I recently discovered that Amazon Prime had this show for their streaming program, so I decided to give it a go, having heard quite a bit about it. From the first episode, I found myself absolutely hooked on it. It's simply one of the smartest, funniest, thought-provoking shows I've ever seen. I finished the entire seven seasons within about 2 weeks, and I'm already on a rewatch. I was just wondering if there were any other fans on here? Thoughts on the show? Any opinions on it post-Sorkin?
I watched it off and on as it aired and remember thinking it was really good; but I never got into a routine of watching it weekly. I've been thinking about renting or buying the DVDs lately; I really want to go back and re-watch the whole thing through as I've forgotten a lot of the details about the story lines.
I'm pretty sure [MENTION=8013]Washburne[/MENTION] and [MENTION=7585]Kean[/MENTION] are fans of the show. 😉
WashburneI obviously think you should do a rewatch.
I've been meaning to watch it for a long time now. I've always thought about buying the complete series (I really like the big complete sets they come out with, and HMV has a really nice one for The West Wing), but despite hearing almost universally good things, I've never gotten around to it. I should though.
I know that [MENTION=11853]Jodast[/MENTION] is a huge fan.
TV doesn't get any better than this! All seven seasons are the best thing ever aired. The first four seasons (when Aaron Sorkin wrote or co-wrote 87 of the first 88 episodes) are head and shoulders above anything I have ever seen.
For those of you who are fans of Joss Whedon's dialogue, check this out. The scripts make Whedon's best efforts look merely above average. Honestly, in the 7 seven seasons and 156 episodes, there is not a single bad one.
Best. Show. Ever!
I hope all of our evangelising will convince some doubters to give it a try. You will not regret it.
TV doesn't get any better than this! All seven seasons are the best thing ever aired. The first four seasons (when Aaron Sorkin wrote or co-wrote 87 of the first 88 episodes) are head and shoulders above anything I have ever seen.
For those of you who are fans of Joss Whedon's dialogue, check this out. The scripts make Whedon's best efforts look merely above average. Honestly, in the 7 seven seasons and 156 episodes, there is not a single bad one.
Best. Show. Ever!
I hope all of our evangelising will convince some doubters to give it a try. You will not regret it.
Interesting take. I never thought I would have heard you say something like that for some reason (In regards to Joss' writing.) However, I find myself compelled to agree with you. About Aaron Sorkin's writing, anyway. As for there not being a single bad episode, I personally disagree. Seasons 1-4 were pure brilliance. Some episodes in season 5 were also pure brilliance, but I feel that after that, they tragically dropped and shattered the ball, and steered the show completely off course. There were some wonderful episodes/moments here and there, but it was nothing like it had been.
Having said that, even the "bad" episodes, or seasons where I felt they dropped the ball, it's still head and shoulders over anything else. They had an amazing cast that absolutely nailed everything every time and brilliant sets - Couple those with the breathtaking writing from the first four seasons, and you've got yourself a recipe for perfection. I would definitely say that for anyone even considering it, it's a blind buy. You won't be disappointed.
I can't help but wish that Jed Bartlet and co. were real. I'd vote for Bartlet in a heartbeat.
One thing to add: The number of The West Wing/Buffy crossover fanfictions is a bit scary. I was online last night and saw something come across my tumblr that prompted me to do a search. Now, I didn't read any of them but I have to say that it seems a bit odd to cross these two staggeringly different shows.
One thing to add: The number of The West Wing/Buffy crossover fanfictions is a bit scary. I was online last night and saw something come across my tumblr that prompted me to do a search. Now, I didn't read any of them but I have to say that it seems a bit odd to cross these two staggeringly different shows.
Now that I didn't see coming. Maybe I should since fan fics seem to be about every combination possible. So that two good shows get mixed sould be a given don't you think? 😉
---------- Post added at 10:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:25 PM ----------
First off, let me apoligise for the total misclick. Obviously, I wouldn't intentionally disagree with someone for liking the same thing as me. I am completely mortified and embarrassed.
Interesting take. I never thought I would have heard you say something like that for some reason (In regards to Joss' writing.) However, I find myself compelled to agree with you. About Aaron Sorkin's writing, anyway. As for there not being a single bad episode, I personally disagree. Seasons 1-4 were pure brilliance. Some episodes in season 5 were also pure brilliance, but I feel that after that, they tragically dropped and shattered the ball, and steered the show completely off course. There were some wonderful episodes/moments here and there, but it was nothing like it had been.
