Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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135 of 149 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a send-off!, August 12, 2006
It wouuld be difficult for me to truly describe the wonderful shock that is The West Wing's final season. I, like so many, had given up on The West Wing when Aaron Sorkin left, wished the show cancelled during its atrocious 5th season, and, honestly, found the show an irritating fantasy during the Sorkin-helmed 4th season anyway. Something astonishing happens during "The Ticket," the season's first episode - you feel, in its incredible pacing, structure, and emotional understatement - that Aaron Sorkin has not only returned but has regained all of his abilities as a writer. That he is not at all involved with the show means that writers like Eli Attie and Deborah Cahn have finally gotten their work as writers to both revive the lightning-quick trademarks of The West Wing while also justifying the often-unswallowable plot maneuvers of its previous two seasons. It occurred to me during "Message of the Week," a nimble and thrilling episode, that campaign-trail politics had never been so accurately represented, if they'd truly ever been attempted at all. That means The West Wing had found a reason to exist again, and that sense invigorated all the stories it surrounded - the White House's "leak" story, or the regional conflict between Kazhakstan and China. And, in a winning surprise, it also revived its still extraordinary cast - Bradley Whitford especially turns the stress of campaigning into a frayed study of stress and exhaustion, and with Janeane Garofalo at his side, he finds a sparring partner of incredible energy. The two's chemistry makes the workplace seem as vital a beast as this White House ever seemed in its prime.
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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
POTUS falls off bicycle..., October 25, 2006
From the amazingly crafted pilot episode through the touching final scene aboard what had been 'Air Force One' as it takes Citizen and Mrs. Bartlett back to New Hampshire after the swearing in of the new President Santos, 'The West Wing' (for the most part) held its own as possibly the most well-written, well-researched, superbly-acted one hour drama in American television history.
That said, the show certainly had its weaknesses, which were only amplified with the subsequent departures of Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme.
But. These weaknesses were nothing at all compared to seven seasons of riveting (can we really be watching this?) behind-the-scenes look at possibly the most shrouded building in the world.
Yes, Sorkin struck gold with the concept, and then hit the jackpot with his cast. Also, a key strength to the show was its amazingly creative ability to go back in time and actually add meat and propel the story further. Flashbacks had never been done so effectively, ever.
That cast... the leads were in a league of their own and completely perfect from the moment they appeared on screen (okay, except for Moira Kelly - and she was dealt with rather quickly).
Even the recurring cast, especially Timothy Busfied, Mary Louise-Parker, Roger Rees, Oliver Platt, Allison Smith, Anna Deavere Smith, Mark Harmon, Joanna Gleason, the Bartlett daughters, Emily Proctor, Michael O'Neill (Secret Service Agent Ron Butterfield), Ron Silver, the vice presidents, the GLORIOUS Mrs. Landingham, John Amos (Joint Chiefs), the White House correspondents, John Goodman, and, most of all, Marlee Matlin - all gave 100%, 100% of the time... They added to the reality of the world created inside this West Wing.
The seventh season was exactly the season 'The West Wing' needed to be to end its streak. It was funny again. It was smart again. And, most of all, it remembered who it was again.
Though I prefered the Bartlett-related storylines to Santos/Vinick, seeing an entire season build up to a Santos victory had its moments. The live debate was a unique gimmick, and it worked. And for those who think that a real U.S. presidential campaign only takes a few months... think again. It lasts about four years these days.
Bottom line. If you only caught an episode or two of this show while it was on, here's your chance to spend a small fortune for the DVDs. And then disappear for a week and watch it from start to finish... you'll be amazed at how well it all fits.
'The West Wing' is a DVD must-own!
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Have Series, October 26, 2006
The West Wing/7th Season is a must buy! The series, which owes its genesis to the movie, The American President, is probably the best and most detailed study of the happenings at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue ever created for popular culture.
The seventh and final season brought back the sharp feistiness of the Sorkin/Schlamme days. Nearly all the main character stories were resolved; however, the Charlie/Zoe storyline was left hanging. This series was definitely not worthy of such a cowardly decision. (While it could be debated that Charlie was not a main character, the relationship was a major storyline over several seasons and worthy of a definitive resolution.)
John Spencer's death was an ironic and unexpected blow to the series. I'm glad that "Leo McGarry" was remembered in a way that was befitting both the character and the man who portrayed him.
Without a doubt, the entire series is a definite keeper!
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