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Amazon.co.uk Review
The second series of The West Wing takes up literally where the first series left off and, after a few moments of slightly toe-curling 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 troughs include "Noel", the episode in which Alan Arkin's psychiatrist forces Josh Lynam to confront his post-traumatic stress disorder and the concluding episodes in which President Bartlet, having lost his secretary Mrs Landingham in a tragic car accident, rails angrily against God in Latin.
Other new features of this series 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 (to us first, then later his staff) that the President has been suffering from multiple sclerosis. Meanwhile, the White House must move heaven and earth to make incremental political gains as well as deal with a host difficulties abroad, demonstrating, some might argue, more compassion, skill and restraint than that exercised by the real-life US administration.
With Aaron Sorkin's dialogue ranging as ever from dry, staccato mirth to almost biblical gravitas, an ensemble of overworked (and curiously undersexed) characters and an overall depiction of the workings of government that's both gratifyingly idealised yet chasteningly realistic, The West Wing is one of the all-time great American TV dramas. --David Stubbs
Special Features
English
Region 2
Region 2
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Aaron Sorkin for President !,
This review is from: The West Wing - Season 2 Part 1 [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Continuing straight from the first series epic climax, season two deals largely with the aftermath of the shooting at Roslyn. It has great story archs for all the main characters, who are all affected in largely differing ways (not least Toby and Josh).The second season was able to retain the startlingly fast pace which helped make the first season so successful (something many fans feared they would not be able to do) and the dialogue is as slick as ever. The truly great thing about the west wing is its ability to seamlessly shift from moments of comic genius into the kind of serious situations that most other programmes and even films are affraid to tackle. But above all, the West Wing shows us exactly how we would like world leaders to be in real life. We would love to see President Bartlett sitting in the real White House surrounded by people who are passionate and totally committed to trying to make the world a better place. Almost makes politics a noble thing. A must for fans. This has to be added to your DVD collection.
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another series of wonderful west wing,
By A Customer
This review is from: The West Wing - Season 2 Part 1 [DVD] (DVD)
At the end of the first series we were left with the explosive shoot out in Roslyn but what has become of poor President Bartlett in the second series. Since the release of the second series on television i personally have to say i have been champing at the bit to get my hands upon the latest series on DVD. This highly entertaining programme from the pen of Aaron Sorkin has returned in triumph once again to DVD with much anticipation, the writing is of an incredibly high standard and is a pleasure to watch. The sophistication, wit and sarcasam remain amongst the cast of the multi emmy award winning show and prove that the first season was not just a lucky first run. This highly insightful inside view of American political dealings has caught the political imaginations of many in this time of crisis in world politics and has led to a real interest and a desire to understand partisan politics in America. Its ability to show not just the business side of professional politics but the relationships, joys and moments of sadness shared by these professional political operatives is genuinely heartwarming and well worth watching. I believe this programme is undoubtedly worth five stars and can be enjoyed by all no matter where you sit on the political fence.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More classic slices of life in the White House,
By Shain (Leeds, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The West Wing - Season 2 Part 1 [DVD] (DVD)
The West Wing is affecting TV in the noughties like MASH affected it in the seventies. This DVD has some more classic episodes, including (in episode 3) the comprehensive dissing by POTUS (if you're a fan, you'll know and if you're not, you'll work it out) of a pseudo-psychologist bible-bashing DJ. A classic piece of television that I watched 3 times in a row and it still made me laugh. The West Wing is so well-written and so good - we know that the chances of someone as principled as Martin Sheen's President Jed Bartlet making it to the White House are miniscule, but it doesn't stop us hoping. There's no special features here - if you want the cast interviews, etc you need to get the 1st season - which is a bit of a shame. But when the main feature is this good, I guess it doesn't really matter. If you think you can cope with the confusion, watch a film called "The American President" starring Michael Douglas as the President. It's a bit of a forerunner of the West Wing and it has Martin Sheen as the White House Chief of Staff and others from the West Wing, but no-one in the role they ended up playing in the TV series. An interesting film to watch if you like the West Wing, and a good film in its own right. Let's be honest - if politics was really like this, a lot more of us would vote... PS Can I have CJ's job please? She really kicks ass.
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