Randall Flagg
Worst of the best
I actually never really liked CJ
Does anyone remember that Jackel episode? Her performance was very weird
Does anyone remember that Jackel episode? Her performance was very weird
Never quite got the bigging up of her Jackal performance... internally in the show, I mean.I actually never really liked CJ
Does anyone remember that Jackel episode? Her performance was very weird
Yeah, me too. It's soo boring/annoying how the West Wing is one big bff club and how everyone is idealistic and enthusiastic and 'good'. Often it felt like the show was either written by a 12 year old girl or a propaganda piece.*Hmm, I think I need some more comedy injected into the show, let's add another klutzy socially awkward woman, preferably blonde.*
I stopped watching the show and sort of forgot about it after Bartlett got re-elected, I was pretty bored by the show and all the characters by then.
Yeah, me too. It's soo boring/annoying how the West Wing is one big bff club and how everyone is idealistic and enthusiastic and 'good'. Often it felt like the show was either written by a 12 year old girl or a propaganda piece.
Which one is season 6? I mean what happens in it?Season 6 is so bad. I forgot how bad it was.
Yeah, that's the one. Season 5 was very good despite the loss of Sorkin and Season 7 had the election to keep momentum. Season 6 is the clear weak point.Which one is season 6? I mean what happens in it?
If it's the one I'm thinking of, it starts off terribly with all the stuff at Camp David with the parties from Israel and Palestine, goes on for a few episodes, they magically come to a solution for peace in the Middle East, and Leo has a heart attack. Then you have a few episodes of CJ being dreadful as chief as staff, but I remember it picking up drastically when Josh joins Santos's campaign.
Actually, is there the bit where he goes to China in that season, and he's stuck in bed cos of his MS?
He really was. I read they'd actually planned on making Alda win, but had a change of heart after John Spencer's death.Season 7 was good, but it achieved the remarkable feat of making want the Republican to win, since the goody goody Democart was far too perfect to be remotely interesting. Plus Alan Alda was brilliant.
Me?I'm enamoured with you.
I've heard that too. But it doesn't really chime with the flashforward at the begining of the season, which from what I remember showed (or at least heavily implied) Josh was working for the President. Plus even without Sorkin, it's a Democrat's fantasy show. They'd never have a Republican win it.He really was. I read they'd actually planned on making Alda win, but had a change of heart after John Spencer's death.
Nah. Sorkin's 1950's comic sensibility.
Oh. And I called you my soulmate!Nah. Sorkin's 1950's comic sensibility.
Yeah that makes sense. I can definitely see them adding in the role they gave him at the end (whatever it was, secretary of state or something, can't remember) due to Alda's popularity. There was nothing wrong with Smit's portrayal either, the character was just written as too perfect and thus too bland. Even Bartlett had lots of vices to round him out.Yeah you're probably right, it's not as black and white as I'd read it after some quick googling. Apparently, when they first set out on this campaign story, Santos was meant to win, but Alan Alda came across so well and so strongly that the writers were considering changing their planned ending to make him win; and apparently, John Spencer's death kind of killed any debate along those lines and they reverted back to their initial plan.
She had really done it jokingly and so they inserted it into the episode. No idea why as it wasn't particularly goodI actually never really liked CJ
Does anyone remember that Jackel episode? Her performance was very weird
I actually never really liked CJ
Does anyone remember that Jackel episode? Her performance was very weird
this is my least favourite thing of season 1 too. It's actually a bit of an in-joke from the crew as the actress who plays CJ did it for the crew one night and they loved it. In the show its just a bit weird.Never quite got the bigging up of her Jackal performance... internally in the show, I mean.
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Season 7 was good, but it achieved the remarkable feat of making want the Republican to win, since the goody goody Democart was far too perfect to be remotely interesting. Plus Alan Alda was brilliant.
it is true.I've heard that too. But it doesn't really chime with the flashforward at the begining of the season, which from what I remember showed (or at least heavily implied) Josh was working for the President. Plus even without Sorkin, it's a Democrat's fantasy show. They'd never have a Republican win it.
For the illness, they made a good ethical issue over it because he never actually lied. In fact, he never actually did anything wrong- is he legally obliged to tell electorate of it? no.Santos was just far too bland. Even Sorkin's fantasy President had all sorts of foibles. He was lying to the public about his illness for the first 2 series (easily an impeachable offence) was an openly weak military leader.
Thank you for posting that. A great read.Not sure if anyone saw the feature they did on Empire about The West Wing:
http://www.empireonline.com/westwing/
Really interesting!
I never knew this bit about the fish bowl:
http://www.empireonline.com/westwing/fishbowl.asp
Well indeed, that's kind of the point. My point isn't that Bartlett was unrealistic, it's that Santos was. Bartlett has these kind of minor foibles that real people have (even down to smoking) which made him a proper, identifiable characeter. Santos was too perfect. He was even shown as having the same diplomatic, democratic (Sorkin-esque) attitude to war, but with the cast iron unarguable back up of being a war hero to boot.For the illness, they made a good ethical issue over it because he never actually lied. In fact, he never actually did anything wrong- is he legally obliged to tell electorate of it? no.
His wife did though with the medication stuff but that's an issue for the AMA.
As for the military stuff, at the end of the day what president (in real life) would have had more experience? What evidence do you have that bush, clinton, obama, regan were stronger military leaders? Again, this is an excellent aspect of the show, he starts off incredibly naive militarily as seen in the 'proportional response' episode but as the years go by he becomes more and more a strong leader, but all of this is because of the work and help of the military advisors (like fitz), which is exactly what it would be like in the real world.
Nice, will give that a read, thanks for posting.Not sure if anyone saw the feature they did on Empire about The West Wing:
http://www.empireonline.com/westwing/
Really interesting!
I never knew this bit about the fish bowl:
http://www.empireonline.com/westwing/fishbowl.asp
She was in it from season two.it is true.
After sorkin left you can see the writers make a concerted effort to pull away from the left wing/democrat centred ideology of the show, one of the show's main criticisms at the time. You can see this with things like the introduction of the blonde annoying lawyer.
You must subscribe to this thread to respond that quickly. That shows how much you love it.It creates sentimentality well indeed.
But you did say you wouldn't say you wouldn't say you disliked it.I wouldn't say I wouldn't say I disliked it.
Just got my missus into it too.Finished re-watching it with Mrs. RiP last night, she hadn't seen it the first time round. She ended up enjoying it (which I didn't necessarily expect) and I enjoyed it as much the second time, though the decrease in quality is particularly notable mid-season 5 to mid-season 6 when you're expecting it. Thank God for the primary/presidential election lifeline they had towards the end of the show. The first four seasons with Sorkin on board are of very consistent quality and the show ranks very high in the 'best shows ever' debates for me, especially when you put it back in the context of when it was first aired.
Really really good show that is incredibly rewarding if it's your thing (I know Nilsson didn't like it at all, probably others as well).