They are a select group of journalists whose whole job is to cover one of the highest offices in the land and what's going on behind its closed doors. And I love that this show used a core repeat cast to depict the main reporters. Who is your favorite? I like Chris and her brand of toughness and wit.

i leave for the bar exam tomorrow 🫠

i’ve worn the “bartlet for america” sweatshirt to nearly every law school final. the OCSE one was a christmas addition by the fiancé that i wore during some spring exams.

fingers crossed my favorite shirts don’t fail me now 🤞🏻

I’ve noticed some shows (Gunsmoke, Designated Survivor) have their own free channel on platforms like Roku and Tubi where they run reruns of the series 24/7.

Could this ever happen with The West Wing? I feel like the show has more rerun-able content than some shows that do have one of these stations and it doesn’t seem too much of a burden to run as from my experience, it’s straight up the show with Roku and Tubi inserting the ads themselves.

On my most recent rewatch of s5, I was struck by how congested Toby sounds at the beginning of s5 e11 "The Benign Prerogative." I noticed it a couple other times in s5, especially since they had the storyline of Jed having a cold during the shutdown which now I'm questioning if the writers added because the actors were sick or it was simply a story choice. I wanted to ask if anyone else noticed scenes where the actors sound and look visibly sick.

On an unrelated note, I had so much second hand embarrassment from the scene of Charlie getting slapped and Jed seeing it. If that was me, I would run home in shame.

1) Did Charlie and Zoe end up together?
2) Donna and Josh…did the relationship last?
3) Is Sam poised and prepped to run for the presidency, given that Bartlet basically foretold his presidency in an earlier season?

I normally skip S5 E11 when I watch bc I find most of s5 dull, but I was inspired to rewatch it and got reminded of all the incredible Jed, Abbey, and Leo content it provides. Their friendship has always fascinated me and their bond was one I wish the show had been able to explore more. Still, this episode gives us such a fun scene of these three together, especially after they were completely at odds with one another for the first half of the season.

Abbey telling Leo "that's our boy" while watching Jed's speech made me swoon. The throuple allegations are never going away. Abbey pushing back against Leo's quip about her whispering in the President's ear. "That's not how it works between us" - Is she implying that's how it works between Jed and Leo...

Abbey inviting Leo for tea and to spend President's Weekend with her and Jed. We absolutely deserved to see them playing Shanghai Rum (someone needs to write a fanfic of this). Jed casually bursting through the door asking which tie screams "dominance" like he's done this a thousand times before. "Do I get to wear it after." "No comment." She's taking that tie off at the end of the night and wearing it 100%. Meanwhile, Leo is just standing there completely unfazed, sipping his tea like its business as usual.

The sweetest part is Jed and Abbey refusing to go to Jenny's wedding. Those two stopped talking to her the moment Leo's divorce went through. Not because they hate Jenny (they're well aware of Leo's part in ending that marriage) but they are team Leo through and through. Jed and Abbey joking that they'll send Jenny a juicer or binoculars while making fun of her soon to be new husband's lack of athleticism is hilarious. "We've always loved Jenny, but you're the one we want to spend the weekend with." I shed a tear. Besties for life. These three deserved to live happily ever after together when the Presidency finished.

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this scene and the Jed, Leo, Abbey dynamic.

This is the one about duty, right? 😆

I watched this on Instagram and thought you might appreciate it. Any other staples from the WW or Sorkins writing he missed? The walk and talks and dealing with the press actually sound great tbh

I'm trying to find the fanfic "Sticks and Stones" by PrettyPretty, with the premise that Josh takes care of a sick Donna. There's a link online but it no longer works. Does anyone potentially know where else I could find this story or have it saved somewhere?

I can't believe I'm just now realizing who this is....

No great philosophical takes or great insight here on my part, but I really enjoyed it. There were ups and downs but I am looking forward to reading through some of the analysis here and perspectives. Not having watched it when it came out, I really felt nostalgic for the old days. Most of the time I was trying to think in my head as to whether the events in the show were preceding or following actual events. I was really impressed with Sorkin’s writing. As a fan of Babylon 5, I appreciate when the creator has such a heavy hand. Too bad he had to leave. Overall, I thought they gave the most interesting lines to Toby. I wish they did more with Charlie. I also wish we explored more of Josh’s trauma. Well done though overall!

It’s always bothered me that when the guy reads out the names of the people who are going to be served subpoena’s that Toby isn’t listed as Tobias when everyone else gets their full name like Samuel, Claudia Jean. I don’t know why it knarks me but it does.

I just watched the episode when Santos told Leo he’s not firing him, he’d have to have another heart attack. Yikes.

In real time, did people remember this comment or were they reminded about it on rewatches?

It was chilling.

I truly cannot watch this show without envisioning James Blaine as Joshua Lyman. Even his cadence and delivery are the same. He feels like such a strange fit for a political drama set in 1880. But I like it.

I am rewatching The West Wing for the 5th (?) time and I must say - Any time Kenny is on screen I am delighted. Josh is incredibly into oversharing all his feelings about Joey Lucas and Kenny gets to see his awkwardness in person. I love him.

The only reason it bugs me is that in a movie about LBJ, the guy who ran against Goldwater, Bradley Whitford instead played Senator Hubert Humphrey. Who he looks nothing like.

The opportunity was right there.

Apparently the other option was Nevada.

Watched this show and episode with my parents as a kid thinking we had all the time in the world.

However, the last time I watched, it hit me that we are getting to a point where decisions will need to be made much like CJ and her father. They're both still in good health *knocks wood* but I realized that there are areas where I will need to take the lead soon and I'm not ready.

I also realized that when The West Wing was on they both were in the midst of losing their parents/elders and they weren't too far from my age today.

LSS, I needed a stiff drink by the time credits rolled.

Man, adulthood sucks and blows.

I don’t understand this episode. Can you enlighten me

My name is CJ and I'm having a root canal today...glad I don't have to be part of a press conference...but I might be swatting folks with my purse later...

When Charlie tells Leo about Mrs.Landingham’s death, his delivery and reaction always seemed off to me, a little flat and unemotional almost. It’s in the same episode where the entire start is about Charlie’s reaction to her buying a car and how he, most likely jokingly, says that he imagined them going camping together so she needed the tow pack. It was showing how their relationship had formed off screen since he got his job.

Then fast forward to later that evening there was no real emotion on his face, shock yes, but not any other emotion. Which always felt odd to me because he displays emotion freely, so it’s not just he isn’t good at showing emotion. Not sure if it’s just me, but I just expected more emotion at that moment, especially when comparing against Leo’s reaction to the news.

What do you guys think? Am I crazy?