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The West Wing, Season 7, Episode 3 (Patreon)

Published:
2025-05-05 21:56:50
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Message of the Week

Files

Previews only

WW7 3

Comments

Pam Nail

This is where Vinick loses me a bit. It seems incredible that someone who's been in politics as long as he has can't get through a meeting with someone like George Rohr without tripping up spectacularly. Sullivan handled that guy perfectly, and I'm not sure why Vinick couldn't have taken a similar approach. Plus, we've spent nearly seven seasons watching Bartlet take strong stances and tell people if they didn't like it they could vote for someone else. I'm glad they're giving Vinick some shades of gray, but it also makes me wonder if he's up to the job. He's going to have to meet with way more difficult people that Rohr if he becomes President.

Weird Magic

We do know (based on the WW Weekly podcast) when the writers decided who was going to win the election, which kind of answers the first post-show subject you discussed. We can tell you if you want w/o spoiling who they chose, but wasn't sure if your banter was rhetorical :). Originally airing on October 9, 2005, 'Message of the Week' is Episode 3 of Season 7 of The West Wing. It is the 136th episode overall and has an IMDB rating of 7.8, placing it as the #19 ranked episode of this season and #100 out of all the episodes shown so far.

Heather

This episode definitely gives me the ick a little bit. And I’m generally pro both of these candidates through the end of the season. The Vinick/Rohr conversation rang a little false to me. Vinick’s been in Republican politics for long enough that it seems like these men should be known quantities to each other. I kept thinking back to Bartlet’s “Lambs of God” speech from the first episode and wishing that Vinick could have struck a similar tone after the baby killer comment (Sullivan got closer to that).

Allison O

Ah, it’s this episode that has the quote that’s infamous in my office. In case anyone was wondering, “give this speech to leg counsel and have them turn it into legislative language” is not how anything works. 🤣 I’m not sure how to describe this but Jimmy Smits does such a good job of playing a politician who isn’t great yet at not sounding like a politician. Like there are times when someone asks him a question and he goes straight into rehearsed stump speech mode and doesn’t sound natural anymore - which is great acting work.

Cristy

Nothing will ever make me hate Bruno or Arnold Vinick, lol. Vinick definitely shouldn't have lied but, like other people have said, he's not the first on the show to do it. I like the symmetry of the episode beginning with Sullivan and Vinick on stage and ending the same way. Also, Patricia Richardson is so good in this as Sheila. I really enjoy Vinick campaign episodes for a nice change of pace.

D Gyre

Vinnicks been in the senate long enough he knows what is necessary sometimes playing/tricking immoral people so you can be in a position to majorly influence policy to improve the lives of millions is a deal 9/10 politicians of either party will (and do) make

Michael Bennett

"I LIED." :D Obviously Vinick shouldn't have done it, but he tilted after the baby killing comment. And he made a good point about running for Senate if they want to have a say in picking judges. But he sure didn't hide how he felt about "these people". For the rest of your lives, you will refer to momentum as "the big mo'". Get used to it. Practice swinging your phone around while you say it. :D I'm pretty sure that having Lawrence O'Donnell as EP is how they get guest appearances like Chris Matthews. What a great segment that was, it takes me back 20 years in an instant.

Youtalkingtome
>>173156005

I get why he wanted to lie to the guy. I also appreciate the fact that it upset him. Just a bad call on his part.

Youtalkingtome
>>173147737

Still love them both. Just weird to see his ugly side come out. I'm sure we will see more of it before the campaign is over.

Youtalkingtome
>>173145420

Totally agree. It was a bit of an icky episode. I'm willing to give Vinick more time. We've only gotten a handful of episodes with him. I'm sure he'll have plenty of moments to shine

Emma Samuel

I actually like the lying plot in this episode - Vinick has been so secure in his lead that he's not had to make any compromises and has been free to run his dream campaign until now. Meanwhile Santos was having to go through these idealism-vs-winning blunders back in mid S6. Also worth remembering that Vinick's atheism is relatively recent and he's senator of California, so these groups probably haven't been such an issue before this campaign. Side note I really love the performance Sullivan gives. Absolutely terrifyingly cold yet charismatic. And - not for the last time this season - a bunch of middle-aged men in suits getting dewy-eyed and high-horsing about the morality of abortion is just the most depressing thing in the world as a female viewer.

Youtalkingtome
>>173243370

As a male viewer it is also depressing. I'll never understand why people think they have the right to tell someone else what to do with their body.

Hooper

I wonder if the producers were having some fun casting actors mostly known from sitcoms as Vinick's campaign staff (Patricia Richardson - Home Improvement, William Russ - Boy Meets World, Stephen Root - News Radio). A little nod to Alan Alda and MASH?

Danielle

I loved his political aide's resignation. It felt like really great writing there. It wasn't just an icky approach to dealing with Santos; it was personal and fed into racial undertones and biases and general racism in Americans and Vinnick refusing to acknowledge it made me feel icky about it and I completely understood the aide's resignation. Of course all politicians have to make moral compromises at some point, I'm sure, but it was definitely disappointing to see Arnie's in real time. To be fair though, Bartlett lied about the MS and Santos flipped on ethanol so they all compromise on their principles to win. Sheila and Bruno as Vinnick's counterparts to Josh and Lou are wonderful.