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The West Wing, Season 3, Episode 6 (Patreon)

Published:
2023-09-07 00:37:52
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

War Crimes

Files

Previews only

The West Wing, Season 3, Episode 5

War Crimes

Comments

Max F.

Personally, I see the way that Toby reacted to the leak in this episode is indirect proof that he was the source of the leak back in 2x19 Bad Moon Rising. His reaction here was genuine and he'd never begin a witch hunt over a news story, even when it makes him or the administration looks bad.

Mithroch

There are a lot of great beats in this episode. I especially like Bartlet's rant on Ephesians. Whitty and poignant. It's one of my favorite Bartlet scenes.

Sarah P

1) Soft Toby is why, in a show FULL of top-shelf characters, Toby is my ultimate favorite (well, him and CJ!). I wouldn’t call it character “development”, though — I don’t see it as him evolving as a person, just that the show has been going long enough that we’ve gotten to see this side of him that already existed. Toby’s a very sweet guy — he just holds the world, and everyone in it, to such a high standard, and is smart enough to be frustrated when people don’t act in the intelligent, ethical way that HE would, that it makes him angry a lot of the time. ❤️ And I adore him for it. (I always think of the bit in Manchester where he’s pissed at the “Bartlet for President” signs at the rally, and personally edits them with a Sharpie to “Bartlet IS THE President”. 2. This episode might have one of the best titles of the series. Every plot line relates to the idea of “war crimes”. Donna’s perjury, Toby’s press quote, the gun issue, etc.

Taylor

This has always been one of my favorite episodes. John Spencer’s face as Leo works it out that he was responsible for the deaths of 11 people and never knew it? Breaks my heart every time. This is also one of the times that they allude to actual politicians. The Speaker of the House at the time of this episode was actually from Illinois. (And he turned out to be a monster, but that’s a whole different story.)

Jeff

Another brilliant example of Aaron Sorkin's writing. It's amazing how he can address so many different issues and ideas in less than an hour. On a related note, the journalism story reminded me of Sorkin's later series, "The Newsroom." It's not the same quality as "The West Wing," but it's entertaining and thought-provoking, and it's full of Sorkin's unique dialogue. I'd suggest you watch it when you're finished with TWW -- in a couple of years -- but you might consider starting it earlier, when you've finished with season 4, because that's the point when Sorkin left the show. Just an idea.

Martin Nicholls
>>116970329

I don't think that's true - that episode he has the MS thing and he's the only one who knows, he's angry, he's frustrated and he blows up. This one he's disappointed and the reaction is different.

Martin Nicholls

Whilst you're not wrong on nuance, I think it's secondary to the thing Bartlett says early in the episode: be present to one another. i.e. listening to what people are telling you - there's a lot of that in this one. Also yes, it's a good episode. Also dams are very often legitimate hybrid targets in war - even if they look like civilian targets and are controlled by civilians, it can be helping military purposes - providing energy to military factories as an obvious example. Just saying it's a dam, so therefore civilian is probably the weakest argument in this episode.

Weird Magic

In the final scene with Josh, Donna and Cliff, anybody else start singing "I'll be there for you......clap clap clap clap" IYKYK Originally airing on November 7, 2001, 'War Crimes' is Episode 6 of Season 3 of The West Wing. It is the 50th episode overall and has an IMDB rating of 8.0, placing it as the #15 ranked episode of this season and #41 out of all the episodes shown so far.

Pam Nail

- This was the last episode that was written before 9/11 happened, and I still think this opening arc of this season is almost as strong as the closing arc of last season. - Love that reporter character and he makes some great points, but I kind of hate that he makes CJ feel like her job is stupid. It's a shame Danny hasn't been around to rebut the idea that WH reporting is "gossip." He used to show us what a reporter could do from the press corps if they have half a brain and any kind of investigative mind. - I feel so bad for Donna in this episode, and I think I would have done the exact same thing if I were in her situation. I'm actually surprised no one prepared her for a question like that. It may be school-girlish to think so, but the whole point of a diary is that it's supposed to be secret. When Josh is scolding her and talking about the committee trolling and her opening the door to them by lying, does he not realize if she'd told the truth, they could subpoena the diary and pull something embarrassing anyway?

Peggy G

Was the "let's go back to muskets" line a nod to Jim Jefferies stand-up bit on gun control? If so, *tips cap*.

MarkyO

I love Will's character so much. When I went to press play on this episode it started with that last convo with CJ because I guess I went back to watch that scene specifically. Wish reporters took their job as seriously as him. No one wants to be this generation's Cronkite anymore. They just want the clicks. We'll, at least it feels that way. Last 2 big stories I can think of was the start of Me Too and the Catholic Church.

