I’ve just caught up with Season 5 and 6, so if you haven’t seen them all, this aint the thread for you.... :D Be warned More4 people!

I was cautious in getting my hopes up for S5 because I’d only heard bad things about it and I think that greatly helped. I enjoyed it immensely. Watching it in succession added to the enjoyment imo. Lots and lots of guest stars too… Lilly Tomlin, John Goodman (anyone know why he went un-credited at the start of the season btw) Annabeth Gish, Gary Cole, Terry O’Quinn, William Devane and that’s not including Jimmy Smiths, Alan Alda and Mary McCromack who fitted into the show with great ease. The one real complaint I have is the lack of Glen Close. She was perfect but in only one episode iirc. She could’ve been an excellent addition for a few episodes. Also, the middle-east story was handled extremely well and posed some great parallels with real life. I loved the way that both sides of the argument were thoroughly put forward.

I did notice the lack of Sorkin’s touch in places, but on the whole the Season 5 carried itself very well.

The start of Season 6 was a different matter. I was aware of something happening to Leo thanks to those bloody C4/More4 adverts and so it was a pleasant surprise to see they didn’t kill him off even with all the signs pointing to certain doom!!

It was odd to see CJ as the COS. Toby and Josh should’ve been more upset at Bartlet’s decision. They were both natural successors. In any case, watching Toby give those press conferences made perfect squirm-a-vision. Annabeth was a good addition to the team as well. Any scene that showed her doing ‘the walking’ with CJ always cracked me right up.

It was sad to see the team breakup, Will first, then Donna and then Josh, but I’m very happy they did. It set up a cracking season with a few more great supporting characters being introduced, Alda’s COS for example. Also, the episode that reveals Toby’s brother’s death has to be a contender for Episode O’Series. The Toby/Josh fight and the Toby/CJ ‘chat’ were fantastic.

I’ll be honest, the MS attack was unexpected. I didn’t know how they were going to deal with it, but I was happy with how it all worked out in the end and Martin Sheen's extraordinary performance. Bartlet’s ‘escape’ from the plane in China was giggle-worthy, as was, Bartlet ‘catching’ Charlie walking out of Zoe’s room!

Anyway – the season finale was perfect. The end scenes of Leo and Santos walking on stage was greatly juxtaposed with Vinick’s “Let go win this thing!” comment.

One thing that has confused me greatly is the timeline though. Did we lose a year somewhere? This is Bartlet’s last year in office, yet it’s only the 7th season. I’m assuming that some of the seasons spanned more than year’s worth in their time….

All in all, looking forward mucho to Season 7.

Personally I think Seasons 5 and 6 show The West Wing at it's worst and at it's best.

Season 5 for me was a distinct disappointment. It just seemed to drag for the entire season. The one highlight for me was the Shutdown over the budget, culminating with Josh being bought in from the doghouse and Bartlett's spirited walk up to the hill.

Season 6 on the other hand was the best season there's been so far IMO. The focus shifts dramatically from focusing solely on the White House to also showing the campaigns for the Democratic/Republican nominations. Of course it always helps if you're introducing the likes of Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits to the cast !! Beyond that though they've really shaken things up and practically reinvigorated the entire show. The last quarter of the season, where the focus shifts more and more towards the nomination race was fantastic, and as finales go I think that one's up there with Two Cathedrals as my favourite. The closing scene as Bartlett announces the nomination of Santos/McGarry were quite emotional as I'd spent most of the season feeling sorry for Leo as the character had no obvious place to go now that he'd been replaced as COS.

And, without giving anything away, Season 7 has picked up where Season 6 left off. Brilliant :thumbsup: After Season 5 I wasn't that bothered about how much longer the show went on, now I'm thinking it would be a shame to end it. I know the logical conclusion would have it go at the end of the Bartlett administration, but the more and more I see of Smits the more I think he can carry it, and the more I want to see him do it.

I remember the decision to put CJ in the COS position really annoyed me at the time, she just wasn't qualified to do it imo and one episode of her struggling wasn't enough. But it allowed Josh to go off and do his campaigning and will also allow him to be kept when the new administration takes over.

