The West Wing

[bcool]

So I'm about halfway though the series right now and, as it's the 4th here in america, I though I'd bring it up.

I'm loving this show as a drama. The characters and all of the strategies are really interesting. I'm not sure if I'd be saying that if I was of a different political persuasion, though... And, even though I tend to agree with the politics of the show, it seems to ask a lot; I get the impression I'm supposed to forgive and accept a lot of pretty questionable things. The shield and the wire often do this, but it seems like both have likable characters that blow the whistle. The west wing's whistle blowers are painted as evil republicans whose goal is to muck up the country.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[neverendingwhitelights]

I stopped watching it about halfway through. I can't explain what changed, but something in the way the show carried itself just didn't work for me anymore. It's a shame about that too, because I really like Joshua Malina.

[th3-space-pope]

Forgive my preamble. At the time I watched the West Wing Australia was going through the 'John Howard years' (our Prime Minister from 1996-2007), I won't go into a diatribe about his time in office, lets just say I was very disheartened that he could basically do anything and then fear monger and buy his way to winning the next election when it next rolled around. Bush was also president by the time I started watching, and let’s just say that the ramifications were not only felt in America.

For me the West Wing was enjoyable escapism, I suppose you could say the premise of the show gave me hope, even though I think I ultimately stayed for the characters, I believe shows that put a more ‘Utopian’ (I am not suggesting that a Democratic run white house is in any way ‘perfect’ irl) slant on human society as a whole (Star Trek for example) can be very appealing to people, myself included.

To actually answer your question, yes, I think the shows leftward leanings are sometimes very heavy handed.

[applie]

I'm in a similar position to you bcool in terms of the series (half way through season 5). Obviously you haven't stated specific situations where 'evil republicans' stop the administration from doing what it wants. However, generally what'll happen is they want to Bartlett, et al want to do something, the republicans (and sometimes a few democrats) don't want it. Compromises are made, and they win/lose the vote.
However, although the point is made throughout the show (and rather heavily-handed at times) that not all republicans are bad, and they have good reasons for joining the party. The point is also made that neither party is perfect, and the republicans on the show are often the ones that make the most interesting/challenging points to the protagonists and hence audience.
As in any government, the people opposed to you can easily become the enemy (and understandably so). However, one of the main themes throughout the show is that it's alright for intelligent people to disagree. And argument and debate is how the best decisions are made. As Churchill said "democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."

[joedubbs]

For me the show is at the very top of best series I have ever watched. I got into the show in high school right after 9/11 they did a fantastic episode that addressed the sudden fear of muslims in society and it was a high school social studies teacher that showed the class the show!

I started getting the seasons on DVDs to catch up and it was just one of television's finest programs.

[joedubbs]

PS Aaron Sorkin is the man. If you have never seen it I highly recommend SportsNite