"It's a free-for-all. I think Aaron Burr has eighteen votes somewhere."
Ahh the West Wing. This show is a beacon of light out there in the TV ocean. I can see it blinking on and off over and over out around the ruler that seperates water from sky. I can see it undulating up and down but could never quite get a handle on it enough to really call it mine. It was my guiding light as opposed to my own personal star to wish on. This was during the Sorkin years. Now - it's just total fucking shit for the most part. LOL!
I watched the finale last night, "2162 votes" (the number needed from state Caucasus to nominate a candidate for either party) and I admit the dialogue hasn't been the crispest for a couple years now, but it's almost as if they are trying to write through another man's pen. It's always been the dialogue, pithy conversations about anything from National Security to Shakespeare that gave the show it's aloof approach to politics, satire, and drama. It's always been the give and take between the characters that made you go running online to find exactly what a "whip" does or who the current chief of staff is. And for that I always applauded the show, because I can honestly say, that through the West Wing I have learned numerous things.
But last night it let me down. They elected a candidate (Jimmy Smits) to go up against the Republican candidate (Alan Alda) at the start of next season. And honestly - I wasn't that thrilled. First off - they nominated Leo (Bartlett's chief of staff) as Santos' (Smitts) vice president and Al Bundy was even in the fucking race. It was fun to watch but it's not real thrilling to me anymore. Without Bartlett, without Toby, without Charlie or CJ I can't say that I want to watch next season. And I am especially not turned on to watch if all my characters are gone ....AND there is no Aaron Sorkin. But next season will be an encompassing mess that will have the Bartlett administration on it's last legs and it will have the presidential race as it's front story. So I'll get to see them all once again - once again dragged through the mud and meant to mumble "Open Sesame" as opposed to "Shibboleth".
Anyway - I'll watch next season I will - and I think they were smart to do it this way - because I don't think we will ever see another President on the TV show the West Wing so it will be good for us to watch Bartlett ride off into the sunset with one last swipe of his pen or lash of his tongue and we will be able to see and imagine what the next president might do in the future - but I'll be wishing that next president's dialogue be written by Aaron Sorkin.
