For even probably the most die-hard followers of The West Wing, the final three seasons of the present, which you’ll watch with an HBO Max subscription, are sometimes criticized, or at the least, not as beloved as the primary 4. That change was marked by the departure of the present’s creator and nearly unique script author, Aaron Sorkin, who left the present after the dramatic Season 4 finale.
There’s one episode in Season 7 that’s each bit nearly as good because the dialogue from episodes Sorkin was liable for. It occurred as a direct results of the loss of life of John Spencer, the actor who performed Leo McGarry.
The Later Seasons Weren’t As Good As The Early Ones
It’s truthful criticism, and one which I largely share, that The West Wing took a dip after Sorkin left. Nevertheless, after a really shaky Season 5, I do imagine that it discovered its footing once more in Season 6 with the introduction of Arnie Vinick (Alan Alda) and Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) as the 2 candidates vying to take over for President Bartlett (Martin Sheen). As soon as the race for President acquired into full swing, the present as soon as once more grew to become must-watch TV.
One vital change that resulted from the brand new plotline was Leo’s transition from the resolute Chief of Workers to Bartlet to Vice Presidential candidate for Santos, on the urging of his protege, Josh “Lemon” Lyman (Bradley Whitford), who was Santos’ marketing campaign supervisor. Tragically, John Spencer died of a coronary heart assault in December of 2005, because the present was coming into the ultimate stretch of filming for its closing season. The silver lining within the heartbreak was that the present acquired its final actually nice episode in consequence.
Election Day Half 2 Is The West Wing At Its Finest
The episode, “Election Day Half 2,” which aired 4 months after Spencer’s loss of life, begins like many others. Josh is on the telephone with Santos, and they’re speaking in regards to the candidate’s probabilities of successful and the doable victory speech. Josh hangs up the telephone and runs into Donna (Janel Moloney) within the lodge with a surprised look on her face. She informs Josh that Leo was discovered unconscious and was taken to the hospital. The opening credit roll, and for viewers, the tears began rolling too, realizing what occurred months earlier than.
The subsequent 10 minutes of the present are among the many most heartbreaking moments of any tv collection, ever. As every character learns the tragic destiny of McGarry, the feelings of the actors are on full show. Spencer had been a key a part of The West Wing solid for all seven seasons, and the impact of his loss of life was obvious. It’s unattainable for anybody to not cry, actor or viewer.
When Santos addresses his supporters, he delivers what can solely be described as a real Sorkin-esque speech. It’s the type of speech that made these first 4 seasons particular, and for this one episode, The West Wing was as soon as once more probably the greatest reveals in community historical past.