west wing season five

Season Five

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7A WF 83429

You know, it’s been so long since I fringedwelled anything that it’s taken me twenty minutes to find my book! I’ve been humming the theme tune all day. I always forget exactly how much I love this show.
I haven't watched this in ages, I have no idea what's going on!
You’d have thought that those reporters in front of the White House would have spread out a bit, it must be off-putting trying to speak into the camera when you can hear eight other people doing the same thing.
Well, if you need a grenade launcher, you need it immediately.
Trust Donna to think of the practicalities “Where’s he going to sleep?”
I've just had to hold my laptop in mid air for five minutes to turn the fan off, because when its running I can't hear a thing. The sound quality on this is awful
Yes, Bartlet does look small but you have to take into account that Martin Sheen is not very tall and John Goodman is approximately the width of two men.
Ooh I forgot about Agent Casper. I’d find it really hard to see the downside of terrorist incidents if he had to break the news.
Immunity or no, I somehow doubt John Paul will ever set foot on the continent again.
Does Leo need a bigger office because Josh's list of callers won't fit in the current one?
Oh, I knew that they weren’t talking about Bartlet, but the look on Leo’s face when he saw Walken behind the desk...
Oooh, I like that room.
They drugged the First Lady? If I were Abbey I would have asked them to give me something again.
It’s possible I’m snivelling already.
CJ slept?
Oatmeal and carrot? You’d think they’d have a special supply of high carbohydrate, incredibly sugary foods for occasions such as this.
Yes, but those children didn’t die because their father was President.
To be fair, there are places Toby would carpet-bomb just for the hell of it. His might not be the most balanced opinion
Someone needs to tie Josh down, and for once I don’t mean that in a kinky way.
Oh Danny, you know there is.
I love Journalistic Integrity!Danny
Let’s just hope they don’t plan on taking Zoe with them.
It’s the first episode of this season and it’s the first Fitz and Nancy fight. Nice to know that some things stay constant.
Someone really ought to listen to Nancy.
Well that sounds eerily familiar. I’m surprised “Screw the Europeans” is not a formal policy position. “Just hang on Mr President, I think we’ve still got the headed notepaper from the last time we did that.”
“I’m gonna blow the hell out of something and God only knows what will happen next.” Welcome to Republic Defence Policy 101.
Why did they give him immunity? He’s a drug pusher for god’s sake. And he had silly hair.
Because spiking her drink with E makes it *so* much better...
Actually I suspect other people are calling on their behalf. Heads of state rarely dial the ‘phone themselves.
If this isn’t enough to drive Leo back to alcohol, I don’t know what is.
Did Bartlet honestly think that Charlie would go home? This is the man that regularly breaks through Secret Service barriers.
I bet Charlie’s plotting ways to torture him first.
I want to know what happened the day that Charlie had to show Bartlet the photocopying paper. I’m sure that there’s a story in there somewhere.
Although the Xerox paper is important.
Leo chants the patented Fringedweller mantra “If I was an important piece of paper, where would I be?”
Poor, poor Margaret.
You’re allowed pets in the Oval Office? What’s the betting it’s sleeping on CJ’s seat?
Ha! It is.
“We’re still vetting candidates” is Josh speak for “We’re prevaricating as much as possible and hoping this nightmare is over before you realise that’s what we’re doing.”
Aw, someone needs to congratulate Will on his knowledge of the Constitution.
Poor Toby's slowly losing his mind in this meeting...
Damn it, Walken’s aide is out fringedwelling me in the Oval Office scene! It must be because my fringedwelling skills are rusty.
This is just a really polite brawl.
I like Ellie’s new hair.
Ooh, the previously unseen daughter.
Go CJ! You screw the Bad!President.
He’s having new furniture delivered?
Why doesn’t Josh knock on Will’s door?
Aw, Will has bed hair.
Josh really isn’t someone who can comment on having messy hair.
That's how I'd choose to spend my Presidency... "Channel surfing in the Lincoln bedroom", and getting all the best seats at sporting events
Temporary Presidents shouldn’t be allowed to make CJ straighten their tie. Or at least she should be able to knee them in the groin if they do.
Look at the concentration on CJ’s face as she tries not to strangle the new president.
Yes it does, that’s why they tried to keep it quiet.
Morals aren’t transitory. You can’t give them up just because other people don’t hold to them.
They’ve splashed out on new sets this season
Nice to see the Bartlets having a spectacularly healthy lunch. I'd be existing on coffee and ice-cream by now
I know she’s under a lot of stress, but I’m not sure what Abbey was expecting the Presidency to involve.
She's the First Lady, her job involves christening helicopters and talking about family health issues, not having input on political assassinations
I really don’t envy Margaret her job right now.
She’s the woman bringing you coffee, don’t get snippy.
I’m going to have to refer to recessions as bagels from now on.
Well, since Josh hates all Republicans (well, except for the gay one) it makes sense that the ones in the White House now will be hostile to him.
Someone needs to gag the Bad!President right now and prevent all hell breaking loose.
But you’ve violated the sovereign soil of so many of your enemies it really shouldn’t bother you that much.
That is a beautiful shot, and I’m guessing the symbolism of Bartlet caught in his own web is deliberate.
Josh, just do as Donna tells you.
All those candles and all those stuffed toys. If they’re not careful Danny will be writing the “White House In Giant Polyester Explosion” story.
They spell Zoey's name with a 'y'? I'm going to have to go back and correct four years of spelling it just with an 'e'!
Ellie is the only one willing to comfort the President.
All those rumours about this season dropping in quality so no signs of being true so far...

