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Amazon.co.uk Review
The second season of The West Wing takes up literally where the first season left off and, after a few moments of patriotic sentimentalism, maintains the series' astonishingly high standards in depicting the everyday life of the White House staff of a Democratic administration. The two-part opener covers the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt on President Bartlet (Martin Sheen), switching between the anxious wait on the injured and flashbacks to Bartlet's campaign for the Presidency. Other peaks in a series exceedingly short on lows include "Noel," the episode in which Alan Arkin's psychiatrist forces Josh Lynam to confront his post-traumatic stress disorder and the episodes in which President Bartlet, following a tragic car accident, rails angrily against God in Latin.
Other new aspects include the introduction of Ainsley Hayes, a young Republican counsel hired after she beats communications deputy Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) in a TV debate ("Sam's getting his ass kicked by a girl!" crow his colleagues), as well as the revelation that the President has been suffering from multiple sclerosis. Tensions grow between him and the First Lady (Stockard Channing) as she realizes, in the episode "Third State of the Union," that he intends to run for a second term in office. It becomes clear to Bartlet that he must go public with his MS, and his staff is forced to come to terms with this, as well as deal with the usual plethora of domestic and international incidents, which apparently preclude any of them from having any sort of private lives. These include crises in Haiti and Columbia, an obstinate filibuster, and a Surgeon General's excessively frank remarks about the drug situation. Thankfully, the splendid Lord John Marbury (Roger Rees) is on hand to make chief of staff Leo McGarry's life more of a misery in "The Drop-In."
These episodes, though occasionally marred by a sentimental soundtrack and an earnest and wishfully high regard for the Presidential office, are master classes in drama and dialogue, ranging from the wittily staccato to the magnificently grave, capturing authentically the hectic pace of political intrigue and the often vain efforts of decent, brilliant people to do the right thing. The West Wing is one of the all-time great TV dramas. --David Stubbs
DVD Description
Contains all the episodes from Series 2:
- In the Shadow of Two Gunmen - Part 1
- In the Shadow of Two Gunmen - Part 2 / The Midterms
- In This White House
- And It's Surely to Their Credit
- The Lame Duck Congress
- The Portland Trip
- Shibboleth
- Galileo
- Noel
- The Leadership Breakfast
- The Drop In
- Bartlet's Third State of the Union
- The War at Home
- Ellie
- Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail
- The Stackhouse Filibuster
- 17 People
- Bad Moon Rising
- The Fall's Gonna Kill You
- 18th and Potomac
- Two Cathedrals
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Season 2 of the 'West Wing' has to be the best of the lot. Sorkin's writing abilities are beyond words, as his intelligent and witty lines are at a fast and intreging pace. The plots in this season I believe are the best the West Wing has to offer, and the politics involved is both relevant and superb, even if it is sometimes hard to follow! The episodes of '18th And Potomac' and 'Two Cathedrals' are i think two of the finest episodes made, and the latter being my favourite. The first four seasons are the best, as the last three are written wothout Sorkin. If you love witty and intelligent drama, and are fascinated by American politics, then the West Wing is for you.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watched the final episode of series 2 last night, and then re-watched the final 10 minutes three more times, with tears streaming down my face. Absolutely incredible television.
Northern Exposure used to be my favourite TV series of all time, but it's just been deposed. Clearly the two shows are not directly comparable, but they share excellent characterisation and acting, and superbly witty and intelligent scripts. I think TWW just edges it on the pace and tight plotting in each episode.
I thought series 2 was an improvement on series 1, largely because the characters are well-established, and the relationships between them are able to develop in more subtle ways. And it's nice to have a bit of sexual tension - Josh and Donna as the new Niles and Daphne, anyone?? OK, maybe not, but it certainly adds to the viewing experience!
I confess I have to watch a lot of the time with the subtitles on, so I can get the acronyms and names that they pepper through the dialogue. The dialogue is incredibly fast - superhuman, in fact. The characters rarely seem to need more than a nanosecond to digest any information put to them, no matter how complex. I think it would be somewhat intimidating to work with these people! However, this is far from being a criticism - on the contrary, I think this is what makes each episode whizz by, so that you think about 20 minutes has passed, and suddenly the closing credits come up!
I have to agree with all those who have already said that it's impossible not to enjoy these series.
