When “The West Wing” premiered in the fall of 1999, it was the only show of its kind on television: a smart, insightful show with strong writing and acting. In few primetime shows of the past had the issues of the day been presented in such an approachable manner and given light in the realm of entertainment, not news. The show promoted public service, involvement in the political process, and an interest in current affairs. This season did much to introduce the characters and, in the wider spectrum of West Wing seasons, it was near the top.
Episode Guide:
Pilot- In the inaugural episode of the West Wing, the viewer is shown a general sketch of the main characters. Martin Sheen’s President Jed Bartlett only appears at the end of the show but his character’s penchant for upstaging his political opponents is made apparent in his brief cameo. Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) accidentally spends a night with an escort and his indiscretion becomes a running joke in the first season, as this relationship is used as blackmail by Republican congressional aides. Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) makes a public relations mistake by calling out religious groups (“Your God was too busy being indicted for tax fraud”) and putting the President in a difficult spot. This episode sets the tone for Leo McGarry’s (John Spencer) role as the lion tamer in the White House.
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc- Two first season story lines are detailed in this episode. First is the hiring of Mandy Hampton, a political consultant, to deal with the staff’s public relations problems. As well, Vice President John Hoynes (played ably by Tim Matheson) is revealed as a one time political rival turned key member of the administration. However, Hoynes’ stance on energy, gun control, and politics in general create tension between Bartlett and Hoynes.
A Proportional Response- Following the terrorist attack that killed the president’s new doctor (an Army colonel who the president got to know in the previous episode), the president and his military staff attempt to measure an appropriate response. This episode reveals the fault line between the militarily inexperience president and his military advisors. The president hires a new “body man” or personal assistant in this episode, though their first encounter is less than stellar. Charlie Young (Dule Hill) has a rough first meeting with the president but the staff sees Charlie’s ability, background, and desire all fit with what the president needs.
Five Votes Down- The behind the scenes tensions created by a position in the White House are exposed in this episode, as Leo McGarry’s tenuous relationship with his wife ends after months of neglect (including forgetting their wedding anniversary and coming home late from work far too often). A particularly funny thread in this episode has to do with Toby Ziegler’s (Richard Schiff) financial upturn that may cause problems because of his relationship with an executive who gave congressional testimony. At the end of the episode, the solution by the staff (mostly Sam) is that he gives up his salary and what he made on the stock market. Ziegler’s curmudgeonly manner is given light in this episode.
The Crackpot and These Women- Josh Lyman is given a card by the National Security Council in case of a national crisis, in which he would have to abandon his friends and family for the good of the country. In the end, Lyman feels too guilty to be given such a prominent role and declines the card. Lyman’s difficult past, including the death of his sister at a young age, and how it effected him as an adult is explored in this episode. The staff has to endure a day of meetings with fringe political groups in honor of Andrew Jackson and his “Big Block of Cheese.
Mr. Willis of Ohio- Toby and Mandy lead an effort to pass a bill including census reform and utilize a stand-in congressman (whose wife recently died) as a means to this end. The growing relationship between Charlie and the president’s youngest daughter begins with Charlie’s willingness to get into a fight to protect her while out at a bar. In addition, Bartlett’s concern over his family and the consequences of political power begins to take shape following this incident.
The State Dinner- The president’s staff has to deal not only with an angry Indonesian diplomat (who is not happy with Ziegler and Seaborn’s speeches on Indonesia and human rights) but a massive hurricane off the Atlantic Coast that puts naval ships in harm’s way. This particular episode shows the first state dinner of the series and how the nation’s work continues even when such an elegant event is taking place. The president’s compassionate side is further developed by his concern over the status of naval ships in the middle of the hurricane, including the final scene where he talks with a young officer on a transport ship that is being hammered by rain.
Enemies- A spat between President Bartlett and Vice President Hoynes erupts during a cabinet meeting, in which the president exposes the vice president’s attempt to moderate the White House’s relationship with Congress. Reporters are leaked this information from the stenographer in the meeting and C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) has to try and put out the ensuing fire. A particularly humorous sequence in this show involves Sam and Leo. Sam agrees to go out on a date with Leo’s daughter, who in an earlier episode embarrassed him, but Leo and the president conspire to keep him away from the date. Sam’s obsession with perfection and the penchant for humor in the White House come to light in this episode.
The Short List- This episode deals with the administration’s attempt to find a suitable Supreme Court nominee. Robert Mendoza (Edward James Olmos) is a favorite of the staff and of the president, but his potential nomination would not be an easy process. The White House attempts to provide cover and obfuscate the issue until president makes a final decision.
In Excelsis Deo- Toby’s connection to veterans’ causes is revealed in this episode, after a homeless veteran is found with a jacket he donated to Goodwill. Toby makes every effort to seek out the veteran’s kin and goes above the president’s head to give the man an honor guard and burial in an appropriate graveyard. The viewer is also given more insight into the president’s secretary, Dolores Landingham, and the death of her sons in Vietnam. Sam and Josh go out of their way to protect Leo, who is revealed to have been a drug and alcohol addict, by going to the escort Sam slept with to get dirt on political rivals. She does not reveal anything to them and they end up leaving, feeling guilty for having sunk to the level of their enemies.
Lord John Marbury- Tension arises along the Pakistan-India border as troops are mobilized and given command-control over nuclear weapons, giving pause to the president’s staff. Bartlett, above Leo’s protestation, brings in British diplomat Lord John Marbury in order to figure out a way to resolve the issues in South Asia. Marbury’s over-the-top personality puts off Leo, whom Marbury repeatedly calls “Gerald”, but his knowledge of the region is comforting to Bartlett and others. The president also has to deal with Charlie’s feelings for his daughter but accepts the situation and agrees to let Charlie ask his daughter out for a date.