The Dogs Of War

Driving the motorcade cars looks like so much fun.
They're meeting in a carpark? That's a bit Watergate isn't it?
That's some quality eyebrow acting from John Spencer
Leo still wears his wedding ring.
I imagine they're quite well defended already.
That was much less than two minutes
That man is very young to be an ambassador.
Oh that's Josh's ring tone isn't it? It just has to be.
Poor Josh can't think straight unless he's put on his shoes.
I think I might quite like Amy. I'm not sure why or how this turnabout has occurred, but it has.
Why make new mothers sit in a room full of babies, isn't that a sure fire way to get them to freak out?
What? What's happened?
Oh, that. I knew that had happened.
I'm impressed Donna took all those messages. I'd have given up after twenty.
They really should have a spare fax
He works there and he wasn't sure if he should come in? That's not a great attitude to start with.
Are new people allowed to call Leo 'Leo'?
Josh is going to take that minute anyway.
That doesn't mean they... ah thank you Josh.
Josh probably sent out a memo about that and everything
Poor Donna, now she has Josh and an intern to look after.
Why do I get the feeling there's an Josh/intern story we're not hearing?
It's not surprising at all that Toby doesn't recognise Congress.
Toby gave Will the difficult speech.
I think it's very clear what Leo means
Ah, Josh has one of his charts again.
The Intern should've taken an intellectual looking book.
That's exactly what he was saying and it was true.
That was a stunning fall.
I spent my Friday nights in the library too, but there was never anyone as exciting as Josh in there. Just me, the cleaning lady and the librarian with the unfortunate lisp.
Josh is stalking the opposition into the West Wing bathrooms?
Josh is very good at this political intimidation but he appears to have finally met a Republican who knows what he's doing.
Do the cleaners have to stand to attention as the President walks past?
Toby quickly tries to hide the speeches in his drawer.
"Someone on your staff..." I'm surprised the President isn't just rummaging through their desks
Toby is a dreadfully bad bluffer. "Speech? What speech?"
What do you do if the President bursts into tears on you? Is there special etiquette, tissues with the Seal on, that sort of thing?
You'd think the FBI would have an advanced enough 'phone system so they wouldn't have to run next door.
Fitz can't leave. We love Fitz!
Yes, but I'm betting the ton boat didn't have sails, and confusing ropes
Someone ask if they've found her alive.
Aw, they let Charlie go in the helicopter.
Zoe is remarkably composed.
Leo's disappointed at that, he was hoping he'd get to kill them himself.
Doesn't someone have to verify that Bartlet is fit to take office again? I think, since he decided he was unfit, he's allowed to decide he's okay again. If someone had removed him from office, then he probably wouldn't be allowed to just sign back in
Why didn't they just get Margaret to sign one of those earlier?
I like the idea of undermining the opposition party by saying really nice things about them in your campaign
Josh amazingly holds back from doing his happy dance.
Toby and Will start to worry they might be out of a job.

