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gryfndor_godess) wrote2012-03-09 10:29 pm
My new love
Y’all, I LOVE THE WEST WING!!!
I’ve only watched four episodes so far, but it makes me so happy! I can't believe I have seven whole seasons to watch!! Buying the complete series was one of the best purchases I've ever made! Here, have some flailing:
1x01: Josh insults an Evangelical Christian on national television and almost loses his job; the team tries to appease said Christian until she insults Jewish people, at which point Toby turns into a BAMF and calls her on her hypocritical BS; Bartlett tells her to get the hell out of his office because a fundamentalist group has just terrorized his granddaughter- so much emphasis on separation of church and state, IT’S LIKE THE PILOT WAS DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO ME- oh yeah, and Sam inadvertently sleeps with a call girl! 1x02: Sam stupidly decides to maintain a relationship with the call girl and is an ass about it; Syria shoots down an American plane and kills
-I LOVE C.J. I mean, this is probably not a surprise to anyone- it’s certainly not a surprise to me. She is clearly the Goddess of TWW (and not just because there is a sad lack of main female characters). For that matter, she is also the God of TWW. God is gender-neutral for C.J. Cregg.
-Second only to C.J. in my affection is Toby, who is utterly lovely, even though he was a bit stupid about the stock. I especially loved him in the pilot when he stood up to Mary Marsh and in 1x03 when he told the press that the SS investigated all potential threats to the president. Also, his reaction to the call girl news was WONDERFUL. So were Josh and C.J.'s for that matter.
-Speaking of that Toby scene in 1x03, in what world is it okay for a Congressman to tell the press that his hometown is so patriotic that if the POTUS visited, he wouldn’t make it out alive? Seriously? If someone said that today, I’m pretty sure there would be hell to pay.
-"There's literally no one in the world that I don't hate right now." NOW I KNOW THE CONTEXT FOR THAT EXCELLENT TOBY QUOTE that several of you have the icon of. Which I will probably steal the next time I see it. Is that okay?
-I loved Sam in the pilot, especially in the scene with Leo’s daughter, and then I wanted to kick him in the teeth in 1x03 for how he spoke to C.J. concerning the call girl. Also, FFS, how patronizing and paternalistic was he in 1x02 when he wanted to “save” Laurie? The way he threatened to call the DA (?) to get her to leave her dinner was completely inappropriate and creepy, and at first I was glad that she called him on it, but then she went off with him anyway, and I was sad. :/
-Mandy is interesting. I enjoy watching her OTT scenes in 1x01 and 1x02, but at the same time, I’m not sure she’s someone I’d want to know in real life. I don’t think driving one’s car into the sidewalk during a temper tantrum is funny or remotely okay.
-OMG, the scene in 1x04 where Bartlett is on Percocet and Vicodin and is high as a kite is HILARIOUS. Martin Sheen is brilliant. I mean, he’s great in general, but he’s particularly good in that scene. Also, I can see Charlie Sheen in his features and movements, especially in that scene, and it's more than a little creepy.
-LEO WAS SUCH A BAMF IN 1X03, OMG. I didn’t have any strong feelings on him in the first two episodes, and then when he told Bartlett off at the end I just wanted to give him all the hugs. And in 1x04, I also wanted to give him hugs, but for a different reason. :(
-It’s weird to me that the VP and the First Lady are not very involved in the show. If the pilot were aired today, would that be different? Hmm.
-I really like Josh. Sometimes he’s an ass to Donna and annoys me, but overall, I like him quite a bit.
-I like Charlie. Mostly because I like the actor from Psych. He's so baby-faced and sincere.
-I really like how the show addresses potentially problematic issues or when characters are called out for their problematic behavior. Ex: When Leo asks Admiral Fitzwallace (who is EXCELLENT) if it’s problematic to hire Charlie; when Congressman Richardson shuts down Leo for trying to tell him how to be a role model for African American men. I hope the show continues to do this sort of thing.
So to sum up, I WANT TO MARRY THE WEST WING AND HAVE POLITICALLY ASTUTE BABIES WITH IT. Who wants to officiate? Who wants to be my maid of honor? :D Also, Cregg/Ziegler 2016!
