West Wing Squee-age
Very rambly and repetitive, with grammar to give Toby and Sam coronaries, but here we are.
So I started watching ‘The West Wing’ this season, having heard several of you praise it online and in person. And I’m really enjoying it. I’d flipped past the show when I got cable at Pratt, thinking the dialogue was too fast or the plot too boring (I know, I know). So after reading loads of forum posts and recaps on TWOP, and seeing that Amazon was offering the first two seasons for $20 each, I put them on my Christmas list and campaigned aggressively to make them front-runners (read: bugged Mom about it). I finished the second season two nights ago.
Pilot: Dr. Cuddy as an escort! I’d been warned, but it was still pretty funny. And having the wrath of the president brought down on the fundies at the end warmed me to everyone (even if a preacher forgetting the first commandment seemed pretty far-fetched). Side note - every time school prayer is mentioned, it makes me want to throw things. It’s not even truly Christian - lock yourself in your room and pray in the dark and all that.
The Crackpots and These Women: Don’t give up your card, Josh - come party at Mt. Weather! Hearing Jed appreciate “these women” at the end was so cool. You just love “the guys”, so to see the girls get due recognition is awesome as well.
Mr. Willis of Ohio: Charlie/Zoey is so cute. Josh and Sam arguing over who would’ve taken who - kdajkfsljdfklsdf! And the staff having poker night! It’s so nice when they get a victory.
The State Dinner: My brother was home for Christmas, and I just wanted to tell him he’d better get on the biggest ship in the fleet. Also, the only time I found Josh/Mandy at all cute.
In Excelsis Deo: I’d heard great things about this episode (”soupytwist” and I visited the Korean War Memorial because of it). It was subtler than I thought it would be, which befits a Toby episode. Oh, Toby. I love that you’re grumpy, and I love that you know (almost) everything. Richard Schiff owned, but Mrs. Landingham asking to come along is what got me. The rest of the cast lining up and smiling at each other during ‘Little Drummer Boy’ was such a nice contrast.
Lord John Marbury: Some people at TWOP can’t seem to stand him. I think he’s adorable, and though I love Leo, I love how much Lord Marbury bugs him. Some people seemed to take issue with his drunkenness and womanizing, but it’s kind of a clever way to address the Embassy stereotype (that they can and do get away with anything) while treating it lightly.
Celestial Navigation: I really, really liked this one - the format, the story, and Sam and Toby driving around lost.
Let Bartlet Be Bartlet: “I serve at the pleasure of the President.” The last five minutes are just so uplifting.
What Kind of Day Has It Been: That has got to be the most evil cliffhanger in television history. I think I remember hearing about the evilness back then, but I wasn’t really paying attention. The rest of the episode is great on it’s own, but the ending is EVIL.
Whoa. Just whoa. Mandy’s gone and Rob Lowe’s hair is cuter (both cause for celebration). And then we’ve got...
In The Shadow of Two Gunmen I and II: So I knew that Josh was badly injured, and I knew the President was wounded. I’d actually seen about five minutes of this one years ago. Didn't hurt it at all (none of the spoilers did, for any of the eps). The guys are all so great in the flashbacks - Leo having been in Washington since the beginning of time, Sam and Josh and the face, Toby drinking at noon, Jed being totally honest (and hilarious) to the dairy farmer. And Donna meeting Josh for the first time, and her reaction when she’s told. And C.J. figuring out Sam took her down.
The Ainsley episodes: I really like Ainsley. I like that she’s Republican but respects her coworkers, I like that she and Donna have a conversation about them not looking alike, and I love the way she throws her drink. Blame it on the Bossa Nova? Too funny. It’s also so cute how her coworkers cheer her up at the end of her first day.
Somebody’s Going to Emergency, Somebody’s Going to Jail: I’ve watched this one twice so far, and I love it because I love when people who need hugs get them. Go Donna. :) And go Sam, for being such a woobie, and doing the right thing even though he was pissed at his own father. I wasn't expecting to like Sam as much as I do. And Toby protesting. And C.J. and the crazy map. Heh.
The Stackhouse Filibuster: It’s Jefferson Smith! I love that Donna gets to be the one to shine on this, and I love that they find a way to help him (though it’s a bit sad that he had to have an autistic grandchild to make them stand up and take notice).
Seventeen People: One of the best episodes this year has been mentioned as a kind of bookend to this one, so it’s interesting that I got to see them in reverse order. The ball! Again, it’s just so well done.
Two Cathedrals: Just - whoa. I’ve watched it twice so far. I love the flashbacks, the storm, the door swinging open. Some of the TWOP viewers are right, it’s not subtle. But it’s beautiful, and I’m such a sucker for parallels and symbols - like in ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring’, ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’, and this episode. “...then God Jed, I don’t even want to know you” makes me cry, as does the moment Mrs. Landingham inspires Jed to start on the path that leads him to where we know him today. And the cigarette, and the song at the end (I’m going to have to search out a WW music community) with all “the guys” converging to go to the press conference, and Jed sticking his hands in his pockets, and... just so many things. Is it possible it all fits in 42 minutes?
There’s so much more in both seasons (especially the second season), but it’s getting late, and I may have to get up at a decent hour tomorrow, and I also kind of want to reread this short thing I’m writing that explains some things about this longer thing I’m planning, because I had a dream last night that filled in some holes, and it’s all Aaron Sorkin’s fault, with his Cathedrals. So there.
In other news, Mom’s caught the nasty sinus infection I had. She came home tonight with one of her eyes almost swollen shut, so I’m driving her to the doctor tomorrow. Thus the getting up at a decent hour. Fun times.
