The West Wing: My Top 10 Episodes

A few months ago, I had a M*A*S*H marathon. Not for the first time, and not for the last time, but it had been maybe a year since I actually marathoned the entire series.

Now, I really love Alan Alda. He is the bomb, and when if he ever dies (I'm hoping he'll just live forever. Him and Julie Andrews), I may actually have to take time off to grieve.

My mum got me into M*A*S*H in 2007, during my last year of high school, and I fell in love with it. Mostly because, as I mentioned, Alan Alda is the greatest.

I knew Alan Alda had been in the last few seasons of The West Wing, but I'd never watched the show. I was 9 when it started, 16 when it ended, and it had never been something I paid much attention to. My mum however, loves it. I suspect this is mostly because of her love of Rob Lowe.

Anyway, when I finished my M*A*S*H marathon, I decided that I'd give The West Wing a shot. So, when I was home for a weekend in August, I borrowed my mum's boxset of the series. Last night, I finished the series.

And I loved it. Really, really, really loved it. It's brilliantly written, and the cast is amazing.

So, now that I've finished the series, I decided to list my Top 10 Episodes. It took a day of careful consideration, and 4 pages of notes, but I finally made my decision. I went through the episode guide and made a shortlist of every episode I remembered that completely grabbed me. There was 24.
From that, I shortened it to 10. And 5 honourable mentions, because I'm terrible at making decisions.(BTW, I just told that story to my mum and she laughed at me) Enjoy!

10. Shibboleth (season 2, episode 8)
It's Thanksgiving, and CJ's first Thanksgiving in the White House (because she had been sick the year before). As the episode progresses and she finds out this entire list of apparently traditional White House Thanksgiving traditions, including choosing between two turkeys (Eric and Troy) to see which is more photogenic and thus receiving a presidential pardon; I didn't think it could get better.
Until it ends in the President drafting the second turkey (which CJ still wanted to save from being eaten, even if he wasn't photogenic) into military service.
There's also a subplot where Charlie is on the hunt for a new set of carving knives for the President, which starts off funny and ends up being very sweet and heart-warming.



9. The Debate (season 7, episode 7)

This episode was performed live, twice (one for each coast), which is really why it's on this list. I just find that amazing, plus it was completely gripping. I actually had to remind myself that this wasn't a real election debate at times!
It felt very real, and both Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda did such a brilliant job.





8. Dead Irish Writers (season 3, episode 15)
It's Abbey's birthday and the White House is throwing her a birthday party. I think I love this episode so much because the show was in the midst of such a heavy storyline about the President's MS, and there was so much humour in this episode. The President working on his toast for his wife and trying to be funny; and the First Lady, CJ, Donna and Amy just holed away, drinking.
Donna discovers she's actually Canadian, because the town in Minnesota where she was born has been moved over the border; and Abbey puts together a little surprise for her at the end.



7. The Leadership Breakfast (season 2, episode 11)
This episode contains probably my favourite episode opener of the entire series. But the clip below covers about every reason this episode is on my list.

6. These Crackpots and these Women (season 1, episode 5)


Five words: Big Block of Cheese Day. President Andrew Jackson once placed a two-ton block of cheese in the main foyer of the White House and allowed guests to enter, eat from the cheese, and meet with the President about whatever they thought was important.

In the spirit of this, once every so often, the Bartlet Administration take meetings with people who wish to discuss topics that wouldn't normally be given much discussion. Basically, these end up being random and hilarious episodes.
This is also the episode where we find out about Joanie, Josh's sister; and the President cooks chilli.

5. 20 Hours in America (season 4, episodes 1 and 2)

Yeah, technically two episodes but I'm counting them as one. Josh, Toby and Donna are stranded by the President's motorcade in Indiana during the election. That says it all, really. Another episode that you think is just going to be tremendously entertaining, but at the end surprises you with something really sweet.





4. Shutdown (season 5, episode 8)

President Bartlet shuts down the government when the Speaker of the House refuses to pass the Senate. What I really love about this episode is getting to see Josh showcase his brilliant political mind, through such simple actions. He suggests they go to the Capitol to negotiate the budget. When the President stops to greet some tourists, Josh suggests they walk the rest of the way. When the Speaker and the Republicans make the President wait, Josh suggests they leave; which changes the tide of the media in their favour, making the Speaker look to be the one to blame for the government shutdown.





3. Shadow of Two Gunmen (season 2, epsiode 1 and 2)
I do love a good flashback episode! Getting to see how the team came together during the campaign is fantastic- especially how Donna was hired. To have that as Josh and the President undergo surgery after both being shot and the fallout from that. Such a good episode.



2. Isaac and Ishmael (season 3, episode 1)
This was the first episode of season 3, which aired in 2001. It doesn't fit in with the show's universe or timeline, but although I watched it for the first time 13 years after the events of 9/11; it's message is just as powerful now as I imagine it would have been then. It discusses terrorism in a calm, logical manner and I think I understood more after watching this episode than I did before. It's a powerful episode on a subject that is still relevant today, as the West Wing staff try and explain terrorism to a group of students.

