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Amazon.co.uk Review
Aaron Sorkin's American political drama The West Wing is more than mere feel-good viewing for sentimental US patriots. It is among the best-written, sharpest, funniest and most moving American TV series of all time. In its first series, The West Wing established the cast of characters comprising the White House staff. There's Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer), a recovering alcoholic whose efforts to be the cornerstone of the administration contribute to the break-up of his marriage. CJ (Alison Janney) is the formidable Press Spokeswoman embroiled in a tentative on-off relationship with Timothy (Thirtysomething) Busfield's reporter. Brilliant but grumpy communications deputy Toby Ziegler, Rob Lowe's brilliant but faintly nerdy Sam Seaborn and brilliant but smart-alecky Josh Lyman make up the rest of the inner circle. Initially, the series' creators had intended to keep the President off-screen. Wisely, however, they went with Martin Sheen's Jed Bartlet, whose eccentric volatility, caution, humour and strength in a crisis make for such an impressively plausible fictional President that polls once expressed a preference for Bartlet over the genuine incumbent.
The issues broached in the first series have striking, often prescient contemporary relevance. We see the President having to be talked down from a "disproportionate response" when terrorists shoot down a plane carrying his personal doctor, or acting as broker in a dangerous stand-off between India and Pakistan. Gun control laws, gays in the military and fundamentalist pressure groups are all addressed--the latter in a most satisfying manner ("Get your fat asses out of the White House!")--while the episode "Take This Sabbath Day" is a superb dramatic meditation on capital punishment.
Handled incorrectly, The West Wing could have been turgid, didactic propaganda for The American Way. However, the writers are careful to show that, decent as this administration is, its achievements, though hard-won, are minimal. Moreover, the brisk, staccato-like, almost musical exchanges of dialogue, between Josh and his PA Donna, for instance, as they pace purposefully up and down the corridors are the show's abiding joy. This is wonderful and addictive viewing. --David Stubbs
Product Description
Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Charley Lang, Moira Kelly, Dulé Hill Directors: Alan Taylor, Alex Graves, Anthony Drazan, Arlene Sanford, Bill D'Elia
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I ordered the first series of the west wing on a whim, I can't remember exactly why but I'd never seen it on television before apart from trailers and just fancied giving it a go based on the strength of online reviews.
I wasn't disappointed in the slightest, it exceeded my expectations in so many ways. The overall strength of the acting, the camerawork, the storylines, the whit and humour and the way in which you develop such likes or dislikes for certain characters is remarkable. I have since purchased all series up to series 4 and I'm gradually making my way through the episodes.
There are 22 episodes in the first series, each of 42 minutes in length. Thats at least a week and a half worth of entertainment for the price of a day out based on watching two episodes per night.
One thing I do recommend is that you purchase series 2 as well once you know you are enjoying the first series as the cliffhanger is unbelievable between the two series. I watched about 5 in one night at the point of transition from first series to second series.
Highly recommended.
I wasn't disappointed in the slightest, it exceeded my expectations in so many ways. The overall strength of the acting, the camerawork, the storylines, the whit and humour and the way in which you develop such likes or dislikes for certain characters is remarkable. I have since purchased all series up to series 4 and I'm gradually making my way through the episodes.
There are 22 episodes in the first series, each of 42 minutes in length. Thats at least a week and a half worth of entertainment for the price of a day out based on watching two episodes per night.
One thing I do recommend is that you purchase series 2 as well once you know you are enjoying the first series as the cliffhanger is unbelievable between the two series. I watched about 5 in one night at the point of transition from first series to second series.
Highly recommended.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The second best season in the series starts out as being just another day at the office, with the president riding his bicycle into a tree, Sam accidentally sleeping with a callgirl and political issues up to wazoo. The first season got a total of nine Emmy Awards, and they're well deserved. The script is magnificent, the cast exceptional, and the plot varies from ordinary to divine.
What makes this season so good? What makes this season one of the two I could (and do) watch over and over? Well, the cast members are still working their way into their respective characters, feeling their way on how to deal with their own acting and reacting, and the fact is, it just gets better and better from start to finish. Once you start, you can't stop. The plot is engaging enough to keep you interested from episode to episode, and then all of a sudden something happens which leaves you completely star struck. Toby's conversation with Mr. Willis and the other congressmen, the staggering (literally!) performance of Roger Rees as the Lord John Marbury, and the increasingly quick and amusing bouncing-back-and-forth comments by Sam, Toby, Josh and CJ sets the standard for all the other seasons to come.
