I was particularly taken aback by the lack of action concerning the defection request by the North Korean pianist. I felt the President had a clear call to honor the request yet he let Leo decide the matter. He lamely said at the end that the North Korean did not understand freedom, ignoring the initial request in the Oval Office. This lack of active acceptance came just after the President had welcomed new citizens and talked about freedom. It did not matter if the man did not understand freedom in English - he knew what he needed and that was way more than enough. This episode showed Bartell to be weak and indecisive.
3 Reviews
Music, Politics, this episode was amazing.
stamstamp16 August 2011
Personally, I think this episode is one of the best (if not the best) of the series yet. The cinematography (the lighting was almost bewitching!), the script, the acting, it was amazing. I was pretty amaze with Tony Lee's performance, truly capturing the essence of the desire for freedom and the obligation to put his desire behind world's need. The ending was remarkable, illustrating the point Sorkin was trying to make: it's the most unpredictable regime in the world.
Not only that, the scene where Toby and Will was humorously describing Robert Russell, was not only funny, but exceptionally well written. The words are so hard to be comprehend, you might need a dictionary to perfectly understand it!
Not only that, the scene where Toby and Will was humorously describing Robert Russell, was not only funny, but exceptionally well written. The words are so hard to be comprehend, you might need a dictionary to perfectly understand it!
Painfully obvious that Sorkin and Schlamme left the show
jeffdstockton10 February 2021
This episode - this whole season - is jarring in its pedestrian writing and directing. The stories themselves, the dialogue and the mediocre directing are all par for typical Hollywood, but NOT on par with the first four seasons of this stunningly excellent series.
This episode is especially stupid and clunky in several ways, including actions and decisions of President Bartlett, Leo, Toby, Josh... CJ is closest to retaining integrity to the character that was written by Sorkin.
No details here; I think it will be obvious. As CJ says to Bartlett, it's 'disappointing'.
This episode is especially stupid and clunky in several ways, including actions and decisions of President Bartlett, Leo, Toby, Josh... CJ is closest to retaining integrity to the character that was written by Sorkin.
No details here; I think it will be obvious. As CJ says to Bartlett, it's 'disappointing'.
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