The West Wing
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in FavoritesThe Chessmasters: My Favorite Chess Centric TV Episodes and Storylines
There are few clearer cinematic shorthands than using the game of chess to signify intelligence with a bit of sinister manipulation thrown in as well. The Chessmaster is a genius manipulator, controlling the other characters and the action while still being removed from it. Chess is central to this idea because even to the viewer […] More
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CJ Cregg: The Smartest, Funniest, Saddest Girl in Dayton
I’ve been putting off writing this article on Bartlet White House Press Secretary (and later Chief of Staff) CJ Cregg for years now, and the reason for my procrastination has simply been—what’s there to say about her that hasn’t already been said? Sure, I could rant for a couple thousand words about my love for […] More
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The West Wing National Cathedral Scene: Bartlet’s Psalm of Lamentation
The West Wing National Cathedral scene is a spectacular feat of television hinging on Martin Sheen’s brilliant performance. The build is slow but the pace is just right and the payoff is perfect. We see Mrs. Landingham’s funeral near the beginning of “Two Cathedrals” and the tension is already palpable. Throughout the episode, President Josiah […] More
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The Lovable Difficulty and Inner Turmoil of Toby Ziegler
Sometimes it is hard to boil down the essence of what makes a character indelible. At other times though the depth of a character is clear. From his very first scene in the pilot all the way through to his last scene in the penultimate episode (“Institutional Memory”), Tobias Zachary Ziegler is irascible, uncompromising, and […] More
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The West Wing: A Reunion to Get Out the Vote, In Hartsfield’s Landing
”We understand that some people don’t fully appreciate the benefit of unsolicited advice from actors. We do know that. And if HBO Max was willing to point a camera at the ten smartest people in America, we’d gladly clear the stage for them. But the camera is pointed at us. And we feel, at a […] More
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The West Wing: “Shutdown,” Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Mom
Is it conceivable that a country’s governing political party, to maintain basic functions and operating similarly for almost 250 years…would swiftly, cravenly and selfishly ignore common sense? When they know it will harm and damage so many innocent lives? Would they have the nerve to idiotically reverse course and not protect their own citizens? To […] More
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The West Wing: “Requiem” — More of a Celebration, Really
I almost subtitled this article “A Study In Game Face”, because that’s the thing I love about it the most. Everyone talks about “The Supremes”, and while I love that one too (and its mind, and its shoes), I think “Requiem” is my favourite post-Sorkin era episode. It’s a tearjerker—beloved actor John Spencer had unexpectedly […] More
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The West Wing: “The Supremes” — Fear and Gloating in the SCOTUS
A note for future readers: It is late September of 2020. Protests to ensure that Black Lives Matter are ongoing across the country. A viral pandemic is killing 1000 people a day. The 2020 election is just over a month away. And Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the liberal lion and feminist icon of the United States […] More
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Children Will Listen: “Isaac and Ishmael” and a Gen Z Understanding of 9/11
“There’s nothing more American than coalition-building. The first thing John Wayne always did was put together a posse.” – CJ Cregg Pick Up a Pen, Start Writing In early 2017, my camp counselor Cat had a great idea: “Someone really ought to adapt ‘Isaac and Ishmael’ into a one-act play.” “Isaac and Ishmael” was the […] More
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in Favorites
Lockdown TV: The Best Shows to Comfort Watch
In these dark days, a lot of us are turning to the old idiot box even more to escape everything going on at the moment. Also, in long-term lockdown there are only so many new hobbies you can take up before you realise you hate hobbies. There are any number of amazing shows worthy of […] More
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The West Wing, “Two Cathedrals” — 16 Years Since My Last Confession
Two things you need to know right off the bat—I resisted watching The West Wing for a long time, and I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2003. I’m fine. We found it really early, and great strides have been made with regard to MS since it was that big scarey disease we did walk-a-thons […] More
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in Favorites
Favorites: Most Heartwarming and Tear-Jerking Holiday Moments
Favorites takes a lighter approach to the material we normally cover. Each week, we will take you through a list of favorites—whether it’s moments, scenes, episodes, characters, lines of dialogue, whatever!—in bite-sized articles perfect for your lunch break, a dull commute, or anywhere you need to take a Moment of Zen. So, sit back and […] More
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