I haven't been as down on the show as others have but this episode was awful.

I don't like the way they've handled the deterioration of the Bartlett/Leo relationship.

With all the secret service agents they showed walking in the woods during the outside shots you'd think someone would have found Leo.

I'll probably be like last year and see less than 5 episodes total. This just doesn't really feel like the same show.

exactly. leo was on or very close to a path when he went down. there were 2 heads of state and 1 wannabe head of state plus senior staff at camp david. there would have been SS, and possibly the state departments version of SS, all over that place walking patrols. no way leo wouldn't have been found by the next day

The lack of Secret Service really threw me I mean come on. You've an international summit going on with all kinds of diplomats and the Secret Service isn't sweeping the compound? Yea, right. As much as I'm pysched to see Jimmy Smitts I don't know if I can stay with this show long enough.

The basketball game was off the charts on the Unintentional Comedy Scale. Had ANY of those guys ever played ball before?

If Leo falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, did he really fall?

I'm sorry, but the phone ringing in the woods actually made me laugh.

Sorkin would never have stooped that low.

I thought the episode was ok.

The Leo in the woods thing was far fetched though. Everyone here mentioned the Secret Service and State Department Security, but there is a third possibility:

The full compliment of Marines that are based at Camp David. I've heard that when the president is there, everyone gets to go camp out in the woods with night vision gear, etc to make the place even more secure. I think they have said that Camp David is one of the places that the Secret Service is "relaxed"....if there is such a thing as relaxed Secret Service.

They would have know Leo was in trouble before his head hit the ground.

Middle East peace brokered in 5 days.

Impeach the writers of this dribble.
If I was John Spencer I would never have
shown up for work that day.

Still can not believe how terrible this was.

Yeah, that was a brilliant move. Get rid of the most compelling character on the show. Even Sorkin couldn't fix the mess that Wells and Co. have created.

SS Agent #1: "He's not dead. He's just resting."

SS Agent #2: "Look, I know a dead Chief-of-staff when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now...."

SS Agent #1: "Maybe he's just pining for the fjords."

Leo spoiler for future episodes:


Really, turn back now!


The actor referenced above (not John Spencer, the one who plays the other character I mentioned) gave this away on the Today show the other week.

Anyway, Leo hasn't been out in the woods that long. He had his heart attack shortly after dawn on Day 5; we saw everybody boarding helicopters during the late morning of Day 5. Of course, the first hour after you have a heart attack is the most crucial, but it's not like he's been in those woods for 36 hours.

I heard that, too, and it is the single dumbest plot twist they've come up with the past two years.

why'd I read those spoilers
that's even stupidier and unlikely than Leo not being found in more than an hour or two

...and, also on the View: see my post in last week's thread.

My sentiments exactly.

No, Sorkin would've blamed Leo's heart attack on the Republicans.

I gotta agree, some of these so called changes Wells is doing are really upsetting me. I'm a huge West Wing fan, and even though the last season was easily its worst season thus far, I still thought it was well done and probably was still the best non cable drama on TV.

This season, though, I don't know. They are making President Bartlett into an almost monster. He's getting more and more alienated from his staff, and I, for one, am really caring a lot less about it. Plus, what they did with Leo in this episode, was very disheartning. The relationship between him and the president was keen to the show, and the way Bartlett simply got rid of him in when he said a few sentences that made the president mad was terrible. What a way to end a friendship, huh?

All I can say is thank goodness for the rest of the staff right now. They really are the only thing holding this show together, but it looks like there are going to be plenty more changes to offset the balance.

Coincidentally, they showed "Let Bartlett Be Bartlett" yesterday on Bravo. That was a great episode for showing what a great relationship that was and how far the show has fallen from its height.

It's real obvious the difference between the Sorkin versions and the Wells versions. Like last week, when Jed closed the door on Leo.

Sorkin would have had the camera shot coming from over Leo's shoulder.

Wells shows the door slamming in Leo's face. Three times.

"If we're going to walk into walls I want us running into them full speed. We're going to lose some of these battles, and we might even lose the White House, but we're not going to be threatened by issues. We're going to bring 'em front and center. We're going to raise the level of public debate in this country, and let that be our legacy" -- Leo, .Let Bartlett Be Bartlett

Sigh.

I think you mean Schlamme. He left with Sorkin too, remember?
Other than that, I agree.

I'm sure it's already been discussed, but could someone give a brief synopsis of why Sorkin left the show?

I believe he was more or less asked to leave because he had a tendency to turn in scripts late.

Good point. Tommy! Schlamme! departing shouldn't be forgotten either.