Jefferson Lives

Oh dear, dream sequences never bode well. Is this the first dream sequence that The West Wing has done?
They allowed Josh to have some kind of weapon? Surely that's not wise.
I wonder if they ever get the urge to just wind people up and offer them important government positions as a joke.
Bartlet can use a coffee machine? No wonder he's President.
Her collar bone looks fine to me.
The rubber chicken circuit? God, the mind boggles. Does he eat them, speak to them, pull them out of a hat?
Well now Josh has said that, there's definitely going to be a problem.
They can check your video rentals? I wish they'd told me that before I borrowed “Sweet November” and “Bringing Down The House” *Considers changing identity*
Josh can be forgiven, Toby’s ‘over the moon face’ looks a lot like his ‘pissed with the world’ face. It's a lot like all his other faces.
Toby’s dressing quite sharply today.
I'm sure one of Donna's powers must be to be able to grab that mobile phone and stamp on it. If it's not, it should be.
I should be allowed to postpone work to see sporting events
Josh is Spanky now? Well I guess someone has to be.
I think it was a compliment.
“Radiological dispersion device.” Or bomb.
Sparklers can be dangerous. Don't Americans have to watch those educational films? Don't play with fire works, don't play on building sites and never, ever fly a kite near power lines: The three most valuable lessons one can learn.
What kind of person goes undercover in a fife and drum corps? Frankly, if they've gone to the trouble of learning to play either the fife or the drums in a military band, they probably deserve to be given the chance to blow things up
It's satisfying that even the President of the United States has a full in-tray when he's been off for a while.
I find the idea of a country being run by an autopen oddly comforting
As far as my extremely limited experience goes, staying on the horse is half the battle.
I do like the Republican history geek.
Will, you shouldn’t actually grab CJ. That way leads only to an early death.
We should get to hear how Bingo Bob got his nickname.
Circumcision can never count as a good start to the day. After that your morning can only get better
The smiley face really makes that one special
Zoey seems to be taking this in the right spirit.
Oh bless Charlie, he’s the only one that can read through the lines.
They're not particularly presidential boots.
I'm not sure what Abbey thought being the President's family would entail. For a very intelligent woman, she is oddly naive about the possible consequences of being the First Family isn't she?
Aha, now the President has a taste of his own medicine. I love the fact that time seems to have come to a standstill for him.
The trick is to slide the watch around so the face is on the underside of the wrist, then no one thinks you're looking at it.
Donna's not allowed to pee? Is she allowed to go in her lunch break?
I'm surprised the intern didn't ask Leo if he knew his extension.
Charlie would be a great Vice-President.
What are you thinking? The country needs a Vice President, stop making out with the annoying woman and get back to work!
What is it with bizarre shots of feet?
They should get Josh’s trauma specialist to see her.
A little pissed? No wonder, someone just sliced his foreskin off!
Why wasn't Andy there?
Hmm, they'd better not be trying to start CJ/Toby. I'm more comfortable with CJ/Toby than I thought I would be
They're going with cowboy boot guy? The House would rather have a guy who wears cowboy boots? Well, who wouldn't vote for Gary Cole in cowboy boots?
I think I like Bingo Bob.
They're not wearing gloves! If the White House staff aren't going to follow basic firework protocol there's really no hope.
It's rather worrying CJ seems to be the only one with a conscience.

