And sooner than you expect...the final story thrust of the series kicks into full gear, as the democratic candidates head to New Hampshire for the primary. Matt wants to talk about issues, but Josh knows that's not how you win in NH. Their campaign gets off to a rocky start. Doug and Liz share an appearance with Santos, but Doug trashes Matt for personal gain in his own congressional race. A nice scene with Josh and Liz...and the quixotic Santos campaign is already tugging the heartstrings a little. This election will run for the final season and a half, a far cry from the three or four episodes devoted to Bartlet's re-election. It was a very good choice...finishing a wonderful series with a closer look at the election process than anything heretofore given.
3 Reviews
The Great Outdoors
Sonatine9713 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
One of the biggest criticisms I had with this show was the way nearly every episode until now was mostly confined within the White House. And after 5 and and half seasons this soon began to get on my nerves.
So it was a great relief to see this episode not only focus on the democratic nomination campaign, but also to move from the hallowed halls of the West Wing and into the snowy country roads of New Hampshire.
Another revelation was the fractured chemistry between campaign manager, Josh, and nominee Santos. The latter was more or less in it for the ride, while Josh had given up everything back at the White House to make Santos a realistic candidate for the Democrats.
Not only that but it was great to see Donna get one over on her former boss, Josh, when she reveals to him that she has a pretty significant job to play in Vice President Russell's campaign, much to Josh's chagrin.
Bradley Whitford, as Josh, is exceptional here. Not only is he the campaign manager for a candidate no one has ever heard of outside of Texas, but the clash of personalities between him and Santos is quite telling bordering on frustrating. But Whitford plays the part of Josh with just the right amount of measured pathos to make you feel for the hard work he will be facing over the few episodes as he tries in vain to make his candidate salable to a cynical public as well as a sceptical White House.
So it was a great relief to see this episode not only focus on the democratic nomination campaign, but also to move from the hallowed halls of the West Wing and into the snowy country roads of New Hampshire.
Another revelation was the fractured chemistry between campaign manager, Josh, and nominee Santos. The latter was more or less in it for the ride, while Josh had given up everything back at the White House to make Santos a realistic candidate for the Democrats.
Not only that but it was great to see Donna get one over on her former boss, Josh, when she reveals to him that she has a pretty significant job to play in Vice President Russell's campaign, much to Josh's chagrin.
Bradley Whitford, as Josh, is exceptional here. Not only is he the campaign manager for a candidate no one has ever heard of outside of Texas, but the clash of personalities between him and Santos is quite telling bordering on frustrating. But Whitford plays the part of Josh with just the right amount of measured pathos to make you feel for the hard work he will be facing over the few episodes as he tries in vain to make his candidate salable to a cynical public as well as a sceptical White House.
Pilot For Continuation of the West Wing
spuddcw2000-19 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I would imagine most reading this review have seen the episode so I'm unabashedly including spoilers.
If the series had continued past Santos's Inauguration, this may well have been the pilot episode. Re-watch it and see if you get the same feel that you got when you watched the pilot to the series....
The last scene as Matt and Josh are about to go into the house to do the "grip and grin" have 100% the same feel as the trailing shot after Bartlett yells "Mrs. Landingham...what's next?" in the pilot.
If the series had continued past Santos's Inauguration, this may well have been the pilot episode. Re-watch it and see if you get the same feel that you got when you watched the pilot to the series....
The last scene as Matt and Josh are about to go into the house to do the "grip and grin" have 100% the same feel as the trailing shot after Bartlett yells "Mrs. Landingham...what's next?" in the pilot.
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