Chew

First, the details:

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I started watching The West Wing right from the start, but only lasted about half a season. I know it's a quality show, but it wasn't the type of show I was expecting.

I was hoping for the politics behind the Oval Office: closed door meetings with Congress, visiting with heads of state, traveling to other countries, running for re-election, pushing agendas, stuff like that. What I watched, although good, wasn't anything like that.

So, in order to decide whether to watch the Bravo reruns, my question is: has the show continued in the same vein it started? Or has it included more of the political angle?

das Monkey

The West Wing has always been about the moments between the moments. Much the way SportsNight was only set against the backdrop of a sports show, such is The West Wing and politics. All the things you seem to have wanted have been there -- visits with heads of state, traveling to other countries, re-election, pushing agendas, political give and take, State of the Union address, butting heads with Congress, political scandal -- but I don't know if they're presented the way you want them to be. A classic example would be the political debate when running for re-election. Multiple episodes were devoted to the build-up of the debate, all the work that went into the preparation for it, but we never really saw much of the actual debate. Because, again, the show isn't about that ... it's about the moments just before and just after the moments ... and the themes would work just as well set against a 3rd place sports broadcast as they do set against the most powerful office in the world.

I'm not sure I understand what you were looking for before and why you didn't find it, but I think you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to revisist the show.

das

bboisvert

Yeah, what das said.

The general answer to your question is: Yes, the show continues in much the same way that it started. There is no major shift in tone or focus over the run. What you see is what you get.

But, as das mentions, I would suggest that you give it another shot (now that you know what to expect). The writing on this show just sizzles and it is one of the best programs currently on TV.

kevin75

as someone who has been with the show since the beginning, i agree with everyone else. it's pretty much the same show as when it started. by all means give it another chance. the last few shows of the 1st season was some of the best television i have ever seen.

Chew

For those interested: the "West Wing" weekend starts tomorrow with the documentary "All the Presidents' Movies" (Thursday, August 7 at 7:00/6:00c) and a "West Wing" marathon on Sunday.