Han

I cannot believe that even in a regime like North Korea nobody has access to a piano.
I think the UN should go with CJ's state names.
Rhythm prison sounds like a fantastic idea
“Marginally.” Leo slips a quiet snipe at the president in under the radar there.
Isn't 'Chopsticks' a little... The penny drops a little too late for CJ.
The piano player could have been saying anything just then
The piano player is slightly creepy.
Is it wrong to like the North Koreans? I love their litany of decadent capitalist tourist attractions, although 'Vietnam Wall Of Death' sounds misleadingly like a funfair ride
The President just puts all those gifts in a box and uses them for emergency Christmas presents.
Wow, even in a time of great stress the pianist managed to use punctuation correctly!
And she specifically asked him not to do that
Technically he's not employed.
Well, he can learn that Josh doesn't like interns.
Will is wonderfully confused
Can Toby just decide to do other things like that?
Toby's just a little pleased that Will isn't working out all that well
When they buy bagels do they have to ask for recessions?
Josh got Larry's name right! Or is that Ed?
“Phone them, they’re home.” Josh, you’re not helping anyone there.
You need to do the shooting in the other order. Once you've shot yourself, then you don't really have anywhere else to go
The North Koreans have Kryptonite?
Oh dear, this is going to be another ‘CJ and her morals versus the political reality’ shows, isn’t it?
CJ's being reasonable and Leo doesn't like it.
I think basing your North Korean policy on wildlife conservation issues might be missing the point slightly
I want my very own totalitarian handmaids.
I wouldn't be so sure on the girlfriend front.
You know, that’s exactly what Toby would have said to Sam.
Bagel, they'd use bagel.
Oh dear, it’s like Josh has an in-built Republican sensor. Josh may as well keep his foot permanently in his mouth, it would save a lot of energy.
Donna's analogy is actually very accurate, but there's no way Josh is going to admit that.
Make the cheese joke! Make the cheese joke!
I suppose it would depend which channels the state allowed. I doubt very much they'd approve of E4 though.
Yes, that's exactly what they're saying.
Um, hang on, there were several hundred thousand Native Americans happily living in the land of the free before they were butchered and ghettoised by all the “oppressed” incomers. Those Africans that were brought to America were not exactly happy about it either, what with them being slaves and all.
Josh is going to mess up now.
He never allowed Sam that kind of responsibility.
He survived the Aschen! I'm glad he stayed in politics (sorry random Stargate guest star again...)
I bet Margaret, Donna and Charlie know the price of milk. I don’t know the price of milk, it’s not that big a deal. It's 3p more expensive now than it was when I lived at my old flat.
I love Morally Righteous!CJ
Oh, the joy of a good vocabulary.
Well that's a recipe for disaster. I will lay any amount of money you like that that's going to appear on the autocue
“Not the worse, and not the best.” Is a wonderful slogan. It's almost as good as "If you were running, he'd vote for you."
Redoubtable; adjective; meaning formidable. See, I know what it means.
That's it Mr. President, you chicken out of making the decision and leave it up to the desperate, vulnerable refugee.
A crapshoot? Great, now I have the cast of the West Wing in the end number of Guys and Dolls.
You’ve got to hand it to the President, his extemporaneous speeches are pretty good ones.
I love the moment when it dawns on Toby...
Will and Toby consider defecting *to* North Korea.
He's going to get hired isn't he?
Oh well done Bingo Bob, that was a nice touch.
I quite like the Vice President
Poor Charlie is in a state of confusion wondering whether the President was speaking metaphorically, or whether he has to actually go and inform the senior staff about the price of milk.
Either Gail the fish likes the classical piano music, or she's trying to choke herself to death on gravel.
This sudden focus on relationships is the only sign I've seen so far of a dip in writing standard this season. I really hope it doesn't continue.
Leo could try and look a little less smug.
Blimey I was right! I hope that doesn't mean we're losing Will. And I really wish they would stop giving away the entire next episode in the trailers.

Constituency Of One

Will should be more interested in post-it notes.
Strangely, Saturday is the only day I do read the papers
Well, now *I'm* going to be having those nightmares
I love the idea of Will carrying a picture of his bed in his wallet
I don't understand anything the VP just said.
Josh spotted his picture from that far away?
Josh is going to have that framed on his wall
Josh would be so upset if Donna didn't at least make a cake.
They're very attached to this new kitchen set aren't they?
Donna has arranged one of those already hasn't she?
CJ's love life is intriguing.
Colouring-in is important. It's very hard to stay inside the lines.
Is this the same one who was speaking in reverse?
He's only thirteen!
Lifetime appointments seem rather short-sighted
I love that Donna practically has to answer.
“Childhood trauma I presume.” Donna knows Josh so well.
Donna will tell everyone else though.
Leo is being very pissy lately. Is something going on we don't know about?
Did that actually make sense?
I'm surprised Toby even bothered with that.
If you're opposed to a waiting period on handguns, then perhaps you shouldn't give people missile launchers just because they want them, even if they don't work
An NBA missile defence system has the same components as a toaster? Toasters really are useful aren't they?
Aw, Toby and Will are breaking up.
Josh's keyboard/chair sliding manoeuvre is pretty impressive
Both Amy and Josh are heading out the door pretty soon at this rate.
Did someone switch Leo with Alternate Reality Bad!Leo when we we're looking the other way?
It worries me that the President needs suits to decide that
That was a very expensive redundancy package Bartlet just gave Amy.
NO! Do your job Josh, not your girlfriend.
The phrase you're looking for, Josh, is: “Oh, crap.”
How does Josh explain that one? “Excuse me everyone, but I just lost a Senator” “I don't understand, did he fall down the back of your desk drawer?”