It also sets the tone for what kind of president Bartlet's going to be. Intense, oratory and passionate, the president goes from quoting Roman emperors to saying "well, duh" in the same sentence. Toby later describes him as "the two Bartlets": one is the absent-minded professor with the "Aw, Dad" sense of humour; disarming, unthreatening, good for all time zones, and the other is the Nobel Laureate searching for salvation; lonely, frustrated, lethal, who's father never liked him because he was too smart. On the one hand a scholar, on the other hand an average Joe who can say "get your fat asses outta my White House" when he feels like it.
This thing is great, which is why it got a total of nine Emmy awards. If you haven't bought this already, do so. That's all I can say, really.
What makes this season so good? What makes this season one of the two I could (and do) watch over and over? Well, the cast members are still working their way into their respective characters, feeling their way on how to deal with their own acting and reacting, and the fact is, it just gets better and better from start to finish. Once you start, you can't stop. The plot is engaging enough to keep you interested from episode to episode, and then all of a sudden something happens which leaves you completely star struck. Toby's conversation with Mr. Willis and the other congressmen, the staggering (literally!) performance of Roger Rees as the Lord John Marbury, and the increasingly quick and amusing bouncing-back-and-forth comments by Sam, Toby, Josh and CJ sets the standard for all the other seasons to come.
It also sets the tone for what kind of president Bartlet's going to be. Intense, oratory and passionate, the president goes from quoting Roman emperors to saying "well, duh" in the same sentence. Toby later describes him as "the two Bartlets": one is the absent-minded professor with the "Aw, Dad" sense of humour; disarming, unthreatening, good for all time zones, and the other is the Nobel Laureate searching for salvation; lonely, frustrated, lethal, who's father never liked him because he was too smart. On the one hand a scholar, on the other hand an average Joe who can say "get your fat asses outta my White House" when he feels like it.
This thing is great, which is why it got a total of nine Emmy awards. If you haven't bought this already, do so. That's all I can say, really.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Like many I got into the west wing late as I started watching from the middle of season 1, but I can honestly say that after just 1 episode I was totally hooked and immediately went and bought seasons 1-6 on dvd and haven't watched a bad episode yet.
This is the first political drama that I have ever watched and can honestly say is thought provoking and funny at the same time, the way writer aaron sorkin has captured the characters personalities is great and really makes you feel for them as the series and episodes go on.
To the reviewer who said he thought that the british wouldn't understand the humor used in the series I think that the only way people wouldn't understand the humor is if they didn't have a sense of humor at all.
All in all I would recommend people to buy this first season for among other things the writing, the cast and the gripping plot lines.
This is the first political drama that I have ever watched and can honestly say is thought provoking and funny at the same time, the way writer aaron sorkin has captured the characters personalities is great and really makes you feel for them as the series and episodes go on.
To the reviewer who said he thought that the british wouldn't understand the humor used in the series I think that the only way people wouldn't understand the humor is if they didn't have a sense of humor at all.
All in all I would recommend people to buy this first season for among other things the writing, the cast and the gripping plot lines.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Love it!
Awesome first series. I missed this when it was on TV, and now it's a few years old it's not too expensive to buy. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Emctracey
Just the best
The West Wing is one of the best series I have watched. The build up to the end of season one is phenomenal and the season finale leaves you on the edge of your seat, desperate to... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Pipstar
A classic !
This has to be one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, pieces of television drama. It has humour, pathos, topicality and absolutely superb dialogue. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mrs. N. Hughes
UNOPENED CHRISTMAS PRESENT
DVD arrived OK but have not been able to open yet as it is a Christmas Present. Have kept the receipt in case of problems but don't foresee any.
Published 6 months ago by patty
Tried My Vary Best To Like It
I had heard so much good hype about this series (and I like political shows) and so I purchased it in a sale from HMV. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Traffic
West Wing
Realise this is old but did not see it first time around. Excellent acting from Martin Sheen. May purchase other Seasons.
Published 9 months ago by Robbiedog
Excellent Series
A fantastically written series which are difficult to turn off once you're into them. You'll need to listen as it's a fast moving plot with lots going on but quite amusing and... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mrs. Sarah R. Lyon
skippy
I had been reading rave reviews for quite a long time untl I succumbed and bought series l. Subsequently have now purchased all the remaining series. Read more
Published 11 months ago by skippy
West Wing First Series
Having missed most of the first series when it first came out, I was interested to see how it stood up to being watched some years later and do you know, it was a real pleasure to... Read more
Published 12 months ago by DAVID WILLOUGHBY
Beautifully scripted and still highly relevant
Decided to watch all 7 series through once again as I enjoyed them so much having borrowed them the first time. Still just as relevant, and so punchily and wittily scripted. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Noel Hunwick
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