The West Wing

The West Wing

Running from 1999 to 2006, The West Wing was a fictional portrayal of the Democratic Presidency under Josiah (Jed) Bartlet. Featuring fast-paced back and forth dialogue, and its take on fictional and real-life political conflicts, it won three Golden Globes and 27 Emmy Awards.

Whilst many will glance at the West Wing and ponder its quality, its sense of drama and its ability to draw in its audience much in the way The Sopranos, LOST or other similar long-running TV dramas have been able to do, the West Wing possesses an altogether admirable and almost un-equivocal brilliance which somehow separates it from the rest.

The following is a list of the main characters from the show, particularly those who struck a chord and were able to influence the way the audience themselves felt about the issues raised within the show.

Josiah Bartlet – played by Martin Sheen, the President himself glimmers with authority and overwhelming intelligence. Possessing a PhD in Economics, and with a vast knowledge of the bible and the works of theorists the world over, the star of the show brings to the table qualities which television producers have tried to match or best in the last five decades and has rarely succeeded. With possible mention to Gil Grissom (of CSI fame), no other character in television drama carries with them an aura of known superiority, encyclopaedic knowledge nor of the ability to master a scene to the point of dominating every scene they are in.

Toby Ziegler – played by Richard Schiff, the Communications Director, brings with him such forceful ideologies, self-moralistic values and the overbearing belief that he is never wrong. Through Toby, Josiah finds his first true fight. With little care who he offends, Toby is one of the key players in dishing out the dialogue, one of the many reasons the West Wing is so highly acclaimed. His uncanny ability to argue his case with passion, dedication and emotion places him high up in the political ranks.

Sam Seaborn – played by Rob Lowe, the Deputy Communications Director, is another of the fast-paced dialogue magicians, waving his aural abilities about the place in the first three seasons, displaying his knowledge of global politics as well as his awareness of the issues that really matter to the American public. Whilst his position within the show is lesser than that of Toby, his influence over the President and his ability to make anyone see his way of thinking is what makes Sam such a significant character within the West Wing, sadly missed through the

later seasons though his return in the finale is greeted with universal delight.

Josh Lyman – played by Bradley Whitford, the Deputy Chief of Staff, is arguably the show’s main character besides that of the President. Most of the shows revolve around Josh’s ‘will they, won’t they’ relationship with Donna Moss – his assistant – and the subsequent back and forth. One of the more notable traits to Josh’s character is in his foolish behaviour, often making insensitive remarks or simply making wisecracks, Josh’s character comes across as simply more of an everyday man. Though his skills involve how best to react in a crisis and how to weave one’s way out of problem situations, he is still chosen as the central mouthpiece, often shown looking scruffy and unpresentable, he is essentially the character the audience can most familiarise themselves with.

Leo McGarry – played by John Spencer, is the Chief of Staff, the man everyone must go through to in order to discuss their issues, solve international and domestic problems or simply to talk to the President. With seemingly decades of experience, Leo is the ‘wise old man’, the President’s best friend and former running mate, and the person everyone leans on for personal advice or a shoulder to ‘cry’ on. The effect his death has on the rest of the team demonstrates just how important Leo is to the running of the office and the rapport he managed to build with the rest of the ensemble.

Though these are merely brief and lacking depth, I felt it impossible to truly capture or assess just how important the West Wing is to television drama and the epic nature of the silver screen. While shows like The Sopranos delivered a consistent element of gritty style and an unbelievably well-realised script, the West Wing is one of those shows which draws you in, and doesn’t let you go until you’ve either taken from it a moral or an appreciation for the lesser known issues in life.

Sure, some episodes are forgettable, and most of seasons 5 and 6 are notably lacking in quality, but there are episodes that stand out. Requiem, for example, is based around Leo’s funeral and manages to squeeze emotion from every scene. Naturally, given the circumstances, the episode was bound to be sad but the solidity of the acting on show and the dialogue used stands proud, connecting the audience to the loss of a man whose last years were spent living out the role of the father figure. That Spencer had died in real life is what brings home the harsh reality of death and how unexpectedly it takes away from us the wonderful characters we see on the television or in everyday life. The maturity of the death, and the manner in which the sombre occasion is handled, demonstrates just how brilliantly the show was able to take issues or events and make them all that more significant, as if the characters lives were decided upon these pieces.

That in itself, is why the West Wing deserves to be - and will certainly be – remembered for decades to come.