Aaron
>>116975173

When I saw the fountain, my first thought was “oh look, we’re in Burbank…”

Youtalkingtome
>>116970937

We just love seeing the softer side of Toby. It's not a criticism at all. It's just a welcome change of pace!

Youtalkingtome
>>116975882

I wonder if we'll ever see Danny again. Yeah Donna is going through the ringer! She shouldn't have perjured herself but being under that amount of stress would get to anybody!

MrRuss50

Excellent episode. One of Toby's finest hours. Gerald McRaney ( had to look it up) never disappoints in anything I've seen him in. Check out this guys IMDB page, holy smokes what a career. For me he'll always be George Hearst though. You guys seriously have to watch Deadwood. If not for channel do it for yourself it won't disappoint.

Riesling

I always had the suspicion that Donna lied about her diary because she wrote about her colleagues and friends and especially her complicated personal feelings for Josh. In the moment of the hearing she simply is afraid, that everyone is going to read this and all her friends and the world are going to know her secrets. I think her lie is totally understandable.

Riesling

The aspect with prosecution of war crimes is still not solved. When the UN established the international court of justice the veto-powers prevented universal jurisdiction competences for the ICJ. Especially the US was against it out of fear to get prosecuted themselves. Today the ICJ has comprehensive laws under which they can prosecute, but they only judge if both parties of the trial agree and the parties can withdraw their consent at any moment. The most prominent example of this is "Nicaragua vs USA" (1984), when the ICJ ruled that the US had violated international law by supporting the rebels and mining Nicaraguan ports. It promised Nicaragua compensation. The US did simply drop out of the trail last minute, did not recognize the verdict and refused to pay.

Balazs Foldes

In addition to the brilliant writing, themes, and directing, I SOO love some of the actors this episode. I mean, the long scene when Jed and Abby enter, that's just brilliantly played. The patter of dialogue and well-intended quarrelling between the two of them. The wonderful and enthusiastic way Bartlet speaks about oratory. The very clever and persuasive arguments about being subject to one another. The frisky playful jabs about Mr and Mrs Sinatra. And then, how the President's mood is just ruined in a second, and how Abby immediately becomes supportive, professional and empathic, trying to ease his pain. It's wonderful acting. And then, there are superb, high-quality scenes with Toby's monologue, with Leo hearing about the civlian targets... wonderful.

Kat Oliver

I love the banter between Will and CJ. I swear all men on this show flirt with CJ, and honestly I don't blame them, she is a gorgeous woman. Also Michael O'Neil (Ron Butterfield) and Will Sawyer (Michael O'Keefe) are brother in laws in real life.

Youtalkingtome
>>116988316

I remember learning about that in school. It's terrible. This whole subject is something you can talk about for hours and not have a definitive answer.

Youtalkingtome
>>117002829

It's pretty much a perfect episode. Martin Sheen is so captivating. He could hold a lecture or Ted Talk and I would go and just be absolutely astonished. The opening scene is brilliant. You're right about the acting and it's crazy to think that this is in a network show that aired 20 years ago. Absolutely wild.

Youtalkingtome
>>117036016

No kidding? That's a nice little factoid! Also, I'd probably shoot my shot with CJ. I'd be shot down immediately because she is way out of my league lmao.

jimmy2k4o .

To me guns are like nuclear weapons. Only a couple are really necessary and only as a when all else fails option. Anything more than that is just ludicrous. Yeah USA I’m talking to you lol I love nukes as much as the next guy but 5000+ is just silly. 200 will do….. and with guns 2 should be as many as any family ever needs, but lock them away at thanksgiving when uncle James drinks to much jack and starts with his conspiracy theories….

Youtalkingtome
>>117077659

Interesting opinion. I don't fully agree but I can see where you are coming from. Excess is a problem. More is not good when it comes to anything.

JVTrickypants

Have you guys watched Deadwood? If not would love to see that. Seeing Gerald McRaney (Major Dad) made me think of it as he's in that periodically.

Luca Siracusa (Bob)

You know, I've always thought at The West Wing as something that shows how fast the world can be moving The opening scene with Jed and Abbey is probably one of the fastest-paced in the show, they don't miss a beat, they joke about being naughty and Bartlet has a long rant about what should be done with words, it's a back and forth about "Yeah, it's you and me, but tomorrow..." that really values the "be there for the other" and it falls perfectly on Toby's speech at the staff and in what Josh does for Donna at the end Be subject to one-another not because the other person values more than you, but because in that moment they value less and they need support. A perfectly sweet theme that really started as something Jed took personal but suddenly became something for the other people This is how you portray an idea in every storyline

Cosmic Slice

Mark Feuerstein was SO good as Cliff Calley that when he went on to star in Royal Pains I followed - and that show was so damn good and he was perfect in it. Be great if you could look at watching it because I think it was sorely underappreciated when it aired.