This is by and large my favorite episode of Season One, and Season One is pretty excellent all on its own. The episode starts with Josh and CJ (or mostly Josh, according to... Josh) coaxing a deal for a Supreme Court Justice to step down, meaning they can put someone on the bench. Bartlet settles on a nominee, Payton Cabot Harrison III, who they believe is a home run choice. The staff sets to work making sure the process goes smoothly. Before stepping down, the outgoing Justice Crouch criticizes the President for going the easy route and not considering Roberto Mendoza. The wheels begin to come off as a Congressman accuses 1 in 3 White House staffers of illegal drug use. Josh begrudgingly begins investigating the claim to ensure their nominee holds the spotlight. As often happens in The West Wing, the President also begins to wrestle with "the easy choice" or "the right choice" and asks Toby to look into Mendoza, just as Sam uncovers a big kink in the nomination: a decades old unsigned note that could spell trouble. They bring it to the President who demands they look into it, and then he decides to meet Judge Mendoza. The different threads of the episode begin to weave together here beautifully: the subject of the unsigned note is privacy, which is discussed in a meeting between Harrison, the President, Sam, and Toby. Josh believes that the Congressman's accusations are directed at Leo, who is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. Sam begins to like Harrison less and less, who believes privacy is not a de facto right. Mendoza meets the President, and blows them all away. He is qualified, intelligent, liberal, and just. As Leo's privacy is about to be invaded in the media, President Bartlet asks Mendoza to accept the nomination, which he does. The President presents "Mr. Justice Mendoza" to the West Wing as the episode ends.
Edward James Olmos as Roberto Mendoza is one of my favorite pieces of casting ever. When the President asks Mendoza if he'll accept the nomination, and Olmos growls "With honor", I nearly stood up and saluted.
The writing and regular cast is, of course, fantastic, as with most of The West Wing. A staple of the show also makes its first appearance here: Gail the Goldfish, given to CJ by Danny Concanon. (It's an adorable moment between the two, and Allison Janney is especially good in the scene, featuring her wonderful laugh). This episode is one of the most liberally idealistic of a fairly liberal and idealistic show, so I was predisposed to enjoy it, but I think it holds up without my bias anyway.
Edward James Olmos as Roberto Mendoza is one of my favorite pieces of casting ever. When the President asks Mendoza if he'll accept the nomination, and Olmos growls "With honor", I nearly stood up and saluted.
The writing and regular cast is, of course, fantastic, as with most of The West Wing. A staple of the show also makes its first appearance here: Gail the Goldfish, given to CJ by Danny Concanon. (It's an adorable moment between the two, and Allison Janney is especially good in the scene, featuring her wonderful laugh). This episode is one of the most liberally idealistic of a fairly liberal and idealistic show, so I was predisposed to enjoy it, but I think it holds up without my bias anyway.