Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

The West Wing, Season 2, Episode 1 (Patreon)

Published:
2023-03-02 23:01:28
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:
haven't archived this post yet. have a subscription? use the importer!

Content

Part 1 of premiere.

Files

Previews only

The West Wing, Season 2, Episide 1

Comments

Sarah P

I didn’t expect this until like Friday/Saturday, so I’m FREAKING OUT (in a good way). I’m so excited to get home after work and see what y’all think of this episode, as well as watch it again myself after a looong time. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Pam Nail

This episode and the next one did air the same night back in 2000, but it works just as well to separate them -- at least it's not as traumatizing a cliffhanger as the previous episode! I love all the reveals in the cold open and how there are so many moments where the audience knows something the characters don't yet (that's one of Sorkin's favorite tricks). That scene in the limo where the Secret Service agent realizes the President was shot was based on the Reagan shooting -- the agent noticed blood coming out of his mouth and realized he'd been hit.

Joy M

I don’t think I noticed this before, but Zoe looks slightly older than she did at the end of season 1. The actor who played Ron Butterfield, the secret service agent who was shot in the hand, later played someone who shot up the hospital on Grey’s Anatomy. When I saw that episode, I was shouting at the TV, “but he’s a secret service agent! He would never do that!”

Weird Magic

"Originally airing on October 4, 2000, ""In the Shadow of Two Gunmen: Part I"" is Episode 1 of Season 2 of The West Wing. It is the 23rd episode overall and has an IMDB rating of 9.4, placing it as the #2 ranked episode of this season and #2 out of all 155 episodes."

Sarah P

You asked who that was that Toby was hugging. That’s Ginger, one of the two communications assistants along with Bonnie. It’s understandable that you may not recognize her after one season, especially in such an abnormal episode. They get less screen time than the other assistants. Donna is the only of these assistant characters who who has been part of the main ensemble. Mrs. Landingham and Margaret also get more time, but not in the same ballpark as Donna. Just to throw in a rundown of who’s assistant to whom, in case you’d like one: Carol (CJ), Margaret (Leo) Bonnie and Ginger (Sam and Toby - communications collectively) Donna (Josh, obviously) Mrs. Landingham (President, obviously) Also just wanted to mention that I love how much this, and the next episode, fill in the trust and love that these colleagues have with each other. They could have been a band of professionals gaining this type of relationship by going through this — but no, the show shows us that them establishing these relationships were the reason they won in the first place.

Taylor

One of my favorite things about watching the first few episodes of season 2 with people who haven’t seen it before is watching to see if they even notice a character that used to be there is completely gone with no explanation… 😉

Youtalkingtome
>>103189652

Couldn't have said it any better. The relationships of these characters are what make the show so great. Also thank you for clearing that up for us!

Youtalkingtome
>>103175888

I knew that I recognized him from another show! I guess he's got range lol. She does look more mature in this season.

Youtalkingtome
>>103175514

That's chilling. Tying real life events into fiction is always so interesting. Honestly can't wait to get to the next episode!!

JVTrickypants

Toby's face when he finds Josh....ughhhh

JVTrickypants

Well, I've been shot... (love that whole joking scene with President Bartlet lol). Not to mention the Leo kiss.

JVTrickypants

Sorkin to Whitford: Do you want to know why I chose you to get shot? Whitford: Because you wanted your friend to win an Emmy?

JVTrickypants

Non-Spoiler spoiler because it happens in the first like 10 seconds of part 2 and isn't at all a plot point - that poor delicious looking egg wasted always pisses me off!

