Most of us remember the 90's and early 2000s filled with Rugrats, Dexter's Laboratory, and Hey Arnold but while we were watching cartoons the adults were watching a show called West Wing. The first episode aired the second of September 1999 and was written by it's creator Aaron Sorkin. You might be familiar with his other work like A Few Good Men, The Social Network, and The American President just to name a few. Not to mention two other TV shows, Sport's Night and The Newsroom. The West Wing is a critically acclaimed political show about the lives and daily occurrences in the White House.
But what does a late 90's political drama have to do with anything today? Well to start, the issues haven't really changed. Issues such as race relations, LGBTQ+ in the military, and terrorism are a few topics that are touched on The West Wing. In episodes like "Six Meetings Before Lunch" which talk about race reparations, "Let Bartlet be Bartlet" talks about gay and lesbian soldiers in the military, and "Isaac and Ishmael" speaks on terrorism in a post 9/11 society.
It's been 17 years since the pilot premiered and forever changed political dramas but the fun and excitement of West Wing can be relived in two ways.
1. Binge 7 seasons of West Wing
Well okay, maybe not binge, I took a few months to finish all the seasons but Netflix has all the seasons there for your viewing! Before you know it you'll be wanting to do your own walk and talks down long hallways with your friends.
2. Watch with Commentary!
Now before you say you don't want to do this, hear me out. It's not actual commentary during the episode but rather a weekly podcast with Joshua Malina and Hrishikesh Hirway. Joshua Malina was on the West Wing as Will Bailey you might recognize him as the Attorney General from and equally amazing political drama, Scandal. Each week they analyze an episode from the West Wing and are currently 21 episodes into the show but it isn't too late to start watching! How this works is that you the viewer watch the episode before you listen to the podcast then when you're done you can listen to the commentary without giving yourself spoilers.
Malina and Hirway have done amazing research into each episode and always bring fresh perspectives on the episodes they comment on. Without fail they are both incredibly smart and funny each week. They even put out some merch for the viewers to buy and I was beyond tempted to buy this lapel pin. Written on it are the iconic words of President Bartlet and how the podcast signs off. I won't spoil what it means but it's easily my favorite call back to the show. In case you couldn't tell, I'm a pretty big fan.
We have a lot of political shows out right now and most of them are on Netflix as well but give The West Wing a chance, it isn't like House of Cards or Scandal both great shows in their own right but they don't show people loving their job in the White House or in D.C. The great thing about The West Wing is that it calls on this ideal America, where the president is doing all he can with his staff to make our nation a beacon of hope and give its people a country to be proud of.
The West Wing has inspired countless people to go on to do amazing things. People like Allison Janney even revived her role as C.J. Cregg to talk about opioid abuse at the White House in April. That's just one example of how people who were on this show have gone on to take on the responsibilities of helping change the world; something that I believe their characters would have done in the world of the West Wing.
Okay.
What's next?
