Throughout this entire season, I've had one question on my mind: How come these people were able to win an election? There have been no signs to me that these were people that the public would look at and see the future of their government. I don't see how anyone could look at Jed Bartlet and pretend like he was not a big goof with very little distinct to say about where he wanted the country to go. This entire season has pretty much been about him sucking up to the other people in his government, with the occasional argument with his VP. Any attempt I have had to see anything that could signal an appeal to voters have been overshadowed by more ridiculous moments. However, it seems like the show itself had those questions on its mind, because the episode that I've now seen raises a lot of those important questions for thought. "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" centers around a paper going around that the staff discovers to be a memo about how to defeat Bartlet in the upcoming election. This makes the staff ask themselves the moral questions of why this memo was written in the first place and why it's on them. This might be my favorite episode of the season so far and the episode that finally tackled those important issues that the show had to address in some form or another. Leave it to Aaron Sorkin to explain it in the most dramatic, yet heavily entertaining way he possibly could.
It's true that this administration has had a few victories throughout the season. The Mendoza confirmation comes up in this episode, but it's a small victory for a crew who has constantly been undermined by other people because of their reluctance to do anything that would sink their chances of reelection. It's time to reorganize and try different tactics, which is why this episode is so monumental to the rest of the show. Whether this was conceived because Sorkin had those issues with the show himself or because they wanted something new is irrelevant, as long as it actually happened.
But it also has to go back to Bartlet, who I have criticized for being too loose of a canon this season. He seems to be throwing around his personality everywhere he goes, which can be charming to a certain extent, but will alienate some people. It seems like members of his staff have felt that too and are finally confronting him about it. That was the right way to go, and it puts a new focus on the relationship Bartlet has with the staff. It's more of an even playing field now and that really raises the stakes going forward.
I have joined the voices of a lot of "West Wing" superfans in my displeasure for the character of Mandy. She seems to be getting the short end of the stick in every episode, a clear indication that Sorkin has no idea what to do with her. In this episode, her stupidity reaches new heights as she's literally the reason why this might all go south. However, this episode does give us a look into her as a player in the game instead of a boring character. That felt good, even though she's still missing for most of the episode.
I've also learned that Sorkin will do anything to seem patriotic in this show. And hey, it's a show about American politics, so why not seem a little patriotic. There's a moment at the end that would be cheesy in any other episode, but actually works here because of the overly patriotic feel it has. Sorkin seems like the kind of guy who loves himself a little too much, but he lowkey makes fun of himself in this moment, and that brought a smile to my face. It's those moments that I like more than anything else on display.
"Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" asks some important questions and gives satisfying answers that promises a change in the questions that we may ask going forward. It's a powerful episode with a lot of good themes being thrown around, but it works because of its ending moments which is better than much else in this show.
It's true that this administration has had a few victories throughout the season. The Mendoza confirmation comes up in this episode, but it's a small victory for a crew who has constantly been undermined by other people because of their reluctance to do anything that would sink their chances of reelection. It's time to reorganize and try different tactics, which is why this episode is so monumental to the rest of the show. Whether this was conceived because Sorkin had those issues with the show himself or because they wanted something new is irrelevant, as long as it actually happened.
But it also has to go back to Bartlet, who I have criticized for being too loose of a canon this season. He seems to be throwing around his personality everywhere he goes, which can be charming to a certain extent, but will alienate some people. It seems like members of his staff have felt that too and are finally confronting him about it. That was the right way to go, and it puts a new focus on the relationship Bartlet has with the staff. It's more of an even playing field now and that really raises the stakes going forward.
I have joined the voices of a lot of "West Wing" superfans in my displeasure for the character of Mandy. She seems to be getting the short end of the stick in every episode, a clear indication that Sorkin has no idea what to do with her. In this episode, her stupidity reaches new heights as she's literally the reason why this might all go south. However, this episode does give us a look into her as a player in the game instead of a boring character. That felt good, even though she's still missing for most of the episode.
I've also learned that Sorkin will do anything to seem patriotic in this show. And hey, it's a show about American politics, so why not seem a little patriotic. There's a moment at the end that would be cheesy in any other episode, but actually works here because of the overly patriotic feel it has. Sorkin seems like the kind of guy who loves himself a little too much, but he lowkey makes fun of himself in this moment, and that brought a smile to my face. It's those moments that I like more than anything else on display.
"Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" asks some important questions and gives satisfying answers that promises a change in the questions that we may ask going forward. It's a powerful episode with a lot of good themes being thrown around, but it works because of its ending moments which is better than much else in this show.
