I was worried about The West Wing, when the news about the backstage changes came this summer. I am still worried about it. But the first show of the season wasn't bad (I haven't yet watched the second; I'm already behind with my television and the season has just started). It's not going to go down on my list of favorites, but I was hypersensitive to anything I wasn't going to like, and found myself letting out a sigh of relief.
I think it helps the new regime that Zoey's kidnapping gives them a reason for a different tone. We don't have time to miss the banter in the hallway (at least not yet), because there is too much gravity in the situation. And at the same time, the writers managed small touches here and there--Will's hair, the dog, Leo accusing Margaret of moving his brown folder.
Unlike some, I liked the dog. I thought it was a nice, concrete way to put a little humor into the "watch them bite their tongue" scenes of the staff and the temporary President. It could quickly be overdone, yes. But tonight's bits I liked.
And I do love John Goodman. If this President had to happen, I am very grateful that he's here to play him. I still find myself thinking, "You can't do that!" But he can, of course, and everything he does seems very common sense. He's not hateful, but he's not fitting in either--and that's a fine line to write, I think. The rest of the Republicans are smarmy, and seemingly purposefully so. So I don't like them. But I don't hate this guy. He's not what we're used to, and he's not what we want sticking around. But he's not horrid.
Leo was brilliant, of course, on many counts. John Spencer is tremendous. And while I know some were criticizing the episode for not much happening, I thought it did a nice job both capitalizing on some things from last year. (And you have to wonder if Sorkin left behind any outlines of what was going to go on here at the first, as you know he had ideas for writing them out of the corner before he did so. In other words, I don't buy the suggestion I've heard floating around that he did it out of spite before he left.)
And the best thing was the way that the revelation of the assassination hit the First Family--especially the First Lady. I wanted to scold her, but I know that she's going through it right now, so I refrained. I did a double-take at the second daughter to arrive, because I thought it was Amy Garner. But the moment where Ellie brings her dad his cup made me cry. Always a good sign. ;)
Favorite line for tonight? "He has a dog." Favorite non-verbal moment? That bit with Ellie.
My sister says she'll be pleasantly surprised if Zoey survives. I don't know. I'm guessing that she will, and that's how we'll get ourselves out of the corner. And I suspect things aren't quite so bad as Josh would have everyone believe. Was it bleaker than usual? Yeah. But the kidnapping was bleak from the get-go, and I'm thinking maybe the point is to build to something better by the end of the season.
That said, I'm still not convinced the show is in good hands. I'm not convinced this is the last season, either. But I won't hold my breath for another Emmy.
Note: This entry has been reposted from my LiveJournal, with a few minor edits.
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