He Shall, From Time to Time…- Immediately following practice for the State of the Union, President Bartlett collapses in the Oval Office. The president and his wife are fairly secretive about the reason for the collapse and eventually the first lady reveals the reason to Leo. The president has been concealing his struggle with multiple sclerosis over the last decade and complications with a cold led to his collapse. The president and Leo have a heart-to-heart discussion about their respective struggles and it shows further the friendship between the two men.
Take out the Trash Day- A White House aide with ties to Leo’s political enemies finds confidential information on Leo’s attendance at a rehabilitation clinic. This information is made public and the aide is taken to task by Sam Seaborn. However, Leo’s compassion for people, sometimes seen as naivety by the president, leads him to give the young aide a second chance. In the final scene of the episode, Leo discusses his struggles with alcoholism and his father’s suicide due to alcoholism. An administration supported sexual education study is published and is buried by the staff because of the controversial suggestions it makes.
Take this Sabbath Day- Bartlett’s faith becomes central in this episode, as he struggles with the possible commutation of a death sentence. His relationship with God, exposed more fully in the second season, is explored briefly in his discussions with a visiting priest (Karl Malden). The character of Joey Lucas (Marlee Matlin), a pollster and political operative, is introduced in this episode and is a recurring love interest for Josh Lyman.
Celestial Navigation- “The West Wing” writers and actors begin to show how innovative the show is with the presentation of a story line under the guise of a presentation to college students. Josh Lyman recounts a “typical day” in the White House, which included an accusation of racism by a cabinet member against a congressman, Josh’s mis-step as temporary press secretary, and the jailing of Supreme Court nominee Roberto Mendoza. Lyman’s typical swagger and humor are tempered with humility in this episode and the dynamic between Sam and Toby is developed further in their experience dealing with Mendoza’s jailing.
20 Hours in L.A.- Bartlett and his staff go to California in order to hit the typical liberal feeder button, the Hollywood elite. The typical political fires, this one involving the fundraising host (played by Bob Balaban) and a looming congressional bill dealing with homosexuality, need to be put out first by Josh and Leo. But this episode shows the interrelation of entertainment and politics and is an interesting self-reflective exercise in dealing with actors playing politicians dealing with actors playing themselves. Joey Lucas returns as a central character in the episode, along with pollster Al Kiefer, who wants the president to become more pro-gun in order to win the next election.
The White House Pro-Am- This episode focuses on the relationship between the president’s staff and the first lady’s staff, as different agendas are pushed within the same building. The crux of the tension is the death of the Federal Reserve Chairman and the need to appoint a new individual, the likely choice being someone whom the first lady had a relationship before marrying the president. As well, the relationship between Charlie and Zoey Bartlett begins to face tensions because of death threats by white supremacist groups forces Charlie not to go to an event with Zoey. This episode seems to go far to exhibit the writers’ desire to explore relationship and how they are fundamentally influenced by fame and power.
Six Meetings before Lunch- The staff celebrates the confirmation of Roberto Mendoza onto the Supreme Court but faces some minor adversity in the ensuing days. Josh has to deal with a district court judge who advocates for slavery reparations for African Americans. As well, Zoey is encountered by an overzealous reporter who breaks that she went to a party held by her friend who is a drug addict.
Let Bartlett Be Bartlett- The staff becomes frustrated with the constant failure to extend their agenda beyond the realm of ideas. When two seats open on the Federal Election Commission, the president sends Josh to push for pro-reform candidates but opposing congressional leaders show no respect for the president’s wishes. Mandy becomes the focus of staff frustration as a memo she wrote while working for another candidate comes out. The memo embarrasses the president and puts the unity of the staff in jeopardy. In one of the best scenes in the season and a defining scene for the Bartlett administration, Leo throws down the gauntlet and encourages “Bartlett to be Bartlett.”
Mandatory Minimums- Following the inspirational speech at the end of the last episode, the staff goes full speed into pushing the president’s agenda. The first item for Bartlett is a reform of national drug policy, moving away from draconian punishment (mandatory minimums for drug users) toward more substantial rehabilitation in prisons across America. Al Kiefer makes another appearance in this episode trying to discourage the president from moving left on drug policy, but the new motivation for the administration keeps them on track.
Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics- Sam’s relationship with a call girl, who is graduating from law school, comes to a resolution in this episode as the White House staff realize they cannot constantly avoid personal land mines. The president decides to shuffle his ambassadorial staff because of one’s infidelities and the need to put pro-reform members on the Federal Election Commission. But none of these problems seems to effect the president’s ratings and, in fact, at the end of the episode, the staff celebrates their success in digging themselves out of a popularity hole.
What Kind of Day Has it Been- The writing staff of “West Wing” do a great job setting the table for the next season in this episode. The president is giving a speech to college students while a fighter jet is downed in Iraq and a space shuttle carrying Toby’s brother is imperiled while in orbit. At the end of the episode, a series of events lead to a gun shot from a window above the President’s motorcade. This episode is one of the best in the series because it exhibits strong storytelling skills, strong acting, and foresight as to where the series is heading in future seasons.
Special Features: Probably the best of the West Wing DVDs for special features (or at least the most extensive), viewers should pay particular attention to the “Sheet Music,” “The Primaries,” and “The Inauguration” extras, which feature the best parts of the show: the creation of the distinctive music and the realism of “West Wing” politics in comparison to actual politics (including “ripped from the headlines” story lines).
