2002-2003.
This wasnât a Christmas present but a loan from our not-quite-daughter-in-law. (It seems a bit ridiculous to call her our sonâs girlfriend as theyâve been together for years and sheâs now a grown woman rather than a teenager. Plus she feels like part of the family.)
The West Wing is slick and fast moving entertainment, well acted and engaging. However, watching the episodes in close succession probably shows up the flaws more than its designed weekly exposure would.
From a story telling perspective I noted the ever more inventive stratagems for dumping information on the viewer, most of which in written fiction would be regarded as clumsy.
[The British equivalent, Yes, Minister, got round this problem by assuming the Minister was ignorant â which is not unwarranted; Her Majestyâs Secretaries of Statesâ average time in post is measured in months rather than years; leaving them just enough time to muck things up before moving on to a new Department, where again they have to learn the ropes from scratch. US presidents – we shall ignore here Reagan, the second Bush and Calvin Coolidge – and their staffs are generally thought to be more rounded, however.]
In The West Wing, though, characters claim lack of knowledge so that they (and we) can be lectured. Strange enthusiasms are adumbrated. At a Town Hall meeting events inside the West Wing are related. (Donât they have an Official Secrets Act?) We also have people acting in ways they surely would not, or having relationships that are unlikely solely for the purposes of story (arc.)
The series is, of course, revealing of the political system in the US – which undoubtedly has its strangenesses. At one point a husband seemed to have inherited his deceased wifeâs place in Congress – at least until an impending election. In a close situation his was the crucial vote! If thatâs what does happen when a Congressperson dies itâs a bizarre arrangement.
The programme is above all, though, an exercise in allowing Americans to feel good about themselves, which can be a bit off-putting. (There may be better angels in their nature but they quite often keep them hidden.)
The cliff hanger ending to the first series was a blow.
It means Iâll have to watch series 2, now.
Though I would have anyway.