The Fringedwellers' Guide

The West Wing Index

Author Key

S. One
S. Two
S. Three pt 1
S. Three pt 2
S. Four pt 1
S. Four pt 2
S. Four pt 3
S. Five
S. Five pt 2
S. Six
S. Seven

  

Season Seven

Go To Episode

• I feel slightly unsettled by the fact that this is the last ever season. A world without West Wing should not be imminent. It certainly shouldn't be this imminent. I shouldn't complain about not having to wait for episodes, but what on earth are we going to do next winter?
• They actually managed to build the library!
• I'd really like a library named after me, even if it was just one of those mobile ones containing all the large print editions of Catherine Cookson novels.
• CJ and Danny had a baby? I so hope they called it Gail.
• Normally it's impossible to stop new parents from sending you photos whether you want them or not
• Columbia?
• Congressman Will!
• We're supposed to assume it's Vinick right? Because of the shoes. Therefore it's Santos. Are they notably Vinick-like shoes? Has he expressed a specific taste in footwear at some point that I've missed?
• Josh needs to get his old sunglasses back
• I'm quite confused as to which one it's supposed to be now.
• Josh seems a little worried about it.
• I bet Josh makes sure he wears a clean vest in the morning too.
• Did Babish have more facial hair last time?
• Did Margaret have her baby?
• Either Toby did leak the story, or he's about to heroically fall on the sword.
• I'd wear a President Santos t-shirt
• Josh is so enjoying being in charge.
• I'd watch Craig's documentary. He looks quite interesting.
• Josh has placed his office just right so he can shout at everyone without getting up from his chair.
• Babish thinks Kate is the the leak; and I wouldn't be all that surprised if he turns out to be right
• Did Leo just call Josh "kid"?
• Now that's a secure room.
• The image of Matt Santos in a Dorothy costume is going to stay with me for some time
• Sign language is a very emotive language.
• Okay, the Dorothy image has just been completely erased by the image with the fire and the biceps...
• I think there are plenty of people who would like to hear those words coming from Kenny.
• Now they're burning the yellow schedule...
• I think they might be about to have their first tiff of the presidential campaign.
• Toby's never cared all that much about not making Josh look like an idiot
• Maybe these meetings should be held by e-mail from now on.
• Josh keeps those comments in his desk drawer?
• Well, that was an unfortunately prophetic comment.

• A fish theme perhaps?
• I can write longhand at speed
• I think Santos should have adopted Josh's secret plan to fight inflation.
• This is a great montage. Usually I hate montages, but this one is really good
• Josh should really have organised an office with a bed and a shower. *chokes rather sharply on grapefruit juice*
• That was a telling "again"
• I'd date someone who could talk about that.
• Do they know that Bruno's working for Vinick?
• Smart and cute works for a lot of people. They should be adopting "Better Than Fat And Dumb" as their campaign slogan, and I'm worryingly likely to vote for someone because they're smart and cute. I can think of worse reasons
• Or "Matt Santos- We Move Like The Night". That works too
• Mmm flight uniform!Santos. Josh is incredibly turned on by military!Santos
• Josh has his rucksack on both shoulders!
• Josh has fans!
• Josh is into self-bondage? And they tell me this *now*? I only have a season left in which to use that image.
• Well, that was predictable.
• That's not going to be the picture I want is it?
• Okay, there's no canonical secret service involvement in the lift sex.
• Wow. That was so nearly the picture I wanted!
• I like the sound of Bruce the flight attendant. I think I may have developed a little crush on Bruce the Irish flight attendant
• Josh never drank the Kool-Aid.
• Toby went grey very quickly.
• Can you just turn planes round like that? Aren't there flight plans and traffic control and things to worry about?
• They'll get in trouble for missing lunches...
• Poor Josh looks utterly distraught at the thought of other advisors
• I don't think Vinick can come up with any trivia more exciting than the thought of Santos demolishing a bed