Disaster Relief

Previously on the West Wing: Josh messed up and Toby forgot to say thank you for the Rice Krispie cakes.
Mini fridges do seem to be a good idea, but I suppose it would be too much of an extravagance to have one in my bedroom when the real fridge is only downstairs.
They're briefing Donna on how to prevent Josh from going nuts.
Josh does actually look rather dapper this morning
To be honest, I'm more inclined to believe the Cappuccino man story.
Josh has air conditioning! I long for air conditioning.
Damn, I hate missing an episode, what did Josh do, exactly?
Margaret just ruined everything
I think that there should be a cliché thesaurus.
No one else was briefed by CJ were they?
I find tornadoes funny. That's wrong isn't it?
I sense Josh's humour might be gone by the end of the day.
Keep talking Josh, he might forget it happened.
Josh could have shut that door, there was no need for Margaret to have to get up!
That's Josh's style though isn't it? And it's worked plenty of times before.
Of course he keeps his staff, they'd have to physically drag Donna away. I know theoretically Josh must have more staff, but I think Donna's the only one who really matters
My whole life is the character-building funny part.
Toby hates everyone, it's really a sign of affection.
I now have visions of a general desperately looking around his office for his stationery supplies.
A boat, what would I name a boat... well, I suppose it would have to be The Bigger Boat, but I wish I had another name.
The US has that many generals? What do they all do?
Oh no, the President just made a spontaneous decision. These always go well.
I'm very disappointed we didn't get to see Fitzwallace's leaving party.
"Food, water..." I'm now left with a very confusing image of Josh laying out little plastic bowls of food, and cleaning the President's litter tray
Josh really shouldn't have gone to Toby for moral support.
A professional dispute resolved by pinching.
Why have they decided to over-expose all the outdoor scenes? It looks terrible
Josh should know by know not to read the internet.
Under the rubble perhaps?
They should have put the General in the Steam Pipe Trunk Distribution Venue.
He is benching you Josh.
Everyone ought to be cowering under tables right about now, because Josh is about to detonate.
At least Josh puts up a fight, Leo and Toby just sit there.
Don't say cat-food, don't say cat-food.
How dare they replace Josh! They didn't even do it with an attractive man!
He can count on one finger the people he trusts right about now. Two, if he counts his mother.
They're sending the intern to comfort him? I'm not sure that's going to help at all.
He may have got the word wrong, but the VP just out-flanked Leo and Toby. What did Bingo Bob do? Was it a good or bad thing?
The eight Albanians who live on Croix anyway.
Hey! Goats are important.
That woman would have an easier time washing up if she didn’t overload the sink like that.
Why is she drying up with a hand-towel?
Poor woman, she just wanted to wash up and get some sleep and now the President wants a chat.
It wasn't the act of God's grand plan, it was a tornado. These things happen
CJ so desperately wants a photo-call right now.
I hope no reporters saw Josh then. Aren't you just dying for a bunch of people to walk out of there, rolling back their sleeves... "Alright then, let's get it on!"
I like Crazy!Josh but someone probably ought to get him a blanket and some warm tea.
Chocolate. Josh should eat chocolate.
“Oh dear God, not the goats again.” Poor, poor Leo.
I think we’ve all had days where we wished we just hadn’t bothered getting out of bed.
I wouldn’t call Greece bronze-age. There aren't many bronze-age civilisations with missile launching capabilities, unless the Greeks are attacking the goat-rock with a really large catapult.
I want him there!
Does Josh actually count as senior staff anymore?
We're trying to make Bartlet feel better, that's what we're doing.
Is the first time we've actually seen Hutchinson?
CJ should really be in charge of everybody.
Janine is a stupid name for a boat. Is there a Janine story we're not hearing?
Donna has a folder for emergencies! I think I'm going to have to start compiling a pep folder for when I'm feeling down, although it'll probably just end up containing other people porn and naked pictures of Michael Rosenbaum
I really, really wish they'd stop giving away the story lines in the trailers, or at the very least warn me beforehand.

