit bull of the Bartlet administration to a seasoned, and somewhat circumspect advisor. We saw him grow weary, we saw the spark return, and we finally see him take up the reins of an administration in taking up Leo's legacy. Honestly, I'd have loved to see what would have happened had Sam not left - perhaps he'd have won the California election, perhaps he'd have been the presidential candidate instead of Santos and thus fulfilling Bartlet's prediction of him becoming president with Josh at his side. But again, it was not to be.
I'm sure I'll rewatch at least seasons 1 to 4 in the not so far future, so this certainly won't be my last posting. It's certainly been a privilege to watch this high-quality show. There aren't so many of those around right now after all...
Let's start with season 7. Which didn't quite impress me as much as season 6 I'm afraid. I quite liked the way the campaign never quite left actual factual differences - although Vinick was handed multiple options to start a negative campaign against Santos, he never did. And that supports the positive and honorable impression I gained from him in season 6. He'd have made a good president, I guess.
Up till the end I was never quite sure what to think of Santos, though. Charisma, youth, brilliant oratory, ideals he wouldn't part from - and yet, perhaps it's because he opposed Josh at every corner, because he never really got used to Leo as his running mate, because Helen was never defined as being more than wife and mother (not that that's bad per se, just the way it was presented bothered me as some kind of fait accompli, not as a conscious choice on her part) that has me hesitating. He definitely wasn't shown as the likeable, somewhat naive candidate any longer that he was during most of season 6. Maybe that's the way it is. Maybe that's what happens when reality sets in and the pros get to spinning their candidate's story. But I don't have to like that.
Leo, or rather John Spencer's death must have thrown everybody - and I really missed him especially after all the banter he shared with Annabeth earlier in the season. But honestly, I could not imagine a ticket being elected when the VP candidate dies on election day. Especially with an inexperienced presidential candidate. I read somewhere that originally Vinick should win the election but the writers made a last minute change. I think, however, they should have stuck with the plan - it would have been far more realistic... and that's what TPTB were aiming for with this programme after all.
Let's move on the the west wing. Bartlet continues his foreign peace keeper missions, this time in Kazakhstan and thus leaves a hard legacy for the incoming administration, having to come up with some kind of exit strategy... Sounds somewhat reminiscent of Iraq and Afghanistan, if you ask me. CJ finally gets together with Danny - although the most intriguing question concerning her, i.e. why the change in hair colour?, never gets answered. *g* I've said before that I never quite liked Toby - and while I understand why he leaked the info about that military shuttle to the press, I hate the way he often comes across as self-righteous. It's as though his moral standards are higher than everybody else's, and everybody else therefore can never live up to them. Why not talk to Bartlet about that shuttle? He never did before leaking the information. It wasn't his decision to make, no matter what he knew or thought about the issue. I'm not sure what to think about Bartlet's pardon - I'd have liked for him to at least serve some time.
Well, and last but not least, there's Josh and Donna... finally. *g* Of course, the nitpickerish side of me couldn't stay quiet as Josh was shown with a bare chest with no scars... Rosslyn anyone? Okay, I digress. Honestly, it's about time. I always found their devotion very endearing, so the progression of their relationship felt natural enough. I'd have loved to see how they handled their jobs and their relationship, with Sam keeping an eye on them *g*, but alas, it was not to be.
Speaking of Sam, I was delighted by his return, especially his dialogues with Josh reminded me of season 1. But honestly, couldn't he have made an appearance in "Requiem"? Everybody was at Leo's funeral... that is, everybody but Sam. And he offered no explanation in "Transition" which was the next episode. I could have done without Sam in "Tomorrow" - I mean, that 1 minute long appearance would have been more precious in "Requiem", to be sure. That's actually a major annoyance to be honest, that that was so badly handled.
Well, what remains is the impression that "West Wing" ultimately was about that next generation of politicians, i.e. Sam and Josh - especially Josh, of course, after Sam's departure. Throughout those 7 seasons we saw Josh grow from the impulsive pit bull of the Bartlet administration to a seasoned, and somewhat circumspect advisor. We saw him grow weary, we saw the spark return, and we finally see him take up the reins of an administration in taking up Leo's legacy. Honestly, I'd have loved to see what would have happened had Sam not left - perhaps he'd have won the California election, perhaps he'd have been the presidential candidate instead of Santos and thus fulfilling Bartlet's prediction of him becoming president with Josh at his side. But again, it was not to be.
I'm sure I'll rewatch at least seasons 1 to 4 in the not so far future, so this certainly won't be my last posting. It's certainly been a privilege to watch this high-quality show. There aren't so many of those around right now after all...