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Girl, steal away! Mine is by
RIGHT? This is one of those shows where pretty much the whole ensemble cast is an eternal joy. I could never pick a favorite!
Except Toby is my favorite.Sam is cuter than PUPPIES and I could hug him for days, but yeah, he seems frequently to get the short straw of being the mouthpiece for Sorkin's politics, which, on occasion, are cartoonishly sexist bullshit.
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the whole ensemble cast is an eternal joy.
Yes, yes, yes, and that is so lovely. It's so rare to be able to enjoy every lead in a show. So far there are no characters where I'm like, 'You're boring, please go away so we can get back to scenes with C.J. or Toby,' and I hope it stays that way.
he seems frequently to get the short straw of being the mouthpiece for Sorkin's politics, which, on occasion, are cartoonishly sexist bullshit.
Uch, that is unfortunate. Well, he is still lovable and adorable a good portion of the time.
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I saw Psych before seeing TWW, and I already was in love with Charlie because of Gus, too! Dule Hill is just dreamy! Oh, I'm so excited for you to see what's coming up for all the characters, I'm bouncing in my seat trying to not spoil it for you!
And after you watch Season 1 you HAVE to read the Garden Club series by Holly. It's season four Spuffy crossed over with TWW and it is wonderful and it has Toby getting drunk with Giles. Because the TV Gods would have created the Messiah of all scenes if that had really happened.
And I lost my TWW icon. It was cute. It had Josh and Donna on it.
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I bought mine from Amazon a few weeks ago for $112 under the excuse that it was 63% off. It's still pricey, but it was cheaper than buying all the seasons individually, which don't seem to go on sale frequently (I was checking on Black Friday).
I saw Psych
I really need to watch more of that show at some point. I've seen about four episodes because my BFF loves it, and I enjoyed them; it's one of the shows on my to-watch list for Netflix, but with SPN, TVD, and now TWW, I don't know when I'll ever have time for a new show...
And after you watch Season 1 you HAVE to read the Garden Club series by Holly.
Ooh, thanks for the rec! I am normally not a fan of crossovers, but that looks really intriguing. Drunk Toby! Aaldfkjaldf.
I've only seen season 1
I hope you get a chance to see more! We could be First-Time-Through TWW Buddies! :)
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she is also the God of TWW. God is gender-neutral for C.J. Cregg. This is fact. Just cold, hard fact. :D
If someone said that today, I’m pretty sure there would be hell to pay. OMG, some of the things they do/say in the first couple seasons, without even thinking anything of it, just blow me away. Occasionally it's obvious that the show premiered during the Clinton administration, and it's often painfully evident that the first two seasons aired in a pre-9/11 United States. Which is occasionally amusing, and usually just depressing.
LEO CONTINUES TO BE A BAMF AND IT IS GLORIOUS.
The VP and First Lady get more involved as it goes along. I think you're really gong to like the First Lady :)
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DO IT. :D
Which is occasionally amusing, and usually just depressing.
It is weird how certain aspects of the show are going to be painfully dated by 9/11. :( I'm interested to see how they deal with it since the show was obviously on air when it happened.
LEO CONTINUES TO BE A BAMF AND IT IS GLORIOUS.
Yay! I was hoping that his separation from Jenny wouldn't send him spiraling or something.
I think you're really gong to like the First Lady :)</I. I AM SO EXCITED THAT IT'S STOCKARD CHANNING. I didn't know that until ten minutes ago when I Googled her for her first name, and now I am REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
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It really is. Especially from the perspective of someone like you or me, since we were young when it happened. I know there were a few things that I hadn't realized you could even do, until I saw it on TWW and asked my parents...
I'm interested to see how they deal with it since the show was obviously on air when it happened.
They handle it really well. The first episode of S3 is sort of a one-off that deals with it in a really great way IMO.
Abby Bartlett is so awesome! And the relationship between her and the President is amazing.
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Huh, I'll have to keep an eye out for those. That might be in line with my amazement over lines like that "the president wouldn't get out alive" one, and I'll come on here and be shocked and all the Real Adults will explain how things used to be.
They handle it really well. The first episode of S3 is sort of a one-off that deals with it in a really great way IMO.
That's good to know!
