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Gary Cole in The West Wing (1999)

User reviews

2162 Votes

The West Wing

3 reviews
10/10

Makes you proud to be a Democrat

Here is a classic season finale for the West Wing, ending with the gruelling convention for the Democratic Nomination for the Presidency.

Congressman Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Vice President Bob Russell(Gary Cole) had a close result in the Primary process, with neither gaining the 2162 delegates they need to win the nomination. Both try to politick to win nomination, offering positions and contracts if their win and show they are the better candidate. Russell argues he can win in the Mid-West, whilst Santos could win in California and Texas. Russell even has Governor Eric Baker (Ed O'Neill) of Pennsylvania as his VP nominee. But a scanner is thrown in the works when Baker reject's Russell's offer and attempts to a last minute run for the nomination himself, getting support as a unitary candidate. Within the White House is a key subplot from the previous episode when the International Space Station is running out of oxygen and they had been a leak to the New York Times about the military Space Shuttle that could be used to save them. President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) is furious and wants the person who leaked this information to the press to be found.

This is an exciting episode for politics nuts like me and you feel the confusion and frenzy of the quick negotiations and the way events can quickly change. The frantic camera-work helps add to the affect. It is brilliantly written and nearly became real life last year during the nomination of Barack Obama. Both the director Alex Graves and writer John Wells do a great job with this episode. They is great actor, as expected from the West Wing and shows why it is one of the best televisions show ever made. I am also a sucker for grand speeches in film and TV and Matt Santos' speech is a cracker for me.

An excellent episode.
  • freemantle_uk
  • Aug 26, 2009
  • Permalink
9/10

Let's Go Win This Thing!

  • Sonatine97
  • May 25, 2020
  • Permalink

Season 6: A mixed season of strengths and odd flourishes (SPOILERS)

  • bob the moo
  • Aug 3, 2013
  • Permalink

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