A suspect in the presidential shooting is caught; staffers anxious await news on Bartlet and Josh's injuries; flashbacks show how C.J. Two Cathedrals (Season 2): Cinematically the finest episode ever of the show, Two Cathedrals is a magnificent 42-minute display of ambition, passion, fury and brilliance (from both President Bartlet and the makers of The West Wing). The West Wing is an American serial political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin that aired on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006. and Donna joined Bartlet's campaign. An… announces that she sees Andy on the TV and they all look up. RELATED: The West Wing: Ranking Every Season Finale. It's telling that the worst episodes belong to the three seasons which followed the show's creator and primary writer Aaron Sorkin's departure. Here are the worst episodes of The West Wing according to IMDb. Ainsley meets her new boss, Lionel Tribbey (John Larroquette), the White House Counsel, who puts on quite a show. is tasked with choosing the turkey Jed must pardon. C.J. Written By; Aaron Sorkin: Directed by . C.J. A trend that he continued in S60, and used quite well in The Social Network. In the final episode, "Two Cathedrals," Mrs. Landingham's funeral is central as is the question of whether the President will run for re-election. Leo shows Ainsley to her basement office. In the bullpen, people are desperately trying to contact representatives of the codel. accompany President Bartlet on a. NASA prepares to receive the first pictures from their new Mars probe, accompanied by a live broadcast with the President. While many of The West Wing's episodes are works of genius, other episodes were not quite as impactful. spoken by Josh. Some Sorkin gold, these were. The staff considers how to deal with the bad news of a poll by Joey Lucas that reveals voters have hugely negative reactions to the possibility of a politician having a potentially fatal disease and covering it up. and Leo separately learn damaging facts about Tom and racism, so Leo directs Sam to cancel the support for Tom and Sam is left saddened and shaken. This was the first season with executive producer John Wells as showrunner after series creator Aaron Sorkin departed the series at the end of the previous season. The season ends with the President announcing his multiple sclerosis, and concludes just moments before he answers a reporter's question: "Mr. President, can you tell us right now if you'll be seeking a second term?". The idealised, liberal portrayal of American politics provided a perfect antidote to the disheartening reality. Flashback episodes. Mrs. Landingham, the longtime secretary of President Bartlet, dies in the penultimate episode, "18th and Potomac." But there are two important plots in this episode that elevate it to a new level. Sam works on a speech involving a tax increase and is later told the MS story. A special episode dealing with some of the questions and issues currently facing the world in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks on the United States. Aaron Sorkin originally planned to have such flashbacks as a major part of the entire season, but budget and logistical demands prevented this. The second season of the American political drama television series The West Wing aired in … In this season, The West Wing characters are shown as being more capable of legislating thanks to an increased approval rating (described as a temporary "bubble" due to the shooting that ends the first season). The decision to include these episodes came from a few basic facts: 1) It took a few seasons, but “West Wing” had recaptured some of its Sorkin-era glory by this point. With Congress reconvening, the White House is planning a "leadership breakfast" to encourage bipartisan cooperation. The democratically elected new Haitian president is facing a military coup and the U.S. finds itself in the middle of the storm when a U.S. diplomat smuggles the new President into the safety of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. The President makes an appearance at a reception for radio talk show hosts, where he engages, questions, and completely blows apart the reactionary views of a radio counselor. Warner Bros. TV. Five episodes later, The West Wing was as tonally different as it is possible to be. Directed by Thomas Schlamme. The West Wing is an American serial political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin that aired on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006. Two special episodes were produced to complement the series and broadcast on NBC. April 6, 2018. [51], In Canada; the US airing was pre-empted for one week by. White House Counsel Oliver Babish questions C.J. What else? There are 154 regular season episodes, plus the special episodes "Isaac and Ishmael" and "Documentary Special". Click here and start watching The West Wing in seconds. (And let's not include timewarp episodes such as Manchester or Inauguration.) Josh grows ever more anxious and volatile after his shooting, and is ordered by Leo to see a psychiatrist. In a brief conversation with Mrs. Landingham, directly before she goes to collect her first new car, the President says he'd like to have a word with her on her return. The numbers on IMDb bear that out— only one episode from the post-Sorkin era of The West Wing breaks into the top 10 episodes … [49] Both episodes ran within the season 3 television season and were included on the season's DVD. C.J. The death of [spoiler] causes Bartlet to flashback to his teenage years, and the episode concludes with consecutive scenes of perfection: Bartlet’s speech … It is later revealed that she was killed by a drunk driver. Plus we should make a list. I'm going from memory here. While the senior staff prepares for the midterm elections, 12 weeks away, much debate and discussion take place. The multiple sclerosis arc (also introduced in the first season) becomes central late in the second season as staff members are introduced one-by-one to the President's ailment and the public made aware. Many dedicated fans will tell you that the show went downhill after Sorkin left at the end of season four. Top 25 West Wing Episodes by Trizzy19 | created - 25 Aug 2012 | updated - 02 Nov 2013 | Public The best episodes of the best TV show or all time. [50], A third retrospective "clip-and-interview" special was slated to air in the hour before the series finale; however, it was axed and replaced with a re-run of the "Pilot" episode, as cast members were not contracted to do the special and there were disputes over pay. Months after Josh was near-fatally shot during the white supremacists’ attack in Rosslyn, his PTSD and suicidal thoughts are becoming clear to his best friends, the staffers of the West Wing. Josh runs into trouble with an insurance carrier over its refusal to pay $50,000 of his hospital bill; while Sam lends a hand, he suggest Josh sue the Ku Klux Klan, who were indirectly responsible for him getting shot. [46][47] Although timely and well-intentioned, the episode was criticized for being condescending and preachy. PREVIOUSLY ON THE WEST WING. [46] The episode "was written and produced in record time" – less than three weeks. The President agrees with Leo that he should have a discussion with the staff about whether or not to seek reelection.