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The West Wing, Season 3, Episode 17 (Patreon)

Published:
2023-11-21 02:49:17
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

The U.S. Poet Laureate

Files

Previews only

The West Wing, Season 3, Episode 17.

The U.S. Poet Laureate

Comments

Jeff

I'm no expert on landmines either, but a quick glance at online info revealed a few things: 1) the Mine Ban Treaty discussed in this episode is still in effect, and just last year President Biden set the goal of the U.S. ultimately joining it; 2) Russia, Ukraine, and Myanmar have used antipersonnel landmines in the past year; 3) non-state armed groups used antipersonnel mines in at least five countries -- Colombia, India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Tunisia -- in the past year; and 4) there were at least 4,710 new casualties from landmines and explosive remnants of war in 51 countries in 2022, including 1,661 deaths. Your theory about Ritchie representing George W. Bush is spot on. This episode was shown just six months after 9/11, when the Bush administration was trying to explain not only how Saddam Hussein was responsible for the attacks, but also that the Homeland Security color-coded alert system actually made sense. ("It's orange today? So how should I feel, exactly?") We had come from eight years with a president who, despite his many faults, was a Rhodes scholar, to a president who, despite possible good intentions, could rarely speak an intelligent sentence. The folksy, giggly act wore thin really fast. I really enjoy these final episodes of season 3 because it's obvious that the entire ensemble of actors are enjoying every scene. It's like they all found their comfort level and hit their stride. By the way, the next episode is another one of my favorites, and the ending always makes me cry. And then the final four episodes are, in my opinion, a connected story arc that successfully wraps up this excellent season.

Pam Nail

Fans used to call this the "Television Without Pity episode." There was some hubbub at the time, because Sorkin had a real-life encounter on a website called Television Without Pity (it may have been called something else at the time) that was apparently similar to Josh's in the episode. The episode was widely seen as Sorkin scolding the fandom and basically the entire internet, which I think is a touch dramatic, but I do appreciate that Sorkin seems to have learned the lesson that a site like that is not FOR him and it's a huge mistake to swoop in and try to "educate" people. Even on something you're an expert in. I like most of the Poet Laureate plot, but I don't like Tabitha's line about it not being an artist's job to tell the truth, because there are plenty of artists who do just that and put their lives on the line to do it.

Roland

The Lemon Lyman storyline is a playful nod to the time when one "Benjamin" posted on the Television Without Pity forums, with the meltdown that inevitably resulted. The hella fun West Wing Weekly podcast episode features the two "dictatorial leaders" of Television Without Pity, sadly sans their muumuus. :D

Youtalkingtome
>>122686742

I think you nailed it right on the head. This season has been phenomenal and it came at a time where this should have been impossible or at least a very different show. I'm so glad that this show does exist.

Youtalkingtome
>>122688600

You know I didn't think about it, you're right. Many do put their lives on the line and it's just as an important medium as anything else. Art teaches us so much. Good, bad and everything in between.

Roland

I think posting inflammatory rhetoric on a public message forum is the latest example of Josh "doing it again", having been told not to in S1 E1....

Ingemar Svensson

On the larger discussion about best seasons etc. You'll hear a lot of opinions but just keep in mind that any given season will be someones favourite and I personally think that season 6 and 7 are among the absolute best. So just take any comments about potential ups and downs on the show with a huge pinch of salt, it's all very very good.

Ingemar Svensson

Land mines are certainly still a big part of war. Ukraine is full of landmines by this point. Russia is not a signatory of anti-landmine treaties.

MrRuss50
>>122723747

I also love season 6 and 7. As much as I love Sorkin's writing I really didnt notice any dropoff with him not there. Kevin tougher for me to read but I know Joe is gonna love the episodes on the road especially.

Cristy

The West Wing really did have the best guest stars, Laura Dern being one of them. Toby being smitten is something we've never seen before haha. Kevin missing Ainsley is the best. I am so happy you like her as much as I do! I'd be so angry if Sam made me come back from vacation and you're right she should take the promotion. Also, glad to see she wasn't in the Steam Pipe Trunk Distribution Venue any longer!

Kat Deuchars

If anyone is interested in a charity that works to clear landmines (so kids don't fish them out of rivers), the one I know about is MAG International (https://www.maginternational.org) They used to do socks, which I got for Christmas one year, but it seems to just be T-shirts now

Kelsey Krehbiel

I have a family friend who is a long time friend of a celebrity (not a-list, but definitely recognizable). We had dinner with them and a few other people once when they were in town. One of the people at the dinner was a guy whose job was to help celebrities get educated on these kind of topics if they want to become advocates. I had never thought of that being a job before, but it makes a lot of sense. For better or worse, people pay attention when celebrities speak on literally any topic, so it would certainly be nice for them to have some idea of what they are talking about. Obviously, not everyone uses people like that guy, but it's cool that they exist.

