User Reviews

Zoey's kidnapping goes into its second day. Walken orders bombings and ground forces in Qumar. The staff (and Josh particularly) are going crazy with fear that Walken will start legislating a right wing agenda. How is it that we had to wait for season 5 to meet the President's eldest daughter? Hello, Liz Bartlet (Annabeth Gish - DESERT BLOOM, MYSTIC PIZZA), in the second of six fine appearances. The debut of Jesse Bradford (ROMEO + JULIET, HACKERS) as irritating intern Ryan Pierce, who would do nine episodes. He's obvious comic relief here, but will become a little more. This kidnapping arc finale isn't as brilliant as its predecessors, but is pushed into greatness by Goodman and the images of a family reunited.

I suspect that this is one of the episodes in Sorkin was credited more than he actually contributed. This appears much more melodramatic - more soap-opera trips than well-crafted dialogue - than earlier episodes. Where our breath was often taken, our minds were engaged in surprising ways, this episode 1) rehashes earlier material - is almost entirely dependent on dialogue and storylines from previous seasons - and 2) lacks the verbal and structural sophistication of episodes in which Dorkin had full control.

We've already seen the effects of network pressure, and evidence of the conflict between the brilliance of the Sorkin, Wells and Schlamme creative synergy and Network meddling. Apparently, executives wanted to take more credit for the show's phenomenal success & impact, and likely wanted to appease Republican sensitivities and claims that 'their' network was too liberal.

A viewer doesn't have to be especially astute to see the decline in quality that this episode is now showing is underway, as Sorkin is getting close to the Exit door.

The longer it goes, the harder to watch it becomes. How many times does Harvard get mentioned? The Ryan character is an embarrasing paper thin duplication & compilation of throw-away comments & actions in earlier episodes.

So much of this has the look, feel and sound of minimum wage hacks hired to write-by-committee an episode that the Network assumed viewers wouldn't notice. 'Subtle' and 'nuance' are nowhere close to this episode. Even the music and camera work are heavy-handed. This episode doesn't ask anything of viewers, it doesn't engage viewers the way we were previously accustomed.

Another absurdity is how capable Bartlett continues to show himself to be, yet the contrivance is that stepping aside during the personal crisis is so powerful and patriotic. The administration - it's agenda for the country and, to the extent possible, the world - are at increasing risk every day that passes. Bartlett functions just fine in the residence; he wanders the halls of the West Wing, but, yeah, sure, held incapacitated for the role of President.

Also absurd: the President (Bartlett) and First Lady are brought be helicopter to the crime scene to see Zoey in the back of an ambulance, where what is depicted is obviously unresearched for accuracy. Bad writing. Bad directing, bad producing.

Everything about this story arc belies the artifice of Bartlett stepping away from the Presidency. A President appoints top-tier people (theoretically) to advise and support. Bartlett was never shown to be incapable.

This episode is over-the-top with the religious subtext, too. It's been understood and established that Bartlett is Catholic. But, it's so heavy in this episode, as though producers assumed these sentiments are commonly held by the audience. It's also there as more of the over-done melodrama.