I am an unabashed Whedon fanboy, but Sorkin is even better, in my never humble opinion 🙂 As for season 5-7, I felt exactly the same as you on first, and for that matter, second viewing. Then I went away for a few years and watched other shows, which I think are great, Supernatural, BSG, Warehouse 13, Dexter, Bones, NCIS, True Blood, Game of Thrones and even The West Wing's spiritual successor, Suits. Then I went back to watch season 7 of The West Wing as it is the season I have seen the least. Within two minutes of the first episode, I turned to my best friend and said "This show is just better than everything else ever." He raised an eyebrow and simply said "No s**t."
Having said that, even the "bad" episodes, or seasons where I felt they dropped the ball, it's still head and shoulders over anything else. They had an amazing cast that absolutely nailed everything every time and brilliant sets - Couple those with the breathtaking writing from the first four seasons, and you've got yourself a recipe for perfection. I would definitely say that for anyone even considering it, it's a blind buy. You won't be disappointed.
Absolutely! I can't echo this enough. It is genius in televisual form and everyone should do what they legally can to ensure they watch the pilot episode. You'll be hooked from then on and 156 episodes will fly by. It's like intellectual crack! There's even a reasonably healthy amount of shipping to be had, for those of you who are into that sort of thing 😉
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WashburneI'm so nice pointing it out. Lots of love. :: red ::
Wash told me on Twitter I had to come post in this thread, and so here I am. 🙂
This is easily the best show I have every had the pleasure of watching. Smart, funny, dramatic, heartfelt and just plain wonderful. I agree with [MENTION=11853]Jodast[/MENTION] too, take any script from seasons 1-4 and it will run rings around anything Whedon has produced. I don't mean that disdainfully, but where as Joss creates worlds for you to exist in, where the characters almost feel like friends, The West Wing is the single most entertaining show I have ever watched.
The "Scoobies" of the show are probably the best team I have ever seen. So good that there is no possible way to pick a favourite. Sometimes I think it is Toby but then I remember Josh, then Leo... and it just goes on and on.
BTW, if you're on Twitter and you're not already following him, get following President Bartlett. I don't know who is running the account but they are brilliant and perfectly in voice.
I've bought season 1 and watched the first two episodes of the West Wing, and I do intend to continue, but I've recently become distracted by Doctor Who, of which I just bought the first four seasons. I really love President Bartlet. 🙂
I love, and need, that t-shirt. I should wear it on election day 😛 Actually, I think I need most of the merchandise on that page. I also really want to buy the box set of the show, as it looks like it's PHENOMENAL, but I know that they can upgrade the show in HD (as seen by moi on Amazon) so the second I buy the boxset, they will announce a blu-ray boxset, which I would buy in a heartbeat.
[MENTION=11853]Jodast[/MENTION] -
Well, that's reassuring. I'm hoping that I will eventually feel the same toward the last two seasons, it's just quite hard to at the moment. It doesn't feel like the same show to me. I would have much preferred if they had
stayed in the White House, rather than following the campaigns of Santos and Vinnick.
I wanted more of the characters I had come to love in the previous five years, I think that is my biggest beef with those two years. Season seven, in particular, I felt should have dealt with more of Jed dealing with the realization that this was his last year in office, and trying to decide what he was going to do afterward.
[MENTION=7585]Kean[/MENTION] -
Oh, for sure. Absolutely the best team I've ever seen. I personally tend to lean more towards C.J. as my favourite, but that is by no means saying downgrading the others. They are all phenomenal. Sorkin did a wonderful job making them three dimensional characters, and that is just unfortunately far too seldom seen these days (On both television and film.)
P.S. - Thank you for the twitter link. That account alone has made me decide to start using twitter again. I really wish I knew who was behind the account, they are absolutely on point.
[MENTION=10297]Spikefan31[/MENTION] Ahhh, getting distracted by Doctor Who. That happened to me during my Buffy rewatch. That's a great show, too. You should let us know when you get back into TWW, I'd love to see your views on the episodes as you progress.
Watching the show has cemented my decision to choose Political Science as my major when I go to college. I was already leaning towards it, but The West Wing tipped the plate for me.
Oh, general question for the court...I keep seeing people say that the show skipped a year in the later seasons. Can someone explain this to me? I have thought about it, but so far I can't come up with anything.
I'm glad to see I'm not the only fan on these boards, definitely look forward to discussion of this ground-breaking show with you all!
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