These types of scenes between them were always so good because it was clear that Bartlett loved Charlie like a son but, of course, had protective instincts for his daughter. It was gold.
I don't know if it's been said, but when Charlie walks in to the Oval, and President Bartlet initiates the conversation, Charlie puts his hands in his pockets. Exactly the way Jed does, when he's made his mind up.
this is why i love the comment section on West Wing videos, I always learn something I've never noticed about the show before even though it's been 20 years!
“Well, I just know how you abhor the cliché.” Damn, but Dr. Abby Bartlet knew how to handle her genius, Nobel Laureate, presidential husband. Just a brilliant example of her own skills.
One of my favorite moments was when Charlie first told the president Zoe asked him out and the president gave his ok then said remember the 82nd Airborne works for me.
"I've taken a bullet for that kid because he was only her boyfriend at the time; those two getting married may actually cause the end of the world." -Bartlett, at some point.
Both Jed and Josh took bullets for Charlie and Zoe. I think both Jed and Josh are both required to get blessings from for Charlie and Zoe to get married.
Dule Hill does such a great job with emotions of confusion in his acting. He manages to channel it perfectly here in this scene in a slightly dramatic, yet also comedic and believable way. And, then there is his over the top, yet also enjoyable performance in Psych a few years later. Fantastic job in both shows!
Oh my gosh I love this show so much I totally forgot that when I first started watching it all I could see in Dule Hill was Gus. Now all I see is good hearted Charlie
The series was rife with great acting. Watching these two ... over and over ... they were so subtle yet so expressive - you could see the wheels turning as father and respected aide worked their ways through this scenario. No cliches ... strong characters ... and their scramble for appropriate nuance. So fun to watch.
Charlie: would I have your blessing? Bartlett: "That depends. What are you planning on doing with your life after the White House? As long as you don't do something stupid like open up a psychic detective agency in Santa Barbara." :)
Poor Charlie... dealing with your girlfriend's father is tricky enough.... Imagine your girlfriend's father is the one man in the country who can actually answer the question "Oh, yeah? You and what Army?" lol
Bartlet actually alludes to that when Charlie first wanted to go out with Zoe in Season 1 "Just remember these two things: she's 19 years old and the 82nd Airborne works for me."
Short answer is yes. Yes Charlie would have the President's blessing to marry his daughter. So far, he's got a guy who cheated on his daughter and a nice but excessively nerdy guy as his sons-in-law. Then there's Charlie, a guy who the president already loves as the son he never had. Let's be honest, having Charlie as his son-in-law is President Bartlett's version of living the dream.
I was rewatching the episode where someone shoots at the White House. President Barlett knew that Charlie would come to his side no matter what. Then Charlie breaks thru secret service to get to president. The love between them is mutual.
Michael Moretti you are an idiot and completely missed the entire nature of this relationship. But hey go back to your white sheets and Fox news. You’re living the dream.
@OriginalYithian while it didn't premire until 2006, psych was well into production when filming on season 7 of Psych started. Mad Men also had production overlap with West wing, because making TV shows takes time and unless you're fox you film most of the season before you start airing shit.
Stockard Channing is brilliant as Jeds wife. Smart , witty, tough and can quickly put the President on the back foot. Which no one else can, but should be expected, after all she is his wife.
I agree... they never resolved the Charlie and Zoe storyline, left us hanging with that one. I would have really liked to see confirmation that they ended up together, after everything they went through
Bayougirl78 I was about to say pretty much the same thing. The actors felt the same way, saddened it wasn’t resolved, but they both feel they would have gotten back together.
Not every relationship needs to live happily ever after. Granted my unwarranted speculation is that this storyline was dropped for political network reasons and not because the writers didn't know where to go with it. The writing staff probably knew exactly where they wanted to go and somebody somewhere along the network chain of command at the time dropped the ball or ran off with it or just sat on it like an egg. Not everyone watching the show was open minded and woke. Then as well as now, some people would still take offense to an interracial relationship. I like how it's just left hanging. I had relationships like that. I rather imagine it happens to everyone now and then. Complications intervene. People's lives drift apart. Others intentionally or unintentionally C-block the lovebirds. Bottom line: Charlie's intentions were made clear in the latter scene: he wanted to see Zoe more, but marriage was an afterthought, and that didn't set well in the Bartlett household. Well. For everyone but Zoe, who would have said no to marriage had Charlie asked. "Did my father put you up to this?" "Well. Uh. No. Your mother-" "Charlie!"
Apparently they had actually planned to continue the storyline and have them get married but both of the actors had other commitments and so they married Ellie instead.
The best part about this is that the president wasn't having to confront charlie, he was having to confront his own presuppositions, and his own willingness to be a little bit too much like his own father. The seen caused him so much discomfort not because he saw his daughter fooling around with his employee, but because it forced him to hold a mirror to himself, and I think because of that, it for the solidified the relationship between him and charlie, and his willingness to treat Charlie as a son, regardless of how things went with his daughter.
Surprisingly, upon viewing the entire series for the fourth time, there ARE some scenes that grate upon my sensibilities. But they are few and these are certainly not among them. Wonderful writing and acting - but most of all, just a joy to watch. ... and watch ... and watch ...
Charlie, what did Bartlett tell you when you first asked to date his daughter? I believe it was something along the lines of "The 87th Airborne works for me." You should really be more careful.
True, the dialogue could have been SOOO much better, but we all saw something like this happening since day one, and it was still hilarious to see it all go down.
Bartlet: "Son, the least you can do when you are courting my daughter in the middle of the night is to loose that ridiculous hippy hear you have growing around your mouth"
The only time Charlie was NOT happy to hear the President's voice. every other time it filled him with hope or love or something, that once was 'oh crap!'
This is the absolute worst nightmare scenario for a guy. Not only was he caught by his lover's father, but that father is also the president of the US, and can order the secret service to shoot him.
Come on. The guy works in the white house and he thinks he could sneak around at night and nobody would notice? This ain't a 4 bed 3 bath home in the suburbs.
Watching this after spending the night watching season 3 episodes really sticks in my ear. Everything just feels wrong about it. The writing took such a turn after Sorkin left.
Charlie got caught walking out of Zoey's room. Two words: GOOD LORD! If Charlie didn't love and respect the President as he does, it would have gotten messy.🤯
Nothing more awkward than when the father of the woman you are dating; is literally the President Of The United States & he sees you leaving his daughters bedroom.
As the father of a girl, I can totally feel Jed here. But at the same time, I would absolutely fucking love to have my daughter marry a guy like Charlie.
The default "paternal resistance" is a little silly, concerning how the relationship has existed on and off since Year 1 of the show, but I do like the fact that the confrontation in the Oval Office happens at high noon.
President Bartlett demonstrated remarkably more restraint than I would have in a similar situation, I think. And I'm fairly laid-back by most accounts!
I've been pondering that. In some ways it looks too constricted and bulky but it suits the elder statesman look. I think he was a little heavier than he had been in earlier seasons where he looked more presidential in the dark suit, white shirt red tie thing. If he's wearing a great shirt and tie combo, why cover it up with a vest?