Separation Of Powers

Damn. I though for a moment that was going to be Ainsley. She would have finished her chips
Apparently he does need help, yes.
That man is obviously not well! Sit him down before he...well, does that.
Gorillas always seem fairly angry to me, maybe that's why. Well, apparently they can e-mail, so I wouldn't be surprised of they write letters as well
Toby is not going to stop being bitchy to Will anytime soon.
I'd resign if someone withdrew my Krispie Cakes too.
He's not dead is he?
Oh and there’s Toby’s good mood ruined for the day completely.
I love CJ's synonym-based pre-empting
Aw, Josh is sick.
Hey, Echinacea works. Don't mock the power of herbal tablets
I can't imagine Josh being allowed near heavy machinery when he's not on drugs
That's basically the key to government: “No one understands it.”
I know a 97 year old who could run the White House better than this lot are doing at the moment.
Peanut Brittle doesn't seem a sensible present to take someone who's in intensive care.
Toby broke a ceramic hippo? I'm surprised they let anyone with a ceramic hippo work in the White House.
“You were re-filing with your throwing arm.” I do that all the time.
They can't drop the the college thing, that's the only thing Josh and Toby have ever agreed on.
That's Bartlet's code for 'Don't delegate it to Toby' isn't it?
Cough all over her Josh.
She stole his job and now she's trying to steal Donna.
Joe! I like Joe.
It's important to control breakfast cereals. If someone gets that wrong it's a very bad sign.
I love the idea that CJ was talking to herself all that time because her assistant had wandered off.
Yes, they probably would. There should be a plan for universal orthodontia
People are already talking, I've seen the websites.
Could it possibly be a point of principle Toby? You remember those surely?
That seems a little more than exhaustion.
Could they have sent anyone worse to staff Josh than Margaret?
I'm now going to say “outstanding” whenever things just got worse.
The Grand Canyon and monkeys in ponchos.
“Is there something you would like to say to Jean-Paul?” “Yes, Diane. I’d like to tell that fuckwit if that he comes near me again I’m going to castrate him with a blunt paring knife.”
That's it, everyone just stand around and stare to make him feel even more uncomfortable.
Okay, lighting really shouldn't do that. Mine does but then I'm not really in charge of anything important.
I love this Chief Justice.
I really love this Chief Justice.
They should just put Donna and Margaret in charge of the negotiations; Haffley would be pleading for mercy in 10 minutes.
Very cool, the person in charge of running the government is the one that’s decided to shut it down. Brilliant! They're cutting the White House off? Fantastic.

Shutdown

That was Leo’s “Are you nuts?” face.
Or it's very, very bad, Will.
And they're getting further apart by the second.
Heel, Will! Good boy.
Hey, if this happened here, I wouldn’t have to work either! I'm not sure if I would or not. Although they'd probably make us go in anyway
Ah, arrogant and excessively optimistic Republicans, this looks promising.
Well, what's the point of being president if you can't shut down the government when there's something good on TV?
If you need crowd control, then turn to Charlie. I love the fact they all listen to Charlie, but not Leo.
“The president thanks you...”Actually, he’s in front of the television at the moment, but I’m sure he’d thank you if he was here.
Going home? This is something that Donna has dreamed of for years!
But Margaret needs to know so she can book flights to Hawaii.
Go home people! I'd be out the door the second Leo had finished speaking
Donna dresses Josh and yet she still doesn't qualify as a special assistant? What on earth does a special assistant have to do?
Josh won’t last five minutes alone, let alone a year!
And Leo has completely forgotten how to answer them himself.
That's it Donna, you use the secret service for your own benefit. I love the idea of agents lining up for selection...
Josh so nearly gave away his porn collection then. Look at Josh mentally cataloguing his porn collection on the laptop.
I love the idea of a random congressman elbow deep in a photocopier. Photocopier toner will be the downfall of capitalism; you mark my words.
Angela messed up completely, and they're still sending Josh out of the room?
Well, quacking can be annoying.
No coffee? Give them their 3% now.
Josh is going to cater for 216 guests?
But when you can't win, it's better to still be right.
I like the idea of fitting Grandma and the constitution in the one visit
But a guy walking with purpose nonetheless.
I always feel the need to clean up around cleaners, too.
Somehow, the idea of Josh negotiating with the British fills me with dread.
Her Dad was a Stingray fan
They're having a party? Now there's a group of federal employees. A shut-down party? Why not!
Who is there to check whether Donna is being coerced? They've sent the people who check up on those things home as well.
Will seems unduly afraid of marauding pensioners
Hah! I knew it! Leo has called in the big guns, he’s brought Abby back.
I love the idea of the President holding out so long he has to start eating macaroni pictures.
That's a fantastically sized jar of peanut butter!
Hooray! Josh to the rescue! Oh, now I have an image of Bradley Whitford in spandex and it's not going away anytime soon.
Josh is suppressing his victory dance very well.
Kansassians! The president is talking to Kansassians! I've been waiting for a chance to use that for months now.
Watch the Secret Service have a heart attack at the thought of Josh’s idea.
People should wear comfortable shoes all the time
I hope Josh gets some kind of cake when this is over.
Watch CJ have a heart attack at the thought of Josh’s idea.
In other words they're panicking and arguing amongst themselves.
In one simple movement, now the Republicans look like the bad guys. Nice one.
I'm fairly certain the queen has never cooked coronation chicken in her life.
I thought the President didn’t like green beans.
What is this girl doing here? She hasn't even made a casual statement that makes them see the situation in a whole new light yet
The President can just launch into a detailed discussion of all the National Parks, no one can out wait that.
Ah, what goes around comes around. I knew there was a purpose to the flu storyline in the last episode. A poor metaphor, but there was a point.
There should be more celebration of Josh.

