The West Wing Eps 1:17 - 1:20

[dabhug]

To continue our discussion of The West Wing from here, I'm cutting and please, no spoilers past 1:20.


Since the last time we've talked, I've watched:

1-17 "The White House Pro-Am"

The Fed Chairman dies.  The best choice is Abbey's old boyfriend for six months in 1957.  Hijinks ensue.

Favorite Quotes:

Bartlet: "No. No "however". Just be wrong. Just stand there in your wrongness and be wrong and get used to it."

Danny: "You keep glancing over here like you're afraid I'm going to steal something."
Mrs. Landingham: "No. I'm just not used to having members of the print media in here."
Danny: "I'll try not to get ink on the furniture."
Mrs. Landingham: "Aw, Danny. And I was just about to offer you a cookie."
Danny: "And now?"
Mrs. Landingham: "No."

Leo: "You know, sometimes, I don't even know what you're talking about."
Bartlet: "Sometimes I'm just making it up."

Danny: "I'd get in trouble with the First Lady."
Bartlet: "Welcome to the club, Danny... we had jackets made."

I thought this was a good solid episode that moved the story along and brought some character development.  The fight in the Oval Office between Abbey and Bartlett made me uncomfortable, but then again, all fights make me uncomfortable.  But, it was also an amazing scene and Stockard Channing and Martin Sheen are fantastic.

1-18 "Six Meetings before Lunch"

The Day of Jubilee.  Mendoza is confirmed.  There will be no tempting of fate.  CJ does "The Jackal."

Favorite Quotes:

Mallory: "Don't play dumb with me."
Sam: "No, honestly, I am dumb. Most of the time I'm playing smart."

Oh, Sam.  You are a man after my own heart.

Toby: "I think it would be a good idea as a symbol to signal that China is serious about their relationship with us if they stop running over their citizens with tanks."

And, Toby, too.

This was a nice, lighthearted episode.  I loved Toby here.  I did not "know" "The Jackal".

1-19 "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet"

The staff are feeling held back, approval ratings are down and Mandy's "How to Compete Against Bartlet" memo gets out.

Favorite Quotes:

Toby: "One victory in a year stinks in the life of an administration. But it's not the ones we lose that bother me, Leo, it's the ones we don't suit up for."

"I serve at the pleasure of the President of the United States."

Charlie: "They didn't know it was raining, sir." 
Bartlet: "Nothing like surrounding yourself with the best and the brightest, Charlie."

Admiral Fitzwallace was great in the meeting scene.  I've always liked the actor who plays that part.

Leo's "Win One for the Gipper" speech to Bartlett was inspiring and made me cry.  I cheered with the "Twenty-one years old and six hundred dollars a week" bit.  Yay, Charlie!

And, I do think it is official.  I've always been kind of lukewarm on Mandy (even though I like the actress that plays her), but it's time.  I do not like Mandy.  I think she's being written to be unlikable, of course, but I still don't like her.

And since I had to see what this episode led to:

1-20 "Mandatory Minimums"

Let's play ball!

Favorite Quotes:

Josh: "Senator, take your legislative agenda and shove it up your ass."

Donna: "Sure it's a nice suit, it's his Joey Lucas suit."

Another good building episode.  We're getting some momentum, I have a feeling great things are to come.