• Is it the same guy who voice all these menacing political adds? He also advertises anything staring Steven Segal
• Vinick's entire stance on political advertising revolves around being able to say "well, he started it!"
• Can't they afford a real director?
• That's impressive sound quality for a mobile phone speaker
• I love the slow way that "go after the Latino vote" settles in to the general consciousness
• *rants quietly about '2000%' not being possible*
• Bruno's taking this quite well.
• Bruno doesn't know? Now that's serious
• The Republicans have a much flashier notice board.
• That's never going to be confidential
• Santos is getting very slick all of a sudden.
• That was a 'no'. Harley's never even seen an immigrant
• "Did you agree..." "No", "Did you agree..." "No", "Then was there any real point you going to that meeting?"
• Josh is wonderfully invested for a man watching a political interview
• I want to hear Josh's plan to pep Santos up
• I like the idea of undermining someone's political campaign with cute two-year-olds. Leon's mother-in-law is a smart woman

• Wow, Skinner turns up all over the place.
• Of course Margaret listened in, she's Margaret
• It must be hard to concentrate when everyone is cheering.
• I'm not sure 'intelligent' is the best way to describe that theory.
• It didn't understand a second of Charlie and Toby's betting chat
• Charlie's carrying coffee. That's not working
• Pfool
• This White House really needs to have a chart differentiating the 'stans.
• Yes, because people are always more willing to risk their lives if you wake them up to ask it.
• Everyone was up in arms about an M.S. sufferer being in the Sit. Room, but no one is even slightly concerned about the fact CJ is seeing 'weird colours'
• I love American coffee orders. I still feel adventurous ordering a moccachino
• 'Playing Tonight- God's Latest!'. I suppose it's something for them to put on the adverts
• It's so hard for Margaret to know whether she can admit to being a busy body.
• This is what happens when you subpoena Margaret. Anyone could end up walking into that office
• Are we worried about the future of Kazakhstan? *could probably do with the big chart of 'stans*
• Teach your children them yourself!
• Josh and Lou need to worry less, Santos is really good at this kind of thing
• Look at Santos' smug little grin!
• The President knows it was Toby, doesn't he?
• There's tension?
• It's good Josh and Santos get some time to talk.
• Santos is at a much less impressive recital
• He's not missing, they just don't know where he is right now?
• Well, her day's about to get a whole lot worse.
• I'm a little worried about the amount of stimulants and alcohol floating round the White House
• *dances the dance of being right*

• Wow, that's incredibly engaging TV for two minutes of silence.
• I think Matt is underestimating the amount of things two people can do on a plane in 40 minutes. They could fit in an episode of Stargate for a start
• What does how he dresses have to do with anything?
• Wow, I wish someone owed me a raspberry panacotta cheesecake.
• They're used to Toby treating them like that.
• I'm going to start calling people 'spry'
• What if he wants to go to the bathroom?
• This is starting to sound disturbingly like a Python sketch
• I'm not sure Toby can resist. It's a compulsion.
• Abby's been researching fruit flies
• Vice Presidents are for going into harm's way.
• Oh, the FBI are going to have such fun with Toby.
• Quasi-orgasmic? I'm not sure I want to imagine Toby around anything orgasmic, quasi- or not
•  Toby picked her because of her vocabulary, didn’t he?
• I'd like to think it goes without saying that, important as 900 marines are, they're probably not quite as important as two entire countries
• Josh was so hoping Santos would say no.
• Did Babish just give CJ a Get Out of Jail Free card?
• They *so* did it there
• It must be very intimidating going on a first date with a cute girl and three large armed Secret Service men
• I like fruit-fly guy!
• She's pregnant! Fabulous.
• It very possible. I've had that feeling lots of times: I'm considering creating a word for it.
• Well, Ned took that well.
• Yeah, Kate's a little out of the loop on that one
• God, that was harsh. Is Bartlet actually trying to accuse Toby of being morally superior? The words Pot and Kettle spring to mind. I think Toby has a perfect right to feel morally superior right now
• I think I'd prefer to be fired by the President than to resign.
• Will! *hugs Will tightly*
• Somebody should thank him for his service.
• Okay, that was fabulous.