Abu el Banat

Toby looks slightly scared at all the festive cheer surrounding him.
They make CJ put up her own tree?
Timmmmmmmber! Toby is a bright man, he really should have seen that coming. Toby should have yelled more, having a Christmas tree land on you hurts
Margaret didn't get a Christmas present this year, did she?
All Margaret wants for Christmas is not to have her muffins hexed.
That child doesn't look very happy.
I don’t understand anything that child said.
We should see a "quiet morning" one week. They must have one or two days when no massive story breaks, and it'd be nice to see what it is they do
Hostage is the same size word at Christmas than at any other time of word. It’s not like they add extra letters.
Leo's tie is very strange.
Josh has to babysit the unwanted family members?
Josh couldn't look less enthusiastic.
Josh’s face is priceless.
If you have to appear on stage it's best to do it under a wig and behind some other people. Or an elephant
People should have learned by now that making assumptions about what Jed Bartlet will and won't do is never going to work out
What's the point of freeze dried peanut butter?
I once had to stay in school till seven pm because my parsnip enzyme experiment was producing exciting results.
If they’re dumb enough to go to a war-torn, heavily religious country armed with a load of Bibles and try to convert people, then they should expect to get arrested.
I want to see the dancing snowmen!
That child does not look happy. Mind you, neither does CJ.
CJ can survive the White House Press Corp, but a 4 year old seems to have outwitted her.
Why does Will have an office in the West Wing not the OEOB? I'm not sure I would want an office that close to Toby's if I was regularly pissing him off.
Apparently six percent of Americans couldn’t care either way on whether they’re allowed to choose to end their life or not, or they didn’t understand the question.
I love the “Who’s in charge of the shopping?”
God, it’s like Toby and Will are going through a divorce!
Is that a cake?
Those reindeer are pushing Toby over the edge.
Oh, ouch Toby. That was a low blow for CJ.
I think the public getting to know him as an individual is exactly what they're afraid of
Leo should be able to tell when Josh is lying by now.
Leo only heard half a conversation there, and he’s really wishing that he hadn’t. I vote Will belly dances for the Joint Chiefs.
If I was going to be lighting the Presidential tree in front of a phalanx of cameras, I'd want to practice with the switch
Does an omnipotent God need intelligence agents?
I bet Nancy hasn't had her bath. She'll be waiting for the damn meeting to be over before she has one.
The President walked right into that one. Debbie really is excellent at slipping in one-liners, you wouldn’t have thought that many people can get away with essentially calling the president a moron.
Now this is the equivalent of Toby changing the locks. Toby evicted Will! Bring Will back now!
Wow. This is just like my family, except with better table manners and a waiter.
That’s Ellie? All the daughters are looking glossy in this episode. She's certainly exceptionally well-groomed for someone who's just spent twelve hours in a lab
How competent can she be if she couldn't even sort out her own car loan?
Josh doesn't do well with singing around Christmas time.
Go Donna!
Josh has to be lying, right? He didn’t actually buy her...oh thank goodness. That would have been unforgivable. There's no way Josh would dare get Donna a gift certificate.
I want to know! They're going to tell us, right?
It's only been a year since we saw him. That progressed very quickly.
He's going to blow that fuse in a minute. This is fun and games now, but just wait until the child gets home and short-circuits the house because “I did it with grampy in *his* house!”
This looks wonderfully personal until you remember the twelve Secret Service agents trying desperately to hide behind a selection of ornamental trees

