I love that moment when President Bartlett give Leo the gift, and sees that he's about to lose it, and he quietly walks out so that Leo can be emotional alone. Just a perfect scene.
At the end of his presidency Jed Bartlett will lose his sister and best friend Mrs lainingham and Leo, the latter because of real life tragedy but it flows with the theme of what it costs to be a GOOD president, it should cost you everything. The two people he loved the most outside of his immediate family would die in service of his presidency. Jed blames the lie to win his presidency for mrs lainingham death, and leo suffered a major heart attack because of stress expediting his death. I wish we had some thoughts from jed bartlett reflecting on his losses, was it worth it, did he feel he achieved enough to make them proud that their sacrifice is not wasted, if he had known the cost would he still run????
@@maragathm My only disagreement with your sentiment is that I don't think that it SHOULD "cost you everything" to be a good anything, and that it sucks it does.
Maybe it SHOULDN’T cost you everything, but to lead this country you have to be prepared to GIVE EVERYTHING. The Country deserves no less measure of dedication.
For a while whoever was the main character in the Christmas episode always won: Richard Schiff for "In Excelsis Deo," Bradley Whitford for "Noel" & John Spencer for this.
He was a wonderful actor, so talented. One TWW was airing if I ever saw him in an earlier role and he was bad I couldn’t believe it. “Not Leo. He’s such a good man!”
John Spencer will always remain my my heart as Leo. While his death was sad, he was fortunate to get to play a part in a series that will live lifetimes as his last role.
'would you trust him with your life?' is the part that got to me most. The towering respect these two men have for each other is never questioned and it is kind of magnificent.
I have a friend like that. Every time I saw that scene, I thought of him. We lost him a few months ago, Christmas Eve, to cancer. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do without him.
Yes, this is one of the scenes where I seem to get something stuck in both eyes. Ending scenes of Six Feet Under, Spaced and House seem to do the same.
It’s only twice in the seven years that we see Leo in tears. This episode gets me every time. He truly loves the president and was willing to walk through Hell for him. It makes what comes later in season six so much harder to take.
It's hard to nail down the single best thing about The West Wing. It was simply legendary from top to bottom. But if I really had to choose just one thing, I would say it's the friendship between Jed and Leo. They just cared about each other so much, and went to the ends of the Earth for each other.
+Guesswork In one of the commentary tracks I think that Sorkin and maybe Schlamme joked about that being the true "romance" in the series. Late season two I think.
He's got "polished communication skills" (which Toby states to Josh while Toby, Josh, and Donna were on the train in the "20 Hours In America" episode)
I found an interview with John Spencer about favourite scenes and he talked about the napkin and the scene where Bartlett gives it back to Leo. He started to cry and said he found it very hard to talk about. I wonder where it is now. It should be one of television's greatest artefacts.
Judge Dredd One of the best to be sure....I never try to put just one specific show as my #1 because i'm always looking forward to "that next great show too"....but West Wing is always on MY LIST
John Spencer.....incredibly talented actor and so grateful ...so kind , generous and humble......I am so glad he got his Emmy ! It was richly and rightly deserved! I am so glad this was his "farewell" to the world . To fall asleep acclaimed, wanted, loved, and promised even more acclaim ? Such beautiful circumstances of life......yes- he was gone to soon but VALIDATED , appreciated, accomplished, revered, respected and adored......sad he is gone, but so grateful he was happy and fulfilled ....RIP
This show has always been one of my favorite television series ever, and the more I think about it, it might be my favorite ever. Every character was perfectly cast, and the writing was brilliant. And no show was ever better at making you laugh and cry in the same episode.
The way Leo's hand starts to shake at the 5:20 mark as he holds the picture is so poignant and excellent foreshadowing of his breakdown and expressing the emotions of the day
That last scene with Leo and the napkin that Jed gives him, its the purest form of friendship and its real. Its probably my favorite scene from the whole 7 seasons.
@@bassmaster867 but what percentage if any have a ............Leo ????????????. You can be an honorable man with morals BUT do you have a Leo in your life, that is the key and the difference
Great collection of scenes. I can't help but get emotional any time I see that damn napkin. Such an incredible show with countless incredible moments with finely tuned actors.
Every time I watch this show, I am reminded of the optimism of the pre-9/11 America, when we truly thought anything was possible, and we had at least some faith in government and the political process. I'm not saying it was necessarily "better" or "simpler" like some of these codgers, it was just different. And to be honest, it makes me tearful to think that once upon a time, a show like this was possible. I just can't imagine a show like this being made today. Instead, we get the excellent, but dark and cutthroat House of Cards, another amazing show with a fantastic lead, but missing the shining light at the end of the tunnel, which was West Wing's signature quality. Pardon me, I'm going to go play Taps for our poor, fucked up times, and hope to god we can move forward again some day. Not as Tea Party or Liberal or whatever, but as Americans. West Wing was "God bless America." House of Cards is "God help America..." We could sure use it.
Guesswork I'm English, and an atheist, but trust me when I say that one of the things about any democracy is that sometimes the wrong choice will be made, voters will get lazy and apathetic, the wrong people will explot that, and things will get bad. Here in the UK, the Thatcher years were a similar situation to what you have in America right now. But it doesn't last - things WILL get better. America has one of the most democratic systems on the planet, it will take far more than one mere demogogue and his small, obnoxious rabble to ruin it, despite what the trolls tell you. The US will comes through this.