• They should have had him posing in front of that mirror without his shirt on.
• Will  has spent years trying to get an office in the West Wing, and now they give him the one office he doesn't want.
• I, for one, want to see Santos mud-wrestling.
• Well, Will hasn't once suggested the administration have any secret plans, so he's not doing that badly.
• Josh is seeming slightly third-wheel-like (fourth wheel, technically) in this phone call
• "You don't know Santos the way I do..."
• Our political campaigns would be so much more exciting if people were allowed to attack each other on TV
• It's Donna, isn’t it?
• Josh just doesn't see Donna as that pure, does he? Well, I'm not sure he sees her as a forty-year-old soccer Mom...
• It's very strange to see Will referred to as Mr Bailey.
• The pro-choicers would never, ever actually vote Republican, so Santos hasn't got anything to worry about.
• Don't rule tripping over the podium out
• I think stuffed olives should be mandated by Parliament.
• Lou set up a meeting in a bedroom? She picked up the cause of the problem very quickly.
• Josh is so turned on right now.
• Okay, that was very funny.
• I don't understand how the kitchens of these places can be any more secure than the proper entrance.

• Combat would be more scary, but you would be armed.
• This man seems to have an awful lot of power.
• There's no way the 'filibuster' comment warranted a laugh
• Okay this just feels very odd.
• It's the whole 'pretending to be live' thing. Watching people pretend not to be acting just makes them look like bad actors.
• See, if I wanted to make a big flashy point with my pen, it'd take me five minutes to search through my bag for a chewed biro.
• This is the first ever episode of The West Wing that I've wanted to switch off. I'm not that fond of it either. Aside from anything else, it's surprisingly difficult to be funny about a serious presidential debate
• The right of a well regulated militia to bear arms. It's entirely different than letting high school kids get hold of shot-guns.
• Ask yourself if you want to vote for a president who refers to himself in the third person.

• Of course Santos uses a hairdryer!
• People should just learn to listen to Donna the first time around.
• Soggy and served in plastic. My favourite.
• Sole? Sole is festive, or plaice. You can't go wrong with flatfish on the whole
• I love the idea of the National Security Advisor playing mini golf.
• Santos is very confident in his ability not to be booed
• See! It's not just me, Kate is admiring Will too. She might just be admiring his mini-golf skills
• Please tell me that's their song...
• I'm sure the mourning parents will appreciate all this manoeuvring.
• Will the Wedding Planner.
• Josh didn’t even bother to make a telephone call?
• Josh has upgraded his rucksack!
• Toby!
• Josh doesn't strike me as the kind of person who always waits for an invitation
• I would never have pictured Toby as having a powder-blue flat
• I'm sure what Toby wants to hear is how busy Josh is.
• "So, jail?" That's really the best Josh can come up with?
• I never knew you couldn't eat swordfish pregnant
• Oh poor, poor Ellie.
• There's a man safe in the knowledge that whatever danger he may have to face, it won't involve choosing a woman's wedding dress
• Wow, casual! Josh.
• Of course Toby is motivated by Josh's lack of success.
• Josh had to haul Santos out of bed by his hair?
• Josh became very shrill just then
• What an exceptional hat
• Time for Santos' speech of the week.
• I do love the shots of Thoughtful Churchgoers.
• All of these women are wearing fantastic hats...

• It's the gateroom tour guide! "And we're walking..."
• God, poor Ellie, she wanted a small wedding.
• That's a stunning dress for what's basically a practice wedding. I'm sorry, I seem to have turned into the Fringedwellers' Official Fashion Correspondent- next week, an update on CJ's shoes.
• It doesn't look that tight.
• I have no idea what either a hogie(?) or a cheese-steak is. I don't even know how to spell them, and I can't see anything even vaguely like that first one in my spellcheck
• Maybe Josh could sell his stuff on e-bay.
• Is Josh having a crisis?
• Well, considering no one wanted to touch his candidate, they should let him keep the job.
• Shouldn't they be referring to him as William Bailey
• We're far more bitter about the World Cup
• Five *hours*? And here you see the reason why I was never a force in international politics...
• See, if my prospective husband abandoned me with the ambassadors, the wedding would not be going ahead.
• That's a lovely tradition. It's going to be a fantastically big cake if you need to fit that on top.
• I hope the Frenchman's bought cake. Or gateaux
• He was hoping she actually did have the Valium.
• I'd be so much more likely to vote for someone who spilled food on himself.
• I have a sneaking suspicion smoothing over any incidents may involve punching the Canadian Ambassador
• Ellie put out on the third date?
• Dignitary bingo sounds like a fantastic game.
• That's a way out...
• Ooh, I'm definitely having won ton at my wedding
• Santos can't dump Josh, he'll cry.
• I can't believe Ellie tried to punish Will!
• Oh, there it is... That took Josh a while

• That guy seems more competent than Leo, can't he be VP?
• Donna has years of experience at this.
• Aren't those different children than last time?
• I think the smirk is a good look.
• Shouldn't Josh have checked for these skills before he recruited Leo as VP?
• 'Not necessarily ending" is not as comforting as it should be.
• He took her to dinner in the office?

• That's a very shiny waitress.
• I hate it when they read things out too
• Oh, she definitely had a thing.
• Did Will just call CJ a dog?
• Josh really isn’t one to comment on poor quality press briefings.
• European Union, not Community.
• Will is so not helping.
• Gail! *breathes sigh of relief*
• Like Josh has ever needed actual permission.
• He's going to have celebratory sex with the nanny?
• Is the yoghurt for CJ or Margaret?
• I would so date someone who started the discussion with the word incrementalism

• What happens can be summed up with a  simple 'boom'.
• I'd expect those contingency plans to be in place before an accident.
• Is speeding up an evacuation by irradiating the atmosphere really the best plan they can come up with?
• I like a First Lady who can make extremely inappropriate jokes.
• Why on earth don’t any of those people sat in their cars just get out and walk? It's going to get them away an awful lot faster.
• 'Political equivalent of Tourette's Syndrome' is the most fantastic description of Josh I've ever heard.
• Or, he's taking Senator Vinick and exposing him to lethal levels of radiation. That could be quite useful.
• That's pretty basic physics. Someone should have thought of that before.
• I'd like to think that kagillion is a number.
• CJ is seriously misunderstanding the meaning of the word 'spontaneously'.

• I can't help but feel Josh has lost his focus.
• Josh and Donna still have a way of turning me into a crazy fangirl.
• Will should have put the bra in a blue binder.
• These two really are bad at this.
• Well, it's good someone is thinking of the practicalities.
• It's good that even serious successful political operatives have moments of fangirl induced craziness.
• I'm not sure he ever liked CJ that much.
• For a woman who worked for the CIA, Kate is very bad at lying.
• Poor Donna, she thought she was being so discreet.
• Whatever their decision, it should definitely involve Santos in a hat.

• What's so special about shaking a presidential candidate's hand?
• Why doesn't he just shake with his left?
• Do they really think people won’t vote if he's broken his hand? Frankly if that kind of thing is likely to change their mind, you probably don’t want them to vote for you.
• Toby should have a better pseudonym.
• Shouldn’t Toby be in prison by now?
• Josh talked it over with a felon.
• Can't Santos be responsible for his own briefcase? Given that he might be responsible for a country, it might be wise to let him practise with his briefcase first.
• Josh probably has super secret strategy memos.
• Oh, there's so porn in there.
• Oh, that's going to backfire. It will be a noble cause.
• Vinick's strategy is to bore the media into submission?

• I'm surprised they haven't gagged Annabeth by now.
• I knew someone would do it.
• Time zones sound like fun. Although, I get confused enough with adding an extra hour on.
• I'm not sure you can hang by your thumbs for five days, not even if they were stapled down. Also, why would you want to?
• It depends how much mental decline Josh has experienced already.
• You wouldn’t think Lou's job was one you could do lying down.
• Ah, it's a bad back thing. You learn to do a lot upside down when you have a bad back.
• Josh has made notices about running on the bus.
• I'm not sure you can rely on Toby being well-behaved in prison.
• The more pertinent question is whether voters would want to see him in tights.
• They're dressing him as Robin Hood?!
• I do like Lou making a fangirl fool of herself in the background.
• Santos is attempting to connect with online voters by talking about Excel?
• Someone needs to get Santos a cold flannel and a nice cup of tea.
• They still have their little hats!
• Toby could probably go as himself.
• Does santos really want his kids looked after by Bon Jovi?
• Toby could do with a hug right now. I know he's a felon, but felons deserve hugs too.
• Toby's riding an awful lot on a lawyer's sense of public duty.

• Josh really shouldn’t have made that an optional responsibility.
• They all paired off!
• I do love the way Donna just takes this into her own hands in the firm knowledge that if she waits for Josh to do it, it won't ever happen.
• Josh is faking a yawn!
• Oh, that's disgusting!
• Josh has created a monster.
• Just because people don't use 'certitude' doesn’t mean it's not a good word.
• Whoever finds it is just going to assume it's Josh's pantyhose.
• Perhaps Josh should consider changing too.
• Josh really knows how to make a girl feel special.
• Someone should find Josh something to do.
• That spinning chair is a recipe for disaster.
• I think Otto is probably waiting for more than a hug.
• If Otto is wanting a job as a speechwriter is it wise for him to be sleeping with the woman who could be communications director?
• Do they really want the votes of people who can't organise their own umbrellas?
• CJ is not at all qualified for any of those jobs.
• CJ's considering her next job.
• It probably not a particularly big day for them.
• Don't tempt the whatever for high atop the thing!
• Exactly how long is it going to take Josh to realise what Donna is offering?
• Donna, welcome to the rest of your life.
• Josh's relationship with the internet is strained.
• I think it's time for another Donna intervention.
• What they need is one speech with removable phrases. Maybe they should get some of that magnetic poetry and write it with that.
• CJ should consider world domination.
• They can't leave it like that. I know what happens but they just can't!
• My god, I was so wrapped up in the episode I forgot to mention naked Josh!  Twice!

• They let Josh on TV?
• Are these two the new Larry and Ed?
• Josh should really be able to recognise that face
• I love Bruno's pronunciation of Hawaii.
• I knew that was happening, and I'm still crying.
• Now might be the time to take the ridiculous hats off.
• Well, at least Vinick appears to have a conscience.
• I've never understood why they count their absentee ballots after the election.
• Surely Foo Fighters must be exhausted by now?
• Dave Grohl should really stand out of the camera frame.
• Has CJ voted?
• The news coverage has to explain the difference between red and blue states?
• Can Donna actually tell them not to do that?
• Josh is probably having a small breakdown somewhere.
• Wow, I didn't think it was possible for Josh to mumble anymore than he did already…
• I want to throw papers in the air too.
• Josh needs a nice lie down.
• Josh should colour that in properly.
• That was a superb episode.

• They're letting Toby go to the funeral?
• Surely there are height issues with those pall bearers?
• Has Josh just been sacked?
• It's been a stressful day; they're having a tiff
• Santos spends some quality time spinning in the chair.
• I want to see Donna and Josh duel.
• I think doing anything with Josh is a pretty efficient use of time.
• Nancy! Nancy should definitely be in charge of everyone.
• I do love Donna placing all the awkwardness at Josh's door.
• See, if only Danny and Josh ever spoke to each other.
• Josh has no idea what to say to that.
• Most people shake their head and roll their eyes at Josh already.
• Wow, is that going to piss off Josh.
• America should be a little scared if Josh is the future.
• That'll only be his number for a few more weeks.

