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Product Description
The West Wing returns for a behind-the-scenes look at another year in the life of the eclectic group of frenzied staffers in the Oval Office from creator Aaron Sorkin. The sixth season has enjoyed popular and critical resurgence in the US, thanks in part to the addition of recurring guest stars Alan Alda as Republican Presidential candidate Arnold Vinick and Jimmy Smits as Democratic candidate Matthew Santos, a bright and enigmatic congressman from Texas. Both go up against current Vice President and candidate, Robert Russell played by Gary Cole.
We rejoin the Bartlet administration in the aftermath of the Gaza Strip attack that seriously wounded Donna and killed several others and finds President Bartlet facing strong opposition to his peace plans. Defying the wishes of the majority of Congress - including some of the White House's democratic allies - the American People and the Vice President, Bartlet persists in the hope that inviting Palestinian and Iranian leaders to participate in peace talks will forestall the necessity of a U.S. military retaliation. Even Leo feels that the President should order an attack to make a decisive statement on terrorism.
Adding to the stresses of the peace negotiations, magicians Penn and Teller cause controversy at the White House when they burn the American flag as part of their act celebrating Bartlet's birthday. An asteroid hurtles towards Earth and a leak of oxygen on the International Space Station requires a controversial rescue mission and Bartlet is stricken by a paralyzing episode of his multiple sclerosis.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
177 of 179 people found the following review helpful
By rnporter
Format:DVD
The sixth season of the West Wing had a lot to answer for given the relatively disappointing critical response to it's fifth outing, but Aaron Sorkin's successors have delivered a delightfully entertaining group of episodes marking a return to the high standards of the 3rd and 4th seasons.
Not only does the hilarious interplay surprisingly absent from the 5th season make a return but the additional subject matter provided by the run up to the Democratic Convention allows for a whole new approach to the series. Importantly however, it does so without departing entirely from the key factors which made the West Wing such a success in the first place - great acting, great writing - what more do you need?
As usual Bradley Whitford steals the show as the ever-tormented but always hilarious Josh who, it becomes clear, is the driving force behind the Democratic Party. There are also several stunning plot twists which dramatically shake up the relationships between the main characters - look out for Josh and Donna, Bartlett and Leo and, finally, Josh and Toby...
Anyway, enough talk - I would encourage anyone who enjoyed the first four seasons of the West Wing to buy this and anyone who was disappointed by the 5th to buy this as well - it really is back on form! I can think of no better programme currently on television so do not hesitate!
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
'Things Fall Apart' is the title of one of the episodes of this sixth series, and serves as a useful epigram for what is an inevitable theme given the story elements which have led us to Season Six. The production team very bravely (and wisely) avoid mawkish sentiment in giving us a Bartlet who may be brilliant but is also human, and in this series we see the ideal President of the first few seasons fleshed out as we witness the final endgames of his administration. The cast are, as always, superb, and if we as viewers mourn the energy and intimacy they shared in the earlier series I believe that that is deliberate - change is hard, as hard for us as viewers as it is for the staffers we've come to love.
'West Wing' is, for my money, probably the best television drama ever made, and so long as the writers are willing to challenge our comfort it can certainly remain so. Whether it can succeed through future cast changes remains to be seen... Roll on Series Seven.
213 of 220 people found the following review helpful
By Peabop
Format:DVD
This boxed set follows hot on the heels of the fifth series, and is to be released before the series has hit UK TV screens (which is unusual - not sure if C4 / E4 have any intention of picking up this series).
As ever, there are plot twists, which Wing Nuts have come to know and love (and expect). These allow the series' focus to move away from day-to-day White House goings on, and into the Democrat and Repubican Presidential Primaries. Jimmy Smits (NYPD Blue) and Alan Alda (MASH) are brought into the cast as presidential candidates. Anyone left wondering from series 5 - "does 'Bingo Bob' put himself forward as a candidate?", "will Hoynes run?", or "what happens to Donna and Josh?" will need to buy this to find out.
All the cliff-hangers from the end of series five are resolved - and leaves a few more on closing to tee up the seventh series.
Some might say the content isn't as good as the classic Sorkin-scipted earlier series, but there's still plenty of storyline content, and the acting is as superb as ever.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific
The hand over of power from one regime to another was demonstrated beautifully and set the viewer up perfectly for the final series
Published 1 month ago by Marian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of drama!
An incredible series, I urge anyone who hasn't watch The West Wing to get the box sets. The writing is superb as is the casting. Read more
Published 1 month ago by LS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unbelievable series
You need West Wing in your life. Fantastic story lines that never leave you enough time to get bored or linger before the next big story comes. Arrived in 2 days even over Xmas!
Published 2 months ago by Andy Gosnell
5.0 out of 5 stars
The West Wing 6
The West Wing is my all time favourite American TV production. Story lines, acting, just great. And the dialogue is very well done.
Published 3 months ago by Shane S. Marshall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Totally addictive
What can I say about The West Wing that hasn't already been said many times? A brilliant series: beautifully written, acted and directed. Read more
Published 7 months ago by C. D. Avis
4.0 out of 5 stars
Damned good , but not the best , I think !!
Yes , I love the west wing !! I thought the fifth was fantastic , with stories , acting and education on US constitution and government !! Read more
Published 13 months ago by davidinator
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fine series
Another section of the story into USA governing and a brilliant series that is so enjoyable. Just cannot get enough of the characters' private enterprise and public job and the... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Jackie Domingo
1.0 out of 5 stars
If you thought season 5 was bad......
If you thought season five was bad, then the 22 episodes in season six are going to be an even greater effort! Read more
Published 23 months ago by S. Collinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lost Its Steam? NO WAY!!
Events in Gaza have placed enormous pressure on everybody. Not least of all President Bartlett and Leo, whose relationship breaks down, resulting in something serious for Leo. Read more
Published on 1 May 2011 by Nick
3.0 out of 5 stars
Now it's just getting silly
There's no getting away from it, Season 6 is a great disappointment. It starts reasonably well, but soon runs off the tracks with increasingly bizarre storylines, and ends not with... Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2011 by Bill
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