The West Wing: Season 2 [DVD] [2003]

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 rest of the main cast. She is absent from the second season, and the quality of the drama is enhanced by a closer focus on the more successful creations.This begins straight away, with one of the finest achievements in any TV drama. The two-part opener, "In The Shadow of Two Gunmen", takes time to explore the back-story behind the central characters in the administration, and how these people came to believe so devotedly in President Bartlet. With brilliant performances and moving and uplifting writing, Aaron Sorkin and his peerless cast take "The West Wing" to a higher level.This isn't sustained throughout the season; indeed most of season 2 is of exactly the same quality as season 1. There are some extraordinary episodes, notably the profound, emotional "Shibboleth"; the incredibly fast, witty "Bartlet's Third State of the Union"; and the stupendous "Noel" in which Bradley Whitford (Josh) gives an Emmy-winning perfomance as a man traumatised by recent events but deeply loved by his colleagues.Then, something amazing happens. "The West Wing" becomes great art.In "Somebody's Going To Emergency, Somebody's Going To Jail", Sam (Rob Lowe) deals painfully with the sins of his wayward father whilst also discovering that a long-admired 50s politician was a Soviet spy. In the next episode, "The Stackhouse Filibuster", Sorkin delivers a huge feelgood moment centred on an old Senator's autistic grandson, while the main characters write to their own parents.The themes of parental loyalty, truth, concealment and illness firmly established, the show then hits hard with "17 People", as President Bartlet is forced to admit that he has hidden his MS from his staff and the public. A sequence of tense, emotional episodes follows, as his loyal staff deal with the shock and the possible consequences of this alleged cover-up. As matters foreign and domestic go from bad to worse for Bartlet, his personal aide takes a fateful telephone call...With the final episode, "Two Cathedrals", what began as an exploration of filial loyalty and disillusionment has developed into a broader view of both: the staff's relationship with the president; the president's relationship with his own dead father... and, most importantly, his faith in the Heavenly Father."Two Cathedrals", once described as "King Lear meets the Book of Job", is arguably the most powerful, affecting hour of drama ever made for television. And, triumphantly for all involved, it concludes right where "In The Shadow of Two Gunmen" started: with selfless loyalty, true faith and abiding love.

The West Wing has serious claims to being the greatest television series ever made, and enough has been written about it by academic commentators to make my thoughts virtually superfluous. However, I will just say that Series 2 is my favourite out of all seven, and therefore must be the best of the best. It's also the series in which my all-time favourite character, the young Republican lawyer Ainsley Hayes makes her all too brief appearances. I think Aaron Sorkin once admitted that his greatest mistake (and he didn't make many) was not casting her as a series regular.. Instead he allowed her to go off to CSI Miami where her huge talent was largely wasted playing Calleigh Duquesne. My all-time favourite scenes (and I'm including all television, not just The West Wing) include her.televised destruction of Sam Seaborn (remember Toby's ecstatic cry of "Get the popcorn, Ginger), and her job interview with Leo McGarry when everything was breathtakingly perfect - two actors at very the top of their game, firing those razor-sharp lines back and forth with incredible timing. I have watched this sequence countless times, and it never palls. I should add that these comic scenes are embedded in an episode of deep seriousness about the cost of drugs desperately needed in the Third World. That was the way The West Wing worked.There were other great scenes, of course, like Glenn Close's appearance as a nominee for chief justice in "The Supremes" - an episode from Series 5 in which, again, everything approached a rarely-attained perfection. But enough. Ten stars, twenty stars,no number would be enough.

Arrived in good time, was as advertised, no problems. To my mind, 'The West Wing' is one of the best US series ever made. It is wonderfully acted by a well cast group of actors. The dialogue is full of wit, but sober and well considered when the events require it. It centres of the events of Josiah Bartlet's (Martin Sheen) presidency over 8 years. Bartlet before entering politics was an Economics professor and winner of the Nobel prize for Economics. It focuses equally on him and his staff, very ably headed by Leo McGarry (John Spencer) as Bartlet's Chief of Staff, and including Rob Lowe (as Sam Seaborne, Deputy White House Communications Director).For people who watched 'The West Wing' when it aired (or was repeated) this (along with the other 6 series) is a truly excellent buy, and very affordably priced to boot. For people who didn't, if you like political drama this could just be the treat you deserve.

I already had this on video. I bought each box set as soon as it was released. Just took the opportunity to replace my old videos with the first and second series of DVDs. I have seen all of the episodes at least 4 times over the years. Makes me sound quite sad but I promise you that you won't be disappointed if you buy it. All of the characters are well played with Martin Sheen probably the pick. The stories are well written as you would expect from Sorkin. You would think it would be dated after so long but it stands the test of time well. Some of the stories from the first series are as relavent today as when they were first made, eg American plane shot down by terrorists and Bartlets reaction to it which is the backdrop to the first 4 episodes is a superb start to what is a great piece of tv