needs moar Lord John Marbury
As part of a fallback on escapist brain candy in the last few ... however long, I've been working through ye olde The West Wing dvds in fits and starts. And ... I'd forgotten how adorable and charming it could be. And nostalgia (and brain-fuzz, and maybe possibly maturity-induced-mellowness) are definitely helping to screen out the things I otherwise find irritating about it.
Currently somewhere in the middle of S4, and a few observations:
1) Wow, I am finding Will a whole lot more attractive this time around. (Sam too, but that's less surprising, unless you are aware of my resistance to idealistic, pretty square-jawed American types.) I do not know why, but all of a sudden his attitude and gumption and status as youngest son of former NATO Supreme Allied Commander has got me going all ... hmm, rather than eh, okay. Plus? He can wear the hell out of a suit. I did not notice this before. I do not know why I'm noticing this now. Other than maybe Neal Caffery has made me more sensitive to suit-porn and Josh's jackets always did feel a little uncomfortably broad in the shoulders. Like, not eighties-shoulder-pads broad, but ... off, somehow.
2) While I knew Bartlet was supposed to be almost entirely off-camera, I had no idea until recently that Sam was supposed to be the focus character. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest, though, given Sorkin's ... Sorkinness. The shift massively served the balance/appeal of the show, in my opinion. Nothing against Sam, but that story? Not Sorkin's most interesting one (and I say that like he has more than one, and ... he does and he doesn't). Also makes more sense of Sam leaving the show when Sorkin did, but anyway. Props for recognising the richest narrative seam and following it, however that came about.
3) I adore Charlie and couldn't care less about Zoey. There, I said it. I just ... don't care. Bartlet as a father is always fun to watch, but his daughters themselves barely register. Abbey is always a knockout, though.
4) I never, not once, not even the first time around when I didn't give it much thought at all, bought Christian Slater as a naval officer. This time watching it with a more critical eye makes me wonder what they were thinking. Don't get me wrong, I'll take my Christian Slater however I can get him provided it doesn't require me slogging through a bunch of schlocky, terrible movies, and no, I refuse to recognise any common denominator there at all because Christian Slater, but a naval officer he is not. Nor any kind of military type whatsoever, unless it's some kind of subversive/rebellious grunt story like Joaquin Phoenix in that one. What was it called? Something to do with bulls. Yes?
*googles* Buffalo Soldiers. Ah. Well, anyway.
Christian Slater is Christian Slater and he gets a pass straight from my sixteen-year-old's establishment-hating ovaries, is what I'm saying, only I don't know why the casting peoples felt the same way. Especially not an ambitious naval officer, which seemed to be what they were implying. And the way he went out was ... well, only reinforces the idea that he was there solely to unambiguously and once-for-all hit Josh in the face with his feelings for Donna. Which. I mean, considering Josh's obliviousness, requires a Christian-Slater-calibre shot across the bow, so fair enough I guess? Is that what their ovaries were thinking? But when the first interaction was explicitly all about honour (the Bartlet-Richie vote-swap incident), it all just strikes a kind of weird note.
5) Throwing snowballs at Donna's window, though. Possibly rated most adorable scene of the series. OMG Toby ILU. AND DANNY. AND CHARLIE (even non-sequitor-hung-up on his love for Zoey). AND WILL, YOU CUTE LIL NEWBIE, YOU'RE CUTE.
6) Danny is back! I personally will ship CJ with absolutely anyone she wants to bang, because honestly, CJ. But of all the bangees I love equally, Danny may be the most equal. Thanks for end-gaming that one for us, WW.
Currently somewhere in the middle of S4, and a few observations:
1) Wow, I am finding Will a whole lot more attractive this time around. (Sam too, but that's less surprising, unless you are aware of my resistance to idealistic, pretty square-jawed American types.) I do not know why, but all of a sudden his attitude and gumption and status as youngest son of former NATO Supreme Allied Commander has got me going all ... hmm, rather than eh, okay. Plus? He can wear the hell out of a suit. I did not notice this before. I do not know why I'm noticing this now. Other than maybe Neal Caffery has made me more sensitive to suit-porn and Josh's jackets always did feel a little uncomfortably broad in the shoulders. Like, not eighties-shoulder-pads broad, but ... off, somehow.
2) While I knew Bartlet was supposed to be almost entirely off-camera, I had no idea until recently that Sam was supposed to be the focus character. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest, though, given Sorkin's ... Sorkinness. The shift massively served the balance/appeal of the show, in my opinion. Nothing against Sam, but that story? Not Sorkin's most interesting one (and I say that like he has more than one, and ... he does and he doesn't). Also makes more sense of Sam leaving the show when Sorkin did, but anyway. Props for recognising the richest narrative seam and following it, however that came about.
3) I adore Charlie and couldn't care less about Zoey. There, I said it. I just ... don't care. Bartlet as a father is always fun to watch, but his daughters themselves barely register. Abbey is always a knockout, though.
4) I never, not once, not even the first time around when I didn't give it much thought at all, bought Christian Slater as a naval officer. This time watching it with a more critical eye makes me wonder what they were thinking. Don't get me wrong, I'll take my Christian Slater however I can get him provided it doesn't require me slogging through a bunch of schlocky, terrible movies, and no, I refuse to recognise any common denominator there at all because Christian Slater, but a naval officer he is not. Nor any kind of military type whatsoever, unless it's some kind of subversive/rebellious grunt story like Joaquin Phoenix in that one. What was it called? Something to do with bulls. Yes?
*googles* Buffalo Soldiers. Ah. Well, anyway.
Christian Slater is Christian Slater and he gets a pass straight from my sixteen-year-old's establishment-hating ovaries, is what I'm saying, only I don't know why the casting peoples felt the same way. Especially not an ambitious naval officer, which seemed to be what they were implying. And the way he went out was ... well, only reinforces the idea that he was there solely to unambiguously and once-for-all hit Josh in the face with his feelings for Donna. Which. I mean, considering Josh's obliviousness, requires a Christian-Slater-calibre shot across the bow, so fair enough I guess? Is that what their ovaries were thinking? But when the first interaction was explicitly all about honour (the Bartlet-Richie vote-swap incident), it all just strikes a kind of weird note.
5) Throwing snowballs at Donna's window, though. Possibly rated most adorable scene of the series. OMG Toby ILU. AND DANNY. AND CHARLIE (even non-sequitor-hung-up on his love for Zoey). AND WILL, YOU CUTE LIL NEWBIE, YOU'RE CUTE.
6) Danny is back! I personally will ship CJ with absolutely anyone she wants to bang, because honestly, CJ. But of all the bangees I love equally, Danny may be the most equal. Thanks for end-gaming that one for us, WW.