Luca Siracusa (Bob)

I will avoid major comments on the episode because with it being a two-parts, most of the stuff works having watched them both, but I want to underline two things about the flashbacks - Bartlet is not a Good President. I mean, he's not just a good president. We knew he had a human side and he was a kind person behind the presidency, but people could've thought it was a facade, something he showed people since he got elected to be admired and to be loved by his staff and the country. They confirm you that's not the case: he was a good man as a Governor, he was a good man as a Senator, he had that idea of being a good and inspiring man way before he became a president and Leo says it The whole conversation about voting for "The lesser of who cares" is a perfect representation of the fact Bartlet's politics is not just a dream in our world, it's a dream in their too. That's not what "normal politicians" do, that's now how politics work in the show, at any levels. Bartlet is the best man to be president because he's everything but a good politician, and that's exactly what the world needs. It needs someone who speak to say stuff, not to get votes. Someone that cares for how many years you have a job and not how many years he's in charge. He is what people at the same age of Leo always hoped to have and never got: he's a dream coming true And despite all of this, his politics brought him out of that glass window with Josh being shot in the chest fighting for his life. Because you can be as good as you can, that doesn't mean you'll live in peace. The West Wing is BRUTAL

Weird Magic

Echo @luca - it also kind of points out to me, that although we feel right now like we never get "good people" to run for office, it has really always been that way. I wasn't around in the 1800s but I'm pretty sure people have always felt that they were voting for someone they'd rather not...someone is always better out there somewhere but...I have to vote for X or Y, the lesser of two evils so to speak. Lastly - the final shot of Part I with the camera shot of Jed and Leo's reflection is really well done

Youtalkingtome
>>103196286

I know, what a gut punch. He was worried about his brother getting home safely then has one get shot within minutes.

Youtalkingtome
>>103216490

Very well said. We have said in previous episodes that show in many ways is a fantasy. The world just doesn't work that way. That being said I wish it did, it would be nice to have someone with compassion and willing to lead by example in that position.

Youtalkingtome
>>103231198

Good call, you really can't please both sides and sadly the intentions aren't always the best. The final shot was masterful.

jimmy2k4o .

I believe the act of a New England intellectual candidate asking a rival senator from texas to be his VP in a bid to in votes and unite the party is called "The Kennedy play"

shawn Johnson

I am so happy you guys ignored the episode description on Facebook as it gives away that the President was shot.

Roland Cooke

The HBO MAX footer titles I was warning you guy about (they appear if you hit the back button or something): S1 E22: Gunfire erupts and it's unclear who's injured S2 E1: The President is rushed to the hospital after being shot Caveat HBO emptor!

Roland Cooke
>>103277782

I took a screenshot of the two of your (priceless!) reactions to Toby finding Josh slumped and wounded, but I don't think Patreon has a way of letting me upload it. Worth a quick look at the video!

Balazs Foldes

Ok, the season 1 finale finally broke me. It got on youtube, and I realised I just cannot wait a week or so for these guys reaction! Had to get on to this Patreon. So, hello there, everybody, nice to meet y'all here! I loved the guesses and contemplation at the start of this reaction. This was the most cliffhangerish cliffhanger in the history of whatever, and it's great you guys could approach it in a clever and analytic way. Fun ideas, and you almost hit with some of them! And with that, I need to continue with Episode 2x02...

Beatrix Smith

"Oh, she doesn't look like she knows." They didn't tell Janel Maloney what she was walking into in the scene, other than being given her initial lines and then told to 'just react as Donna would.

The Quiet Wolf

You guys might have been able to wait a week, but I couldn't so here I am on Patreon.

Youtalkingtome
>>104898753

Welcome, we're so glad you joined! We love this show so much and are happy that people who have already seen it and enjoy it are getting so much out of these reactions. This is our first time so give us some grace but man what a finale!!

Ryan Fisher

Great episode guys, stayed up until 2am watching along with you. One great bit of continuity is whenever you see Hoynes in season one, he’s surrounded by his senate staff from the social security scene while VP (“It’s called misdirection” lady shuffles him out of the mural room at one point) as well as the Bartlet staff Leo fired. The bald guy in the suit who tried to fire Toby but is fired by Leo has a conversation with CJ earlier when she needs to check with Hoynes to see if he leaked the cabinet meeting. Presumably they jump to a collapsing Hoynes.