More on The West Wing

[altariel]

In the comments to an earlier post I made about The West Wing, kathyh asked what my favourite episodes were. They are The Short List and Noel. I watched them back over the last couple of days.

In the first, we follow the decisions surrounding Our Heroes' choice of candidate for Supreme Court nominee. In the second, Josh blows up in the Oval Office and gets a visit from the Best Therapist Ever.

I can't pick a favourite. They are doing two entirely different things. The first is brilliant plot-drama, tight as wire (they even pull the B-plot in at the end, which they don't always manage), and if I ever get a chance to use it as the basis for a classroom discussion on decision-making processes, I will. Also, it makes me go gooey about the political process. That still happens sometimes. The second is brilliant character-drama oh all right fanfic, which they made and put on screen. Talk about permission to speak. Also, it demonstrates just how sinister Christmas carols really are.