I loved the joke on CJ on her first day as COS. The one where one by one the staff tell her that they're leaving for one reason or another. Culminating with the President declaring that he's had enough, and what say we give the VP a crack.....:lol:

She has really come to own it. Although at the end of Season 6 all signs seem to suggest that she might’ve been the leak, but guess that can go anywhere. :shrug:

A quick nod to Jimmy Smiths... he has really impressed. There is no doubting the fact that he is a great actor. He has such a commanding screen presence and I’m thinking it’s a conscious decision not putting him next to Martin Sheen that much. He would steal the limelight. The one time that they did put him there (for the ‘photo op’ with the VP), it was evident that the screen time was kept to a minimum. I would personally love to see at least one season with him in charge. Keep Josh as the COS, w**k Annabeth and Charlie in somehow and possibly Kate as well. (I assume National Security Advisors stay the same even if presidents change, so that shouldn’t be too much of stretch)

By the end of the next season tho, the Bartlets, CJ, and Toby will have reached the end of the road imo. However, just think of the guest-star possibilities if the show did go on.

Have seen the first two of Season 7 as well, but won’t comment on those. Maybe we should get a new thread going for down-loaders... :ponder: I know James is getting it, I assume you are as well Laura... so there should be plenty to talk about. :thumbsup:

Yeah, I've finally caught up, for the first time in years, so I'll be watching them as they air now, especially given how great this season looks like it's going to be.

See up to 7x07 now Moe, you're in for a few crackers :thumbsup:

Dito. I've never been up-to-date with TWW, so this is going to be my first time. I have all seven ready to go, but I just can't bear to watch them knowing this is it. :tear:

One thing I've found difficult watching downloads as a pose to DVDs is the lack of subtitles. I'd become quite reliant on those for keeping up with the pace. :whistling:

Can't say as that's narked me Moe, but one thing that does with The West Wing DVD sets is the distinct lack of extras, especially considering you're paying anywhere between £40/£50 for them :rolleyes:

Bartlet's first term lasted 3½ TV seasons, from S1 through to ep 14 of S4. So far his second term has gone for just under 3 seasons (ep 15 S4 through ep 7 S7) and the elections aren't too far round the corner, though I don't know exactly when they'll come round. Assuming they'll be the season finale, that would mean each term lasted for 3½ years of TV time.

The elections will come at the end of the season, or possibly just before.

Can't remember the exact figure but in either 7x06 or 7x07 it mentions that there are about 100 days until the election. Assuming a period of a week between each episode that should take you up to about 7x21 or 7x22. I'd imagine 7x21, giving them the chance then to wrap everything up in the finale.

And therein lies the beauty of Blockbuster online... especially when they give you two months half price for being a good customer! :naughty:

In any case, yes, lack of extras is a bit rude, especially at the prices. <_<

On incidentally, just watched 7.04 and the captions says "82 Days Left". I’d like to see the election occur a good few episodes before the finale tbh. Seeing the transition would be great. :)

Thank God for DVD Shrink :thumbsup:

I loved Series 6 though, so I'll probably buy that. Which means I'm only missing 5. Damnit, the completist in me will compel me to get it as well....... <_<

:lol: If only I had the time and energy...

That's a fair point. I've had my brother's copy of season 5 since about a week after it came out and I still haven't gotten around to, ahem, erm, 'backing it up' yet.....:rolleyes:

I thought S5 was distinctly less sharp than the earlier ones but still watchable.

I hit a stutter in S6 where they hit the early campaign trail which I haven't recovered from although I had enjoyed it up until then. I want to catch up now that S7 is well under way and will try to do so in the next couple of weeks.

Since I don't have internet access at my flat and since this year I'm w**king in Glasgow and it restricts the time I can spend at home I've not been able to download S7 :(. I've been reading the TWoP recaps though so I think I'm still pretty up-to-date.

That's why I got the R1 versions, £30 and includes extras ;)

I considered that early on with the releases, but the region 1 releases were behind the region 2 ones, and I, impatiently :rolleyes: couldn't wait.

I didn't like how S1 and S2 of the original R2 releases didn't match with the following seasons which was another reason for getting the R1 versions, but now I've noticed that they have re-released S1 and S2 in the US-style packaging <_<. They are up to S5 in the US now, so they are catching up with our releases.

On the packaging thing, I saw those. Have to say I seriously considered replacing my existing copies. Luckily I realised that that would have taken me up to a Steve-level of obsession and I decided not to :lol:

Just as well...

That's when you should start worrying. I mean, really worrying! :fear: :naughty:


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