Donna, Fitz, and Andy are sent on a fact-finding mission in Gaza. One of their vehicles is detonated by terrorists, leaving Fitz and two congresspersons dead and Donna critically wounded. Insanity erupts, with Leo (and the republicans and most of the democrats) calling for immediate military retaliation, while Jed tries to bring Palestine and Israel to a peace summit. Kate is the only voice in the Sit Room preaching patience. In flashbacks, Donna learns about the horrors of the region, and has a rather charming romance with an irish photojournalist (Jason Isaacs - HARRY POTTER, PETER PAN). Josh flies across the Atlantic to be by Donna's side. Farewell, Fitz...we wanted more, not less of you...but this episode hit us right in the stomach, and that's nothing to sneeze at.
4 Reviews
The Meddling Middle East
Sonatine9720 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I wasn't overly enamoured with this episode, probably because it turned from a serious political drama into something far more melodramatic, with a little bit of soap opera thrown in for good measure.
Dealing with the Middle East, has always been an Achilles Heel of western world politics, and the inherent dangers are well known. So you just knew that the CODEL party consisting of 2 or 3 familiar faces (Donna, Andy and Fitz) would end up in trouble while on a fact-finding mission to Gaza.
Moreover, a substory was introduced between Donna and a photojournalist, who she meets in Gaza and later ends up in bed with. And of course the next thing she is involved in the assassination attempt and is almost killed - cue the melodrama as Josh flies out to Germany to visit her at the hospital, with the photojournalist in tow.
Seeing Josh by Donna's bedside was a reversal of the opening episodes to season 2, where Josh is recovering from a gunshot wound and Donna is by his bedside (albeit not alone).
I suppose this particular plotline was not only meant to introduce some male rivalry over Donna, but also to add another dimension to Josh's multifaceted character by actually showing true feelings for his assistant - feelings that perhaps go beyond work-related.
The main storyline is of course who did the attack, what parties were involved, who sanctioned it, and what reprisals are needed. All very formulaic and quite quite tedious purely because its the Middle East, and there is so much backbiting and retaliatory remarks being thrown around by the various leaders that it just becomes white noise.
The only flicker of interest is the conflict of ideals between Leo and Bartlet, the former wanting military reprisals, while the latter still wants to broker a peace deal even though he is in the minority.
Fitz will be missed, but I think the actor playing him wanted out anyway.
Dealing with the Middle East, has always been an Achilles Heel of western world politics, and the inherent dangers are well known. So you just knew that the CODEL party consisting of 2 or 3 familiar faces (Donna, Andy and Fitz) would end up in trouble while on a fact-finding mission to Gaza.
Moreover, a substory was introduced between Donna and a photojournalist, who she meets in Gaza and later ends up in bed with. And of course the next thing she is involved in the assassination attempt and is almost killed - cue the melodrama as Josh flies out to Germany to visit her at the hospital, with the photojournalist in tow.
Seeing Josh by Donna's bedside was a reversal of the opening episodes to season 2, where Josh is recovering from a gunshot wound and Donna is by his bedside (albeit not alone).
I suppose this particular plotline was not only meant to introduce some male rivalry over Donna, but also to add another dimension to Josh's multifaceted character by actually showing true feelings for his assistant - feelings that perhaps go beyond work-related.
The main storyline is of course who did the attack, what parties were involved, who sanctioned it, and what reprisals are needed. All very formulaic and quite quite tedious purely because its the Middle East, and there is so much backbiting and retaliatory remarks being thrown around by the various leaders that it just becomes white noise.
The only flicker of interest is the conflict of ideals between Leo and Bartlet, the former wanting military reprisals, while the latter still wants to broker a peace deal even though he is in the minority.
Fitz will be missed, but I think the actor playing him wanted out anyway.
The many multifaceted talents of many actors come through here.
samimabry17 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
So, one of my favorite (albeit in a "glutton for punishment" way) episodes is in the early seasons, with the traumatic shooting of the president and Josh. I've said many times and on many forums that the best scene is when Toby is walking around in the aftermath looking and calling for Josh, he finally sees the backside of him and comes around to face him, and that's the first time we learn Josh has been shot. The reason I've said it's the best scene is because Richard Schiff's reaction to finding Josh shot is so incredibly raw and real and perfect, especially because of how "prickly" his character normally is. You always knew even before this episode that he cares deeply for his coworkers and friends, but the look on his face and then immediate yelling for help when he finds Josh is acting at its most simple yet finest. You genuinely care and want to (or do) cry when you see Josh's blood everywhere and realize what's happened to him, but Toby's reaction is the gut-wrencher (at least for me).
