Amph "Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc" : The West Wing Discussion Thread

I can't believe how much of it is exactly the same, 10 years later, with what they're talking about and what we're hearing in this election season...

 

heels1785 -- from the Reddit AMA apparently:

 

I was just watching the episode where they interview Mendoza and Sam makes the argument that in the next 2 decades the main issue will be privacy. That was season 1. It's actually scary how current this show remains.

 

I think that's the creepiest example or the show really predicting things, but it really is kinda scary how current it is. I've only watched it for the first time recently and I spent the whole show thinking "How are we still dealing with this 16 years later?" or "Wow, that predicted the future!"

 

I have loved this show for years and that was the scene that solidified my love for it. That was a pure, unadulterated verbal ass-kicking and I loved it.

 

This show was rather poignant, wasn't it?

"I'm the President of the United States, not the President of the people who agree with me. And by the way, if the left has a problem with that, they should vote for somebody else. "

I mean. Here we are years and years later and that particular point is ringing out in the current election.

 

One of my favorite moments:


Especially poignant when Obama had to do the same and we saw how that went as well.

 

I guess I've already started. My former housemate was here for the weekend, we needed comfort, so we ate crappy food and watched The West Wing. She only ever made it through Season 2 (it just fell off her radar) so we decided to start from the beginning.

She had to leave really early Monday morning, she said "One more" Sunday night, but after we watched that one, I realized we were up to Celestial Navigation and convinced her we had to watch just one more. Nothing will cheer you up more than a secret plan to fight inflation.

 

"So... you're not going to tell us what the secret plan to fight inflation is?"

 

"Are you telling me that not only did you invent a secret plan to fight inflation, but now you don't support it?"

Yep, see I feel better already!

 

One can only hope. I think that's one of the hardest things the President has to do. Sending people to war, you can separate yourself from it in some ways, they are faceless people (not that I think the President should think of it that way) but to call a grieving family, there's no separating yourself from that.

I love that episode, it's a great example of how the show can be hilarious and heartbreaking in one episode.

 

Honestly? I don't think it'll phase him one bit. Or he'll have Pence do it.

 

Really? This will be the first time he is directly responsible for possible loss of human life. I would certainly hope he takes it seriously.

But I also don't want to pollute talk of this awesome series with junk about the current dumpster fire entering the White House in January.

Most recently watched the Secret Plan to fight inflation episode. My favorite line was when CJ is asking Sam why Mendoza refused the breathalyzer and Toby answers "Because he's a crazy man who's out to ruin my life"

 

I think this seems like a great idea, Heels.

Though I may wait a bit to start a rewatch because I've been trying to get my parents to watch the show for a while. They love Veep and have shown some interest in checking out the more dramedy version with WW. This holiday season might be the perfect time for it.

 

I ****ing love this show so goddamned much. Aaron Sorkin is one of my personal heroes/inspirations (minus the cocaine part). Favorite part would have to be toward the ending of season 2 (I think) when Jeb Bartlett has a breakdown in church and crisis of faith due to a death of a loved one. Fantastic acting on Sheen's part.

 

Yeah, Mr. Willis of Ohio is fantastic. Though it's probably one of the most glaring examples of dramatic license in the show. Mr. Willis would have never replaced his wife, there would have been a special election. But it's such a good moment, I really don't care. I especially like when Toby admits to Mr. Willis that he was using him, and Mr. Willis said he knew, but Toby made a good argument.


Two Cathedrals is my objective favorite, in that I think it's objectively good TV, and that most people couldn't argue that. Noel is my subjective favorite. I mean, it's also a great episode (and Bradley Whitford won an Emmy for it) but I can see how most wouldn't put it above Two Cathedrals.

 

To be seasonally appropriate, we watched "Indians in the Lobby" last night. Because I can never get tired of watching President Bartlett call the Butterball Hotline.

 

If ever there was a year for Bartlett's rant at God in Two Cathedrals, 2016 is it.

 

The West Wing Weekly podcast guys were asked to fancast a gender swapped West Wing. This is what they came up with:



Who else needs this in their life? I certainly do.