The West Wing
As far as political dramas go , practically every show falls short of the soaring top thatThe West Wingreached for the seven seasons it was air . Despite ending in 2006 , Aaron Sorkin ’s show is still one of the highest - tell on TV series ever andeven has a fan podcast give to it .
Many dedicated fan will tell you that the show went downhill after Sorkin left at the end of time of year four . The numbers on IMDb bear that out — only one episode from the post - Sorkin era ofThe West Wingbreaks into the top 10 episodes of the show .
Updated on October 21st , 2020 , by Richard Keller : By far , The West Wing is one of the best television system dramas of the twenty-first century . The show pay watcher an image of a West Wing administration they always dreamed of . This was thanks to an tremendous cast that grew potent each time of year — with so many riveting sequence , we thought it appropriate to append a few more .
Take This Sabbath Day (8.9/10)
The main plotline of this season one episode is an attempt to overrule the expiry condemnation of a drug dealer . It ’s so important that Sam decides to postpone his weekend plans to avail the man ’s defense attorney .
However , the plot viewers remember is Josh ’s entry to Joey Lucas . The fact he does it while hungover and looking like the Gorton ’s fisherman is a definitive moment in the serial .
Celestial Navigation (9.0/10)
There are two things watcher learn from this humourous installment ofThe West Wing . First , never countenance Josh address a everyday press briefing . Even if , as President Bartlett say , C.J. is run from the head .
The second affair was never to wake the president up before seven in the good morning when he get in late . Charlie learned this the strong way of life , telling his honcho that it was n’t a incubus — he was the President of the United States . " Celestial Navigation " is a okay mix of seriousness and laughter this show provided .
18th And Potomac (9.0/10)
This is the eccentric of episodeThe West Wingdid so well . When viewer think it ’s going to be a standard installment , Aaron Sorkin and the writers throw a curveball . The one they delivered at the destruction of the episode stunned everyone .
The claim , " eighteenth and Potomac " defend the location where Mrs. Langingham and her new railcar were move , killing President Bartlett ’s personal secretary . Her sudden demise starts a tsunami of activity that leads to Jeb anathemise out God and announcing his re - election run .
Tomorrow (9.0/10)
After seven seasons , The West Wingclosed with a peaceable transfer of superpower and a continuation of Bartlet ’s legacy . It evidence how Jeb spends his last day as President and how Santos starts his first day .
Though there are a lot of move pieces , viewers get to see how some of their favourite fictitious character develop . In finical , Josh and Donna , who move on to their various Chief of Staff duties for President and First Lady Santos .
Bartlet for America (9.1/10)
The first installment on the list is one that spotlight some of the problem with the US Union government . President Bartlet ’s multiple induration diagnosis has been revealed to the world , and he is facing a Congressional research into whether or not he lied to the populace during his drive . However , the enquiry becomes more and more partisan and destructive — one Republican representative , in special , is gun for Leo McGarry and trying to make public the fact that Leo once fell off the beach waggon during the campaign . It ’s the kind of dirty move that name the American public hate political science .
There are heart - warming moments though . We get a flashback to when Leo introduced then - Governor Bartlet to the drive slogan “ Bartlet For America . ” He write that on a cocktail napkin , and we regain out that Bartlet kept it all this prison term . He entrap it and gives it back to Leo as a vote of confidence in him .
Posse Comitatus (9.1/10)
In the season three finale , President Bartlet , Sam , C.J. , Toby , and Leo travel toNew York Cityto see an endless Broadway play name “ The War of the Roses . ” While there , Bartlet comes face to face with his opponent Rob Ritchie , and has to decide if he wants to have the Qumari Defense Minister assassinate .
The oddment of this episode is heartbreaking , and it ’s one that many fans were tempestuous with the Divine for a long meter . C.J. and her Secret Service protege , agent Simon Donovan , had a difficult start to their working human relationship , but by “ Posse Comitatus , ” the relationship has taken the romantic turn all fans were cheering for . But the remainder of the episode understand C.J. alone again when Donovan is tragically killed in a drug entrepot robbery .
In Excelsis Deo (9.1/10)
Twenty old age ago , The West Winghit the ground running ; hardly a unmarried episode from the first season drops below an 8/10 rating . This particular instalment was especially move because it was the first time viewers got to see what a big center Toby has blot out behind his gruff exterior .
A stateless old-timer dies on the National Mall tire out an honest-to-god coating of Toby ’s . He gets the call and sees that the man remains ungathered for minute , neglected even by the officers who find him . Devastated by this treatment , Toby goes out of his way to find the old stager ’s remaining family and pays for a funeral with full honors out of his pocket . President Bartlet tries to rebuke him , saying , “ If we pull string like this , you do n’t call back every stateless veteran will come out of the woodwork ? ” Toby ’s reply is amazing : “ I can only desire . ” The emotion of the storyline is overwhelming . It is one of the best moments inWest Winghistory .
Election Day, Part 2 (9.2/10)
Between the two " Election Day " episodes from time of year seven , the second part is the most dramatic . It deal with Leo ’s demise and the multiple essence it has not only on the campaign but also on those who loved the man .
Of of course , the person who ’s gets beaten down the most is Josh . Though he ’s devastated , he has to exhort on . Santos ' win and Josh ’s " Thanks , boss " to Leo ’s picture is a tearful moment .
The Supremes (9.2/10)
A impasse has forced over juridic candidate when a Supreme Court Justice pass . The Present wants a liberal nominee so that he can leave a long-lived legacy when he leave role , but it seems unbelievable with a strongly Republican Congress . Nevertheless , Josh start back - channel negotiations , offer a basal scheme that just might get everyone what they want .
“ The Supremes ” is one of the few post - Sorkin show to make this list . It prove that the new author and conductor could still do a lot with the bequest they were leave , but lover never really got over the expiration of Sorkin and Schlamme ( not to mention Rob Lowe ) .
What Kind of Day Has It Been (9.2/10)
As always , it ’s a hectic sidereal day at the White House : A stealth fighter is shot down over Iraq , and Bartlet has to order an even more stealthy military rescue . Meanwhile , Toby is worried about his estranged brother , who is trammel on a space bird .
The season one time of year finish end on such a cliffhanger that it was guaranteed to not only bring more care to the show but to make the time of year two premiere scheduled watching for fans . When President Bartlet go out the town hall meeting , shots environ out . They set in apparent motion two other episode that make this top ten list .