Balazs Foldes

The open mike thing was such an underhand and fun tactic. I totally did not had any suspicion about Bartlet's accident at all, he is a shrewd politician, among many things. Another note about the brilliance of the show: can you imagine what discipline it takes that in a show like this, we have not actually seen Ritchie (yet)? I mean, he was the focus of a few episodes now, and he has not appeared at all. A lesser show would certainly introduce him, and bring him up from time to time, to have the Enemy personified. But this is a show about the background of politics, and it works.

Youtalkingtome
>>122796857

Yeah that's true. Use your soapbox for something good! Now i'm curious as to who to this celebrity is lol

Youtalkingtome
>>122815946

I know, i'm sure it's worth the wait too. I'm so freaking curious who is gunna play this role! I have a suspicion that it's gunna be a familiar face but time will tell I guess!

Luca Siracusa (Bob)

Well, Toby reminded Jed and us how great a mind Bartlet is and we need just one episode to see him getting the upper handle on this Bartlet-Ritchie back and forth Even in one of his lowest periods of life, Bartlet has the speed and wit to see that Green Light and put on a show for everyone. He doesn't strategize it with anyone: Toby, Sam, CJ, Leo And as risky as it is, we see the difference between him acting without consulting and Josh acting without consulting in this episode All the members of the administrations are genius people, very intelligent and brilliant mind; but nobody reached the peaks and the strategies that Bartlet can build all of a sudden He doesn't even need to brag about it with CJ, he doesn't even have to confirm it: only him could've done something like that and if Ritchie wants his Oval Office he better prepare for a heavyweight defending his position

Arek Schneyer

So, I understand where you come from with 'preachy art feels too much', and I agree that it can be badly done... But all art is inherently political. I know that's kind of a surprising/controversial statement, but it is one I wholeheartedly believe. All art influences people- this is not controversial, as it has been proven time an again. It doesn't matter if an artist is intending to influence someone with their art or not, because *They Can't Help It*. And some artists don't understand this, true, and plenty of audiences don't. But once an artist is aware of this fact, they are faced with a choice: They can decide to be responsible with their art, and try to make sure it influences people for the better (in which case it becomes political), or they can decide to ignore any responsibility, in which case they are saying that they don't *care* about the ways their art is influencing people... which is also political, since its saying that the ways in which the art influences people doesn't matter. This has been really convoluted, and I'm not at all sure that my point got across, but I did my best. I have some strong feelings about being a writer that come from my own experience. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed the reaction! can't wait to see the next one.

Youtalkingtome

Thanks for the comment! I agree with a lot of what you said. Once the artist completes it, it's out in the open and ready for interpretation and yeah it's not always perceived as intended. However, when something is supposed to be "controversial" or high brow, it can really be too much.

JVTrickypants

"It's like Lord of the Flies in there!"

JVTrickypants

"Looking for a mind at work" was taken directly from this by Lin Manuel Miranda for the lyrics of a song in Hamilton. Among many other references.

JVTrickypants

Taylor, I have pathetically read all the lyrics of that rap to see when I can finally share it with them as all the potential spoilers will be gone (only a couple of episodes away - and of course not saying which one just in case. Also, yes, absolutely should check out Hamilton. I hate musicals (HATE) and thought it was amazing. Doesn't hurt there are fairly constant West Wing references and Miranda says he learned how to write from watching it lol.

Weird Magic

Not sure why this one was so lowly rated - it felt better than a "bottom third episode" to me.... Originally airing on March 27, 2002, 'The U.S. Poet Laureate' is Episode 17 of Season 3 of The West Wing. It is the 61st episode overall and has an IMDB rating of 8.0, placing it as the #15 ranked episode of this season and #47 out of all the episodes shown so far.

Shanice Brunson

New fan here! Im getting a sense you guys like white house or government-type shows from this and the fact that you're gonna be reacting to Newsroom soon. I HAVE to recommend Scandal, it's in the same genre and it's just an amazing show with incredible acting.

jimmy2k4o .
>>123560923

The newsroom also features the fictional African country of equatorial kundo However they acknowledge Presidents like Clinton and Bush Sr where west wing separates from history around Nixon and even has general elections happen 2 years out of sync with reality, swapping the general with the midterms. So no, it’s not connected with other shows. Studio 60 had Alison Janey play herself and mentioned west wing as one of her jobs. They cleverly wrote in that a character says west wing went downhill towards the end, reflecting sorkin leaving the show after season 4. And that was written by sorkin even though he admits never having watched west wing after his tenure