I say all of that because to me this episode compares beautifully to that one, on multiple levels. In that episode, Donna arrives at the hospital only knowing the president has been shot, and then her coworkers (superiors) have to tell her about Josh and her reaction is damn near equally gut-wrenching to Toby's, and she will not leave the hospital or really speak to anyone when spoken to because she's in so much shock and heart-aching worry. This episode is almost like a mirror of that, with Josh freaking out (quite literally) within a few feet of the Oval Office, hollering about killing anyone with possible involvement in Donna's injuries. I won't speak to the sexual tension between their characters because that's been said over and over about this episode and many others. And it's too obvious. But the best moment of this episode in my opinion is much like I said about Richard Schiff earlier on: Bradley Whitford's multiple reactions to Donna being a victim of the explosion are incredibly well acted, particularly when he finally gets to Germany and sees her in the hospital bed for the first time. That scene ends with his reaction to her in that hospital bed, and it is solid gold and tear-jerking. Kudos to him (and probably to the makeup department) for that scene because his facial expressions convey so much emotion just looking at her lying there unconscious and banged up, and he also looks like he's aged about ten years overnight. You can clearly see he's over the moon relieved she's alive and okay, but desperately sad and angry about what's happened to her-which he already was before he arrived, but you can see it all over him even more so once he lays eyes on her and sees her in that condition.
This is possibly one of the better post-Sorkin episodes out there, but it ain't because of the writing. It's because of the amazing acting. Martin Sheen learning Fitzwallace has died is equally heartbreaking when he says "I asked him to go." The entire west wing staff buzzing with fear and concern for Donna. The arguments amongst each other based on their opinions on how to react to/handle this tragedy. All of it, every single character in this episode is at their best and every actor behind the character was on point. Which is what makes me think back to Aaron Sorkin's episodes, because he knew exactly how to write these characters from day one and once he left, a lot of the episodes and the characters' motives felt pale. This one and a few others, though, almost make you feel like you're back in Sorkin Seasons. It's not my favorite episode by far, but it's a damn good one. Sometimes we need a good cry.
I say all of that because to me this episode compares beautifully to that one, on multiple levels. In that episode, Donna arrives at the hospital only knowing the president has been shot, and then her coworkers (superiors) have to tell her about Josh and her reaction is damn near equally gut-wrenching to Toby's, and she will not leave the hospital or really speak to anyone when spoken to because she's in so much shock and heart-aching worry. This episode is almost like a mirror of that, with Josh freaking out (quite literally) within a few feet of the Oval Office, hollering about killing anyone with possible involvement in Donna's injuries. I won't speak to the sexual tension between their characters because that's been said over and over about this episode and many others. And it's too obvious. But the best moment of this episode in my opinion is much like I said about Richard Schiff earlier on: Bradley Whitford's multiple reactions to Donna being a victim of the explosion are incredibly well acted, particularly when he finally gets to Germany and sees her in the hospital bed for the first time. That scene ends with his reaction to her in that hospital bed, and it is solid gold and tear-jerking. Kudos to him (and probably to the makeup department) for that scene because his facial expressions convey so much emotion just looking at her lying there unconscious and banged up, and he also looks like he's aged about ten years overnight. You can clearly see he's over the moon relieved she's alive and okay, but desperately sad and angry about what's happened to her-which he already was before he arrived, but you can see it all over him even more so once he lays eyes on her and sees her in that condition.
This is possibly one of the better post-Sorkin episodes out there, but it ain't because of the writing. It's because of the amazing acting. Martin Sheen learning Fitzwallace has died is equally heartbreaking when he says "I asked him to go." The entire west wing staff buzzing with fear and concern for Donna. The arguments amongst each other based on their opinions on how to react to/handle this tragedy. All of it, every single character in this episode is at their best and every actor behind the character was on point. Which is what makes me think back to Aaron Sorkin's episodes, because he knew exactly how to write these characters from day one and once he left, a lot of the episodes and the characters' motives felt pale. This one and a few others, though, almost make you feel like you're back in Sorkin Seasons. It's not my favorite episode by far, but it's a damn good one. Sometimes we need a good cry.
Best episode of all 7 seasons
beachrunner513 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I will binge watch all 7 seasons to get to this ONE episode. The build up is buried in the 2 seasons before hand, and the tone of this episode carries for the duration of the Bartlet presidency. The sexual tension between Josh and Donna is at his highest point in this episode (although resolved later), and Prez Bartlet is being challenged on several fronts. Between the new story line of his tension with Leo, his dear friend Gen. Fitzwallace being killed, and wanting to bring peace to the Middle East - you see the staff's humanity in full swing. This episode is one of the rare with points of happiness and sadness all wrapped up in one single explosion. Lets not forget the gloomy Toby's situation either. His ex-wife is "almost blown up".
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