Many people on my friends list seem to be sad or ill. *HUGS* f-list people.
So I started watching ‘The West Wing’ this season, having heard several of you praise it online and in person. And I’m really enjoying it. I’d flipped past the show when I got cable at Pratt, thinking the dialogue was too fast or the plot too boring (I know, I know). So after reading loads of forum posts and recaps on TWOP, and seeing that Amazon was offering the first two seasons for $20 each, I put them on my Christmas list and campaigned aggressively to make them front-runners (read: bugged Mom about it). I finished the second season two nights ago.
Pilot: Dr. Cuddy as an escort! I’d been warned, but it was still pretty funny. And having the wrath of the president brought down on the fundies at the end warmed me to everyone (even if a preacher forgetting the first commandment seemed pretty far-fetched). Side note - every time school prayer is mentioned, it makes me want to throw things. It’s not even truly Christian - lock yourself in your room and pray in the dark and all that.
The Crackpots and These Women: Don’t give up your card, Josh - come party at Mt. Weather! Hearing Jed appreciate “these women” at the end was so cool. You just love “the guys”, so to see the girls get due recognition is awesome as well.
Mr. Willis of Ohio: Charlie/Zoey is so cute. Josh and Sam arguing over who would’ve taken who - kdajkfsljdfklsdf! And the staff having poker night! It’s so nice when they get a victory.
The State Dinner: My brother was home for Christmas, and I just wanted to tell him he’d better get on the biggest ship in the fleet. Also, the only time I found Josh/Mandy at all cute.
In Excelsis Deo: I’d heard great things about this episode (”soupytwist” and I visited the Korean War Memorial because of it). It was subtler than I thought it would be, which befits a Toby episode. Oh, Toby. I love that you’re grumpy, and I love that you know (almost) everything. Richard Schiff owned, but Mrs. Landingham asking to come along is what got me. The rest of the cast lining up and smiling at each other during ‘Little Drummer Boy’ was such a nice contrast.
Lord John Marbury: Some people at TWOP can’t seem to stand him. I think he’s adorable, and though I love Leo, I love how much Lord Marbury bugs him. Some people seemed to take issue with his drunkenness and womanizing, but it’s kind of a clever way to address the Embassy stereotype (that they can and do get away with anything) while treating it lightly.
Celestial Navigation: I really, really liked this one - the format, the story, and Sam and Toby driving around lost.
Let Bartlet Be Bartlet: “I serve at the pleasure of the President.” The last five minutes are just so uplifting.
What Kind of Day Has It Been: That has got to be the most evil cliffhanger in television history. I think I remember hearing about the evilness back then, but I wasn’t really paying attention. The rest of the episode is great on it’s own, but the ending is EVIL.
Whoa. Just whoa. Mandy’s gone and Rob Lowe’s hair is cuter (both cause for celebration). And then we’ve got...
In The Shadow of Two Gunmen I and II: So I knew that Josh was badly injured, and I knew the President was wounded. I’d actually seen about five minutes of this one years ago. Didn't hurt it at all (none of the spoilers did, for any of the eps). The guys are all so great in the flashbacks - Leo having been in Washington since the beginning of time, Sam and Josh and the face, Toby drinking at noon, Jed being totally honest (and hilarious) to the dairy farmer. And Donna meeting Josh for the first time, and her reaction when she’s told. And C.J. figuring out Sam took her down.
The Ainsley episodes: I really like Ainsley. I like that she’s Republican but respects her coworkers, I like that she and Donna have a conversation about them not looking alike, and I love the way she throws her drink. Blame it on the Bossa Nova? Too funny. It’s also so cute how her coworkers cheer her up at the end of her first day.
Somebody’s Going to Emergency, Somebody’s Going to Jail: I’ve watched this one twice so far, and I love it because I love when people who need hugs get them. Go Donna. :) And go Sam, for being such a woobie, and doing the right thing even though he was pissed at his own father. I wasn't expecting to like Sam as much as I do. And Toby protesting. And C.J. and the crazy map. Heh.
The Stackhouse Filibuster: It’s Jefferson Smith! I love that Donna gets to be the one to shine on this, and I love that they find a way to help him (though it’s a bit sad that he had to have an autistic grandchild to make them stand up and take notice).
Seventeen People: One of the best episodes this year has been mentioned as a kind of bookend to this one, so it’s interesting that I got to see them in reverse order. The ball! Again, it’s just so well done.
Two Cathedrals: Just - whoa. I’ve watched it twice so far. I love the flashbacks, the storm, the door swinging open. Some of the TWOP viewers are right, it’s not subtle. But it’s beautiful, and I’m such a sucker for parallels and symbols - like in ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring’, ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’, and this episode. “...then God Jed, I don’t even want to know you” makes me cry, as does the moment Mrs. Landingham inspires Jed to start on the path that leads him to where we know him today. And the cigarette, and the song at the end (I’m going to have to search out a WW music community) with all “the guys” converging to go to the press conference, and Jed sticking his hands in his pockets, and... just so many things. Is it possible it all fits in 42 minutes?
There’s so much more in both seasons (especially the second season), but it’s getting late, and I may have to get up at a decent hour tomorrow, and I also kind of want to reread this short thing I’m writing that explains some things about this longer thing I’m planning, because I had a dream last night that filled in some holes, and it’s all Aaron Sorkin’s fault, with his Cathedrals. So there.
In other news, Mom’s caught the nasty sinus infection I had. She came home tonight with one of her eyes almost swollen shut, so I’m driving her to the doctor tomorrow. Thus the getting up at a decent hour. Fun times.
Many people on my friends list seem to be sad or ill. *HUGS* f-list people.