The West Wing Review: Walk-and-Talk Politics at Its Best
9/10 — The West Wing (1999)
Pros
- Sharp, fast dialogue
- Superb ensemble
- Idealistic and uplifting
Cons
- Later seasons slump
- Naive politics
The series follows the staff of fictional Democratic president Josiah Bartlet, played by Martin Sheen, as they juggle crises and ideals in the White House. It ran for seven seasons on NBC.
What works
The dialogue is rapid and witty, and the walk-and-talk scenes are iconic. The cast, including Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford and Rob Lowe, is superb, and the first four seasons are masterful.
Where it falters
After Sorkin’s departure the show lost some sparkle, and its idealised politics can feel naive.
Verdict
An intelligent, uplifting drama at its best in its early seasons.