1. Celestial Navigation (season 1, episode 15)

Josh gives a lecture about a "typical day" at the White House. Which includes Josh having to do the press briefing after CJ has a root canal, and accidentally alludes to the Presidents' "secret plan to fight inflation". The President's reaction is the best. Plus, Sam and Toby get lost on a drive to Connecticut.










HONOURABLE MENTIONS (AKA Episodes that I love but I thought 10 was a better number than 15):
1. Inauguration Parts 1 and 2 (season 4, episodes 13 and 14). Namely for this scene with all the Josh and Donna feels. Plus, Charlie in this scene cracks me up. (I can't find the scene on YouTube, so you'll just have to watch the episode yourselves!). 

2. Pilot (season 1, episode 1). This is one of the best pilot episodes I've ever seen. It sets up so much, and all the characters are pretty much exactly as they are throughout the series, which isn't always true with pilots. I was hooked from the start!

3. And it's surely to their credit (season 2, episode 5). This episode has Ainsley Hayes' first day (who I love. She's awesome).When two staffers leave dead flowers on her desk with a note reading BITCH, Sam goes nuts. Which doesn't happen a lot and I think that's why I love this so much.

4. Noel (season 2, episode 10). A Josh-centric episode dealing with his PTSD after being shot. That's all. I do love Josh.

5. Stirred (season 3, episode 17). We have the President doing Charlie's tax return for him; and Donna trying to get a presidential proclamation for her high school English teacher, who is retiring. Because he can't do that, instead the President calls the teacher from the Oval Office. I think it's because I'm a teacher I love this so much.

THE OTHER EPISODES THAT MADE UP MY SHORTLIST (in case you're interested):

1. Debate Camp (season 4, episode 4)
2. Gaza/Memorial Day (season 5, episodes 21 and 22). [I know, they're two episodes. But I couldn't separate them]
3. Requiem (season 7, episode 18)
4. The State Dinner (season 1, episode 7)
5. Let Bartlet be Bartlet (season 1, episode 19)
6. Two Cathedrals (season 2, episode 22)
7. Hartsfield's Landing (season 3, episode 14)
8. The Black Vera Wang (season 3, episode 19)
9. In the Room (season 6, episode 8)

My Top 10 TV Weddings

I really love weddings. I know, you're all shocked by this. No one would have guessed this, right?

This means that even though I've only ever been to 7 weddings in my life (actually 6. 2 cousins, 2 uncles, 2 friends. But I'm going to my 7th wedding in April- another cousin), I have watched a lot through movies and TV.

If there's a show I only kinda watch, or I vaguely know, there are three things that will get me watching- a birth, a death or a wedding.

So, I thought I'd do a countdown of my favourite TV weddings! Starting with #10 (obviously), and working my way up to my absolute favourite TV wedding.

10. Howard and Bernadette "The Big Bang Theory"
This one makes the list because even though the wedding itself, as in the vows, isn't overly romantic, I do love the whole thing about having the wedding on the rooftop so they'll be on Google Earth. Because that is awesome. And I loved that all their friends helped officiate the wedding, even Sheldon with his Klingon. It's sweet.

9. Phoebe and Mike "Friends"
An impromptu street wedding in the snow! I don't really like snow (it's too cold and wet), but I like the way snow looks on TV and in the movies... it makes everything so pretty. And magical looking. I love this wedding because the vows are so sweet. Phoebe is such a... unique character and I loved her and Mike together. The wedding was so appropriate for them as a couple.

8. Angela and Hodgins "Bones"
I'm talking about Angela and Hodgins' actual wedding, not the one that got called off at the last second because she was already married. You may not think a wedding in a jail cell would be romantic, but it is. Angela and Hodgins went through a lot before finally getting married, and once again, the wedding suits them as a couple; and it definitely suits Angela's personality, her being the free spirit that she is.

7. Melinda and Jim "Ghost Whisperer" 
Technically, it's Melinda and Jim's spirit in "Sam's" body, but well... yeah. I love this one, even though you don't see the whole thing, because it was a surprise wedding. I would never want a surprise wedding, but it's sweet. Plus, the fact it was in the middle of the street in the spot where Jim and Melinda first met- that I love. I love all that sentimental stuff.

6. Monica and Chandler "Friends"
Monica and Chandler. Two best friends who fell in love and got married. That's incredibly romantic even without Chandler overcoming his commitment issues. Rachel has always been my favourite of the Friends girls, but I think I'm the most like Monica- without the neat freak things. And I can't really cook. And Chandler is always my favourite Friends guy.
The vows were perfect, and anything officiated by Joey is hilarious. The whole wedding was elegant and classy, and I love it.

5. Nathan and Haley "One Tree Hill"
I love both of Nathan and Haley's weddