I miss The West Wing

An avid fan would be one very simple way to describe me. I have thought a little about the reason I love this show so much. I recall that it won some Emmy's in it's first seasons and it had not yet screened in Australia. I was intrigued. I wonder why it has won all these awards. It's a show about politics. Admittedly there are some well know actors in the cast. When it is shown here, I must check it out.

Well, I was won over from the first episode. Genius.

Forgive my rambling as I type and think at the same time now. I'm going to construct what watching the West Wing does for me....

I like the humour in the show, that's for sure. There is a certain intelligence about it that I love. I'm not normally one for the slapstick type comedy (although funniest home video tickles me sometimes). My favourite humour is the type that is situational and involves plenty of double meaning and irony. Certainly humour that is complex, and often I will laugh and things that others would not even consider as being remotely amusing. So yes, the West Wing has plenty of this type of humour.

There is definitely an energy about the show. Things bustle along, the characters are intelligent and very likable. They are all in positions of power and they get things done. The level of thinking, that is, the complexity of thought process the characters exhibit is something that I relate to. They think in systems, with future generations in mind and also trust their instincts. Again, I like this as a character trait and identify with it. In some ways I aspire to behave more like this in my life although perhaps I am being unfair on myself for assuming that I don't.

The way each episode is shot is just great. There is a flow of action from one room and scene to the next. This really suits the way the storyline within each episode and between episodes connect. That's what I really like too, the connectedness of everything. In line with my preference for systems thought processes, the connectedness of the stories and characters is a real attraction.

Of course, the cast are great. I am a fan of Rob Lowe - he does Sam brilliantly and I was so pleased to see his return to the final series. Of course, I thought they would have to bring him back at some time. How could they not?

And while I don't have a preference in U.S. politics, the show had the effect in making me believe that the Democrats were the good guys. The anguish in Bradley Whitford's (aka Josh) voice whenever he said the word "Republican" is worth the price of admission.

So to sum up, why do I miss the West Wing. All of the above. It gave me hope. I could escape. Watching this show, it was probably the first time that I actually cared about what was happening to the characters - I was not just interested in the storyline. I guess it was a bit of a learning experience in that respect. The same goes for my favourite book - Seven Types of Ambiguity by Elliot Perlman. I became so interested in the characters, the story was really inconsequential. I guess for me the story was about the people. I get it.

Of course I've bought all the DVDs and watch them over and over. I've even watch season seven twice already. Here's the episode guide.

I still get a bit of a fix from Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, the followup series from the Sorkin/Schlamme genius.

One of my most unforgettable moments while watching the west wing was on September 11, 2001. I was watching the show when the news of the first plane hitting the world trade centre was reported. Thanks Sandra Sully. It seemed like the West Wing became real-life. I was expecting that President Bartlett would start talking about it at any moment. Of course, later the West Wing did a special 9/11 episode. Surreal.

Anyway, that's all for now. Let's hope studio 60 doesn't die an early death. And the Sopranos is finishing up now too. At least I've got Big Love to watch now - it's just started here in Australia on SBS. Looks like a good show so far.

G'night.