• People like that always sit next to me on the train.
• Sam! He's gone to find Sam! Please tell me he's gone to find Sam!
• Santos really shouldn’t need to be told Russia is in the G8.
• Yay! It's the prefect end to a perfect love story.
• Josh has so little respect for Sam's love life.
• Oh, there's going to be lot of practical jokes.
• Poor, Otto. He deserves something.
• Monomaniacal is a word invented to describe Josh.
• Josh is so bad at this.
• Shouldn't people be standing?
• I like to think Berryhill has met his match with Santos.
• Donna gets a little taste of what the next forty years will be like.
• I do love the way Josh just sits there and listens. As he should.
• Well, that's an awkward conversation.
• I like the idea of there being levels of Joshness.
• Probably not that many, actually.
• It's taken eight years, but Josh finally realises he has no life.
• Sam knew that was going to happen.
• Donna did the assistant job excellently, and that meant she never got anywhere.
• I have to congratulate The West Wing on giving me my only  ever heterosexual pairing.

• The Santos kids must still be easier to look after than Bartlet and his secret trips out to bookshops.
• Being an official greeter sounds fun.
• Does Nancy want to be a UN ambassador?
• The Secretary of Education will know nothing about actual schools.
• Wow. I'd love a personal pastry chef.
• Is she ever going to actually answer any of those calls?
• Helen has that Presidential Wife Look perfected.
• Vinick shouldn't let his self esteem be destroyed by Starbucks.
• Who on earth gives money to a fundraiser for a decorating fund? To decorate an orphanage maybe, but not the Oval Office.

• How many towels does Danny need?
• Danny hopes it will be easier in two weeks.
• Margaret's not beyond tackling someone.
• CJ is never getting that transition memo.
• Will was so wandering around the building looking for people yelling.
• I adore this scene. It has that realistic ridiculousness which Sorkin was so good at. It seems a little sad they only discovered it in time for the finale.
• Now that's a cool job.
• Do all mothers carry photographs with them? You'd think with all the buggies and nappies you have to take everywhere taking anything else wouldn't be a priority.
• I'm not sure Will would be CJ's most impressive reference.
• Also, we know that because they told us at the beginning of the season.
• Toby found a typo in the Constitution.
• I like the idea of smudges of law.
• CJ went to Toby for relationship advice?
• I love that they managed to tie up CJ and Toby's relationship without ever telling us if something was going on.
• It must be a pain to have to have your apartment searched by a Secret Service agent every time you want to have sex.
• How do the agents check the whole apartment in that time? Danny could be hiding an assassin in the bathroom.

• Josh had a whole week without getting up early, and he's regretting coming back.
• I'll miss the bouncy ball.
• Someone is going to end up sending salt to New England.
• Josh doesn’t look very happy for a man who just got everything he ever wanted.
• For a moment I got the words invocation and immolation mixed up in my head and was thoroughly confused about what happens at the Inauguration.
• How is CJ going to get Gail to California? It doesn’t seem wise to leave it to josh to care of her.
• Finally we get to know which is which. Although, they wouldn’t correct the President if he got it the wrong way around...
• Poor Debbie's job goes right to the very last minute.
• I actually just cheered then.
• Did the movers take away all the chairs?
• Santos is going to do the Inauguration with lipstick on his face.
• Are you allowed to do that to the National Anthem?
• Notice the way we don't get to see the face of the very expensive actress who played the chief justice
• She should develop a cookie incentive system like Mrs Landingham had.
• Wow. People will have to use her intercom now.
• I don’t think I'll ever accept that there won’t be any more West Wing. No one is ever going to be able to persuade me that they didn’t sit down and write it just for me.