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Since TWW is obviously taking place in an alternate United States, 9/11 (or anything resembling it) doesn't occur. But 3.1, which I think aired in early/mid October of 2001 does a really lovely job of addressing the tragedy of such events as well as the implications of them. I'm now looking forward to your thoughts on it!
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Yeah, I don't really remember much from pre-Bush politics either. I know I liked Clinton as a child (still do, even though I feel a bit bad about it), and at the time I knew Monica Lewinsky's name and that there was a scandal. I don't think I understand what impeachment meant and about the sex until I was older, though, and Bush was already in office. I was also overseas for a lot of that time, so I may have been even more oblivious to/ignorant of national politics than most kids.
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>>It’s weird to me that the VP and the First Lady are not very involved in the show.<<
It was run during the Clinton years when the VP and first lady had as much role and influence as they ever have in history. And they will get good storylines, but never as major characters.
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It was run during the Clinton years when the VP and first lady had as much role and influence as they ever have in history.
My political experience is limited to the Clinton, Bush, and Obama eras, so I'm more used to active VPs and FLs than not- it's hard for me to imagine them not being influential political figures! I've heard before that they eventually get good storylines, and I'm looking forward to those.
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And there is superb fan fiction out there to read as well!
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And there is superb fan fiction out there to read as well!
I've already been recced a BtVS crossover!
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Especially because she's played by Stockard Channing.no subject
So glad you are enjoying so far! You have a lot to look forward to, so settle in, enjoy, and don't forget to share your thoughts with us!
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Also, pretty much everyone else is also the best.
They're all so great! It's so rare and lovely for the whole ensemble to be likable.
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From other responses to this post, I've gathered that most people like him but that he is occasionally used as Sorkin's mouthpiece for privileged, white male attitudes, which frustrates and offends people. That explanation definitely jives with his elitist, sexist behavior toward Laurie in 1x02. So if it helps, I don't think it's dislike for Sam as much as it is frustration with Sorkin. :/
There is no way you are not going to love Abbey (the First Lady). She is da bomb.
I JUST FOUND OUT SHE'S PLAYED BY STOCKARD CHANNING AND NOW I'M PRACTICALLY SALIVATING FOR HER EPISODES. ADSFLKAJLFKJ.
I really hope you're going to keep updating your LJ with your thoughts on the show as you watch on.
I definitely plan to. :) It seems like a good number of people on my flist love the show, and I love getting to talk about it with people!
soon you will meet Ainsley (the girl in my icon) who I love way too hard also.
I've heard through fandom osmosis that Sam/Ainsley is a Good Ship. I'm looking forward to it. :D
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CJ AND TOBY LOVE YES YES YES! Two of my favorites! And I do love just about everybody. Sam gets an introduction in the worst way possible, but after the call girl storyline is over, he gets a lot better. And I love that you fell in love with Leo! YAY!
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They are just so wonderful, as individuals and together! They remind me of Damon and Elena in that I want them to have scenes together as much as possible (except unlike Delena, I don't ship them at all)- they just seem to fit together because they're like the middle-aged parents who have wisdom and experience on their side and have to clean up other people's messes (while Sam and Josh are the brash "young-uns" and Leo is in a league of his own).
Sam gets an introduction in the worst way possible, but after the call girl storyline is over, he gets a lot better.
That's comforting to hear. The weird thing is, he's actually pretty great in the pilot. He doesn't intentionally shame Laurie and handles the situation pretty much as maturely and gracefully as can be expected in those circumstances. It's disappointing that he regressed in 1x02, but I suppose all the characters are going to have their mistakes and unfortunate moments.
And I love that you fell in love with Leo! YAY!
At first I didn't think I'd care for him one way or the other, but then he's SUCH a BAMF in 1x03 and how could you not love him?!? :D
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It's disappointing that he regressed in 1x02, but I suppose all the characters are going to have their mistakes and unfortunate moments.
True. Though I agree with whoever said upthread that sometimes Sorkin makes Sam his mouthpiece, and whenever that happens, Sam regresses. It's unfortunate, because when he's not spewing Sorkin's privileged white guy stuff, I love him lots (and relate to him, too).
but then he's SUCH a BAMF in 1x03 and how could you not love him?!? :D
I know!
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I'm extremely glad that overall he's a likable character and that Sorkin's occasional idiocy doesn't ruin him for fans.