And please note, if you haven't already seen Series 2, one of the reviews below (by Lee Jackson) has a really bad spoiler for the last episode - BEWARE!!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The very best season of the series takes off in rocket pace after the season 1 cliffhanger of the shooting at Roslyn. It continues with some of the best acting I have ever seen on any screen. Janel Moloney's performance, the look on Donna's face when she learns Josh has been shot is nothing short of breathtaking. And likewise, Brad Whitford's portrayal of Josh' post traumatic stress disorder in "Noël" (quite possibly the best episode of the entire series) is equally captivating. We also get some good flashbacks, showing us how the gang got together in the first place.
While recovering from those events, political life ensues, and brings the now well-known Emily Procter into her first major TV role as a republican attorney given a job at the democratic White House. This is funny stuff, and the scene where she is introduced to the fiercely democratic White House Counsel Lionel Tribbey in "And it's surely to their credit" is one of my favourites. What makes this season the best is the mass of great episodes - the perfect blend of an intricate story line, well-written lines and a cast of actors who have now gotten used to each other and give their relationships that extra hint of the real thing. These guys are friends, not just colleagues. It shines through.
As we approach the end, the MS saga begins, and the stage is set up for an incredibly gutsy re-election campaign along with a possible Grand Jury investigation in season 3. In between you get the stand-alone episodes that don't really fit in with the ongoing story, providing a break from the whatever and allowing you to catch your breath. Truly, 22 consecutive episodes of nothing but a single story line would have been too much. The single episodes are woven elegantly into the rest, constructing traits and letting you into the lives of the various characters. The whole thing is rounded off with an absolute masterpiece of an episode named "Two Cathedrals", where we say goodbye... to someone.
While recovering from those events, political life ensues, and brings the now well-known Emily Procter into her first major TV role as a republican attorney given a job at the democratic White House. This is funny stuff, and the scene where she is introduced to the fiercely democratic White House Counsel Lionel Tribbey in "And it's surely to their credit" is one of my favourites. What makes this season the best is the mass of great episodes - the perfect blend of an intricate story line, well-written lines and a cast of actors who have now gotten used to each other and give their relationships that extra hint of the real thing. These guys are friends, not just colleagues. It shines through.
As we approach the end, the MS saga begins, and the stage is set up for an incredibly gutsy re-election campaign along with a possible Grand Jury investigation in season 3. In between you get the stand-alone episodes that don't really fit in with the ongoing story, providing a break from the whatever and allowing you to catch your breath. Truly, 22 consecutive episodes of nothing but a single story line would have been too much. The single episodes are woven elegantly into the rest, constructing traits and letting you into the lives of the various characters. The whole thing is rounded off with an absolute masterpiece of an episode named "Two Cathedrals", where we say goodbye... to someone.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Final 3 episodes=best TV EVER.
Well I hope you made it to Season 2 unscathed? The cliffhanger at the end of Season 1 should have made you contact your nearest DVD supplier and BEG for this set. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Nick
I presume it's OK, but ...
Purchased for a friend who live in Region 2. Haven't sent it yet; he's not sure if he likes the program well enuf to want to continue watching after season 1. Read more
Published 18 months ago by John S. Pool
Magnificent!!!
What can one say about the west Wing that hasn't already been said? The political drama set in the administrative 'West' wing of the White House concentrates on a group of... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mrs. D. Guest
Fantastic
In my opinion this is the best written, best acted TV series EVER. It isn't easy-the pace and dialogue are relentless. It does not 'dumb down' but it is so worth the effort. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Santavilla
The West Wing: Season Two. (Has a minor spoiler with reference to the...
`The West Wing: Season Two' is an exceptional political TV series that follows a Democrat President and his senior staff as they make various decisions and run the U.S.A. Read more
Published on 6 April 2010 by Spider Monkey
Fascinating insight into American Politics
The West Wing has definitely enriched my life! Working my way through the whole lot - never tire of it, every episode is of a very high standard - slick, credible entertainment. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2010 by Mrs. June Clark
Watchable Series
I found this American series very enjoyable to watch and look forward to the 3rd series which i yet have to purchase.
Published on 25 Oct 2009 by R. T. Blakley
The best writing ever
I'll make this short, this series is robably one of the best ever written.
Dialogues and scenario are astonishing and served by a briliant casting. Read more
Dialogues and scenario are astonishing and served by a briliant casting. Read more
Published on 21 July 2009 by X. LAURENT
Best show, best season, best episodes...Perfect.
No praise is too high for this, the second season of "The West Wing". If season 1 had a weakness, it was that Moira Kelly's character Mandy was not as strong or engaging as the... Read more
Published on 24 Jun 2009 by SillyNora
The West Wing
Well I am always the first to admit when I am wrong, the first impression I had was that of yet another American political drama & again I have to say that out of all the subjects... Read more
Published on 29 May 2009 by Mr. Andrew Denby
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