Binge-Watching ‘The West Wing’ In 2025

Lasting for seven seasons, The West Wing aired on NBC from 1999 to 2006. Unheard of today, all of the seasons were 22 episodes long (season 4 is technically 23 episodes long but this set doesn’t split the season premiere into two parts). The show ended before the writers strike in 2007 so never had a shortened season. It also ended before gay marriage was legalized, a chilling reminder of just how relatively new those rights are.

The last time I started The West Wing I got to the beginning of season four (I was not happy with the way Mark Harmon‘s guest stint ended), and this was after the show had aired (I never watched it on TV). One thing that can be said for this box set: it’s a lot better than the double-sided discs that were used for the DVDs on season 1.

The casing still isn’t great, though. These days anytime a set includes a large number of discs the casing tends to be horrific. At least there’s no disc stacking, like the complete Twin Peaks box set. Seasons one through four are housed in one box and seasons five through seven are in the other (each season is four discs). They’re not the easiest to get out (heaven forbid you don’t have nimble fingers) but at least Blu-rays are stronger than DVDs and none were loose when my set arrived. There’s also a foldout booklet that lists which episodes are on which disc. There are no episode descriptions and it would’ve been nice if they could’ve included some mention of guest stars, so it would be easy to locate certain episodes.

Thoughts I had while watching the series:

• Boy, is there a lot of casual sexism on this show. All of the male characters are guilty and while it’s completely plausible that there’d be sexism in the White House, the problem isn’t that the show portrays that but that it doesn’t seem critical of such behavior. When you’re watching a show like Veep, for example, you’re always aware that the show thinks these people are acting horribly (which doesn’t mean they’re not darkly funny to watch) but The West Wing wants it’s sexism and flawless, “boys will be boys” characters, too. This is perfectly illustrated in the season three episode, “Night Five,” when it takes a temp (Alanna Ubach) to be brave enough to call Sam (Rob Lowe) out for the way he talks to Ainsley (Emily Procter). Because it’s a temp, though, we don’t have to take her concerns seriously (plus it’s no accident that “nice guy” Sam is the one singled out).
• This show’s selective memory is truly wild. On the one hand, you have characters who disappear without mention (the first and most crazy being Mandy (Moira Kelly), who was a series regular and part of the opening credits in season one but you wouldn’t know it from the way she stops showing up). Then there are the characters the show decides to be consistent about, like Marlee Matlin‘s pollster, Joey Lucas, and, weirdly, Donna’s ex, Cliff (Mark Feuerstein). Still, the most sure-fire way to get a recurring role on The West Wing? Play one of Josh Lyman’s love interests. It’s the only way to get storylines as a secretary, too (Margaret (NiCole Robinson) and Carol (Melissa Fitzgerald) deserved better).
• Unfortunately The West Wing bought into the myth that once relationships are consummated on TV they become boring. As a result, many of the couples you start out rooting for, like Donna (Janel Moloney) and Josh (Bradley Whitford), become toxic by the time they actually get together.
• Another TV trope: the number of disasters that occur during the Bartlett (Martin Sheen) administration. From shootings to kidnappings, would they have all taken place during his time in office or did the show just want cliff-hangers?
• Favorite Guest Stars: Edward James Olmos (who plays Supreme Court nominee, Mendoza, in season 1); Laura Dern (as the poet laureate in one episode of season 3); Glenn Close (a Supreme Court nominee in season 5)
• Worst Guest Stars: Gabrielle Union (wasted in a one-episode romance with Charlie (Dulé Hill) that ends with her slapping him); Wilson Cruz (who is suddenly revealed to be part of CJ’s staff in the season 5 mockumentary episode, “Access,”and just as unceremoniously dropped)
• CJ (Allison Janney) and the First Lady (Stockard Channing) go through a lot of different hairstyles on this series. Also, I’ll never forgive the way Josh steamrolls Charlie into accepting his job at the White House, like saying no would be inconceivable.
• Something I didn’t realise before The West Wing: the importance of the Chief of Staff versus the Vice President
• Rob Lowe’s exit in season four should’ve been a huge shake-up yet the transition to Josh Malina couldn’t have been smoother. A lot of that is because his character, Will Bailey, isn’t afraid to disagree with the president. From such a great introduction, though, it’s amazing how quickly the show drops the ball by having him be the fill-in character whose job title constantly changes.
• Speaking of allowing characters to be critical of Bartlett, one of the most shocking episodes in the series isn’t a disaster episode but the introduction of Bartlett’s middle daughter, Ellie (Nina Siemaszko), in season 2. Bartlett a flawed father? How could it be? But this isn’t a reveal fans couldn’t have been seen coming either. The show was always consistent about Bartlett having three daughters. It was just easy to forget that because Zoey (Elisabeth Moss) was the only one who ever appeared, and the only daughter pictured on his desk. Once Ellie came back blonde in season 5, though, all the favoritism was forgotten. Big mistake.
• The hardest part about watching The West Wing, though, is getting excited every time the show does one of those episodes where the staff gets reinvigorated and inspired because they’re going to stop campaigning and focus on the issues and then…. nothing. Leo’s last 100 days speech in season 7. What could they have to lose then? Except, instead of holding the Bartlett administration accountable, the show changed focus and became all about the Santos/Finick election (Jimmy Smitts and Alan Alda) instead. No follow-through.

No new bonus features were commissioned for this release but the old commentaries, (horrible) gag reels, and archival featurettes have been ported over from the DVDs. The best featurette is “A Property Master’s Story” which (as the title suggests) goes over the making of some of the props. If nothing else, there should’ve been a new featurette made on John Spencer, who died during the production of season 7. A new fan would be excused for not realising he died along with his character.

The West Wing: The Complete Series is available on Blu-ray from Warner Brothers. Here’s hoping ER‘s next.