Oh, I remember one year ago. A happier time. A simpler time. When we truly didn't know how bad things could get. When we had faith that the inmates couldn't get their hands on the keys to the asylum. I miss those days.
If you're not an elected official of the Republican Party in some form, then why call yourself a Republican? I worry when voters try to adopt themselves into the party, as it risks entrenchment and little movement to being open to 'being wrong', not that I'm saying to support views shared by proponents of the Republicans are wrong. That is the case with any voter for any Party, as it can lead to factions. I'm glad you can appreciate TWW, despite it offering a different way to govern a country, as well as its writing on sensitive matter. I wish you well too :)
@@jmmypaddy I think you read too much into that statement. I'd assume it's the same reason I am. It's simply how I'm registered with the state to vote. That all being said, the show did a great job highlighting the different trains of thought that defined both parties and the fact you don't have to agree with the entire agenda to identify with either.
When Abbie asks Jed, "What are you thinking about?" He, now the former President, replies, "Tomorrow." I immediately flashed back to the Bill Clinton campaign and his theme song, "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow." That show always had great writing.
I have loved Martin Sheen since I was a young man, watching him portray Bobby Kennedy on TV. His fire, his wit and his intellect were so evident. I am sure I was not the only one to see his passion and energy. Every thing I saw him in after that was simply a lead into his time in West Wing. That show was a prism onto the American Electoral mind. I am so happy he was a part of the show. He and all of his partners in the production should be very, very proud of what they all accomplished. West Wind is one of the great American masterpieces of drama. A gem.
I miss this show so much... As the Air Force One is taking President Bartlet home so much I see that scene as being the same when President Obama was going home....What a moment this show has been for us...A great show!!!!!!!!
justin bartelen Not at all....you come across as the proverbial "troll" that says something contrary to what was stated about the video. My question to you...WHY wouldn't you just go rent the series and watch rather than just running your mouth??? Clearly you were not old enough to watch this great show back then and by you just saying what you said sounds as if you really do enjoy reading your words in print. No worries here as to you referencing my Mom. You pretty much proved my point with that kind of diatribe. No time for games with dweebs like you. Not an elitist as you say....just tired of douche bags like yourself who love to listen to themselves run their mouths. As I said before....Go away Twat! You ruin an otherwise decent place.
Nope it was an honest question because I actually hadn't watched the series, I wasn't running my mouth I was asking a question (I realize you have a tough time differentiating), you don't actually get to decide what is considered "running my mouth". Why wouldn't I go rent the series to answer the one question I have? because I could just ask a question and someone who has had the privilege of watching it could answer... I don't see there being a problem with enjoying my words, or of being my age or talking (which is now considered running ones mouth according to you). Clearly you do have time for douchebags like me, who make the most heinous mistake of asking a question about the video, since you took the time to respond and call me a douche, make a dig at my age, call me a troll, and tell me I'm running my mouth for showing curiosity in the video. I'm not sure if you're trying to prove yourself an elitist on purpose but if not your doing a pretty good job of it by accident. In your mind I don't belong to the special group that has already seen the series therefore anything I say or ask out of ignorance makes me a twat plus whatever other insult you can imagine, and just for asking I have ruined it all.
TWW seems to makes me cry as I just wish all this hate would go away... it was never this bad. I so wish for people like these that think of people and the country not just themselves.
with warmest regards all around, the ability to see around corners, understanding each opportunity lends itself to new discoveries, and thanks folks is what the voice inside your head sees and feels what was hoped for by the author and pleased as punch when pictures are added to the experience. which brings me back to the point of the writing and only then it starts to contain all those other places it brings to fruition on screen, large or small., and why I like it so much better than what really happens. I am a realist yet still enjoy seeing this series it never gets old.
Thank you for being so open and honest with your feelings. Boats are like children, they make you young but first they make you old. I am in the 3rd year of my new (to me, 39 year old) monohull yacht. I learn stuff every week, things that were fine suddenly aren’t for no reason. Confidence comes with time and experience and it’s great to see things settling down for you. You hint that things are already much better, I’m sure it will get even better still. Sail on regardless, the bad will become good, the good will become great. 🤗🥂
In 2000, when a poll asked Americans whether they wanted George Bush or Al Gore for president, the highest poll number went to Jed Bartlet. That was the impact of The West Wing at the time, which some said was an idealized version of the presidency. At least some of Bartlet's faults were on display.
When you see these clips in this compilation, I think it makes what the writers did in season 6 with Bartlett firing Leo (and Leo's inability/reluctance to support Bartlett's peace process) all the more out of character and implausible. I know a lot of people didn't like Toby/Josh falling out or Toby leaking the military shuttle, but the Leo/Jed falling out was the one that irritated me the most. It seemed like conflict for the sake of conflict.
TWW is the finest scripted network television show I've ever seen, or ever will see. How I'd love to see President Bartlett and his team in the real White House for the extent of my lifetime.
I loved this scene the first time I saw it, now after watching the show over a few times knowing what happens in the show's finale makes this scene that much more powerful.
That napkin embodied Leo's love for Jed, his complete faith in him. Getting it back as a gift reminded Leo that the feelings were entirely mutual. Leo's marriage didn't fail because he didn't love his wife - it failed because he loved Jed more.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved this ending, but 'best' is still very subjective across the different genres (drama, comedy, sci-fi, etc,,,). And having said that, for me personally, it's hard to beat the ending to M*A*S*H......
