"The West Wing" Han (2003)

Director:

Chris Misiano

Writers:

Aaron Sorkin (creator)
Peter Noah (teleplay) ...

TV Series:

"The West Wing" (1999)

Original Air Date:

22 October 2003 (Season 5, Episode 4)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A North Korean pianist announces his intention to defect in the Oval Office. While the staff passionately...

Plot Keywords:

President | Political | Secretary | White House | First Lady

Cast

Dulé Hill	...	Charlie Young
Allison Janney	...	Claudia Jean 'C.J.' Cregg
Joshua Malina	...	Will Bailey
Janel Moloney	...	Donna Moss
Richard Schiff	...	Toby Ziegler
John Spencer	...	Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford	...	Josh Lyman
Martin Sheen	...	President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Amy Gardner
Jesse Bradford	...	Ryan Pierce
Gary Cole	...	Vice President Bob Russell
Ron Canada	...	Under Secretary of State Theodore Barrow
Christopher Cousins	...	Rep. Theo
Tony Lee	...	Jai Yung Ahn - Pianist
NiCole Robinson	...	Margaret Hooper

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When the immensely-educated Will Bailey is writing the State of the Union speech, he mentions to the Undersecretary of State that "Article I" gives the president power of Commander-in-Chief, while the power actually comes under the Constitution's Article II.

Quotes:

Toby Ziegler: In a triumph of the middling, a nod to mediocrity, and with gorge rising, it gives me great nausea to announce Robert Russell - Bingo Bob, himself - as your new Vice President.
Will Bailey: This lapdog of the mining interests is as dull as he is unremarkable...
Toby Ziegler: ...as lackluster as he is soporific. This reversion to the mean...
Will Bailey: ...this rebuke to the exemplary...
Toby Ziegler: ...gives hope to the millions unfavored by the exceptional... Bob Russell: not the worst, not the best, just what we're stuck with.

Soundtrack:

Etudes, Op.10 - No. 12. in C minor 'Revolutionary'

Leo Rules the Roost Again

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I was particularly taken aback by the lack of action concerning the defection request by the North Korean pianist. I felt the President had a clear call to honor the request yet he let Leo decide the matter. He lamely said at the end that the North Korean did not understand freedom, ignoring the initial request in the Oval Office. This lack of active acceptance came just after the President had welcomed new citizens and talked about freedom. It did not matter if the man did not understand freedom in English - he knew what he needed and that was way more than enough. This episode showed Bartell to be weak and indecisive.