As there are many Nov 2012 mums currently enjoying maternity leave with much time on the sofa, we've recently been discussing which TV programmes we are enjoying watching. The West Wing has repeatedly come up as a programme that is on people's 'to watch' or 'to rewatch' for the zillionth time list, so here's a place where we can do it together!
Each Saturday night I'll post the titles of the episodes we will watch in the coming week, then we can come back here for chat, discussion, thoughts, questions and perving over the wondrous Josh
Anyone who'd like to watch with us is welcome too! But please no spoilers for those who are enjoying it for the first time!
So lets start with the first two episodes of series one:
Series 1, episode 1: Pilot
Series 1, episode 2: Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc
Telly addicts
West Wing from the beginning
misslaughalot · 26/01/2013 21:26
Okay, I'm here!! Press play already
when's the deadline again?!!
Chunky we'll go Saturday to Saturday with 2 episodes a week to start with though I can polish off a series in a few days I realise other people may actually have a life
Madame we'll definitely be here to help each other with the bits that are confusingly political!
I am quite 
of those seeing it for the first time
Marvellous. Almost worth having a baby just to go on mat leave to watch TWW again
Excellent MissL.
Now how do I get DH to agree to watch it in lieu of all the things we've got recorded, w/out mentioning MN & making it sound like homework??!! 
Hello, this sounds like fun it's been ages since I watched this so could definitely do with digging out the boxset. Very exciting, but I must warn you all I can Only tolerate so much prevuing over my husband 
I'm so excited I may have to do the jackal
laughalot Your rendition of 'I'm too sexy' may me giggle a lot on the other thread. It also meant that I went around the house humming it in the way CJ sings it. Made DH smirk
Well babylaughalot was up early this morning so have taken the opportunity to get started with the first episode.
I watch the whole 7 series at least once a year, and each time there are certain episodes that I skip. Mainly these are the standalone ones that don't fit into the timeline of the show, but I usually skip the pilot episode too so it's been a while since I've seen it. I think I find the introduction of some of the characters a bit twee, and the almost constant background music a bit off putting. It just didn't feel like a 'proper' WW episode because I know the rest so well, but I quite enjoyed it again this morning.
Some observations:
- Leo has a NICE home!
- Toby knows a lot about the plane he's flying in!
- The first walk and talk with Leo and Josh really shows off the enormousness of the set and how grand it is
- The press room is really different to how it appears in the rest of the show
- I love Sam's history of the White House, it's a shame he gets cut off as I'd love to have heard what else he would have said!
Some questions!
- Wouldn't Laurie, as a law student, know what POTUS stands for?
- Why does Mallory have a different surname to her dad Leo? I'm sure she's never been married
- what do the tally marks on Josh's chalkboard signify?
- having seen the rest of the show I'm sure we don't see the presidents 12 yr old granddaughter Annie, I'm sure they're all younger or am I wrong? Is it just one of those pilot episode things that got altered later?
Quote of the episode: whilst cycling the President came to a sudden arboreal stop!
Will try and fit in episode 2 later
Dr: "In the event of a military coup, what makes you think the secret service would be on your side?"
POTUS: "That comment's going to fester".
Maybe Mallory has her Mum's maiden name??! Otherwise, that's daft, unless they had thought she would be married but changed their minds?
The eldest of POTUS's daughters has 2 daughters I believe, but they are definitely not 12yo in later episodes.
Laurie: uses pot, is a call girl. Wtf? Never going to get a job as a lawyer surely??!
Yeah, I understand that they need a way to do exposure, and I actually like the way that Donna gets used in future episodes to explain plot points or carry out a debate, but here it seems a bit sloppy to have a law student not know POTUS. The air stewardess also mentions it when she's giving Toby the message, surely she's less likely to know and they could have introduced it there some way?
Or am I over thinking it?!
In episode 2 we also get the first mention of a caucus, which I always let go as one of those American political terms that I didn't understand but it wasn't really important. It always seems to be used as a reason for characters to be somewhere or cut a meeting short 'we've got a caucus' but today I looked it up. Wikipedia tells me 'A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States'. I could have guessed that much
I think I knew 'caucus' from Alice in Wonderland...
I think the Laurie thing, whilst necessary perhaps, is sloppy given the normally excellent dialogue. Perhaps have her say 'POTUS is the acronym for... too isn't it?' And Sam respond somehow, confirming her thoughts rather than enlightening her, as it seems he does in the pilot.
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Having watched episode 2 today also, I really love how the relationships start to emerge. It's great to see the senior staff gang up on Josh to get Mandy hired (although the less said about her the better) and little things like Mrs Landingham denying Toby a biscuit but offering Sam one right in front of him
Think my quote of the episode has to be: I don't understand, did you trip over something?
Mandy Schmandy
SO JEALOUS OF you all starting from the beginning.
Gratuitous Sam photo
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