The Stormy Present

There’s no ‘previously’ this week?
If that was me, there would be ink splotted everywhere by now.
When do they not have a situation in this show?
Of course he does, he's wearing one
The President seems to be a bit dismissive of all these ‘incidents’
Anti-American rhetoric and democratic reforms aren’t, in any way, mutually exclusive. “American” and “democratic” are not synonymous.*coughFloridacough*
I heard about the mind-control programme on the Sci-Fi channel, he has to get it from a "source at the Pentagon"? That journalist really isn't on the ball
Because CJ was the only one still working five minutes ago? That'll dramatically delay your chance to put extra make-up on
CJ's missed the blinds on at least two windows
Toby just wants to watch CJ get dressed.
Ah, now I understand. It’s another Bartlet and his annoying stories thing.
I love Josh and Toby’s quiet desperation as they await Bartlet’s Lincoln-based trivia questions.
Josh saving and setting up the new girl there, all in about three minutes.
Leo has a heart attack after hearing the phrase ‘The President’s dead.’ “But he was just alive! I saw him from under my desk as I was hiding from the Lincoln trivia game!”
I have a file on dead American presidents too. Not in a creepy way, just because they’re interesting. You have an actual file?
Who would you rather have around at an emotionally distressing time: Donna or Josh?
I'm guessing Leo knows New York pretty well?
Toby is going to have a panic attack. Someone get him a paper bag. Toby really is on a flight from hell, and he’s had to resort to phoning his friends and bitching about it. Just like I would, in fact.
It's nice to see Mary-Lou flirting right off the bat
Wow, look at Josh open his mouth and wedge his entire lower leg in there.
I wish strange men would just turn up in my office. Okay, I wish *different* strange men would turn up in my office.
There must surely be at least one dashing man (or even a dashing woman) working in scientific research, why do we never see him on TV?
Villages don't usually travel
I don’t think that Charlie is paid enough. Now he’s babysitting Toby as well.
Well Walken made a literal impression. With bombs.
Empire doesn’t actually require physical colonisation anymore. It doesn’t make it any better.
They can tell all that by the way that someone walks? What if they’re wearing new shoes? Or they’ve sprained something? I’d hate to be targeted as a potential threat just because I had a blister!
Leo’s poker face is awful.
"That's a long time ago." Meaning roughly 'I did detest him, but I'm way too polite to say that at his funeral'
That’s an oval room - that’s just sad.
Aren't there laws about taking soil (and definitely plant seeds) across country borders? Wouldn't it be wonderful if the ex-President got arrested for dirt-smuggling.

The Benign Prerogative

My cold must be getting to me, I could have sworn there was a spelling mistake on the title card. Oh well.
Is that girl stalking Toby? Oh I hope something horrible happens to that girl soon
Gentle Ben, the big bear? I know he was clever but I’m not sure he could make a telephone call.
Who died?
Will! It's Will!
For once the President gets to interrupt an incredibly personal moment of Charlie’s instead of the other way around. He’s been waiting for that moment for 4 years.
Watch the leader of the free world stay well out of that particular dispute. Ireland yes, the Middle East, yes, his staff’s love life - definitely not.
Is Charlie allowed to give random quotes like that just to impress women?
It looks like Charlie’s card out-ranks hers. Actually, I’d like a business card.
They’re just trying to get Toby out the way so he doesn’t re-write the whole thing because he’s bored.
Josh bought the new suit for Joey didn’t he?
I love the look on Josh’s face when he realises that Joey is pregnant! He can do ‘shocked’ very well. Ha! I love speechless!Josh.
Cornflakes sell very well, Toby shouldn’t be so dismissive.
Leo *so* wants Toby out of the White House
Toby employed his stalker? Fantastic.They’re sending Toby and the perky girl off somewhere? Do they want her back alive?
The aphrodisiacal qualities of the job are, however, wasted if you never get any time off to actually have sex
After this long, Donna is pretty well-versed in Josh language.
He’ll help by lifting; that’s impressively useful for Josh.
If they all know that option B is the best, why bother testing?
It would probably improve that guy’s day though.
Red is a good colour on Charlie.
I want an office with which to impress dates. A mouldy portacabin tends not to set the right tone.
Has Abbey slipped sleeping tablets in his milk? She's sounding very underhand
The President was looking for a book, wasn't he?
Toby should have a magic trick already prepared so he could perform at times like these.
“How?” and with that, Toby means “What has he done that would ruin one of the most important speeches of the year that was written, unlike all previous years, at some point before the ride in the car to Congress!”
They could make Lemon Meringue Pie. It won’t solve anything, but it does mean you have pie.
Did Charlie not notice that CJ has spent a significant amount of the last four years kissing Danny?
Donna is getting very important all of a sudden. That’s quite a frightening prospect.
Abbey just bellows until he listens.
Doesn’t the President have a focus group for his ties, or do they not bother with that anymore because he usually steals Josh’s?
Aw. They’re the best friends ever! They’re insulting the new husband.
Josh has just been granted permission to go and hug his assistant.
I bet the Secret Service frisked her for Crack before she got in the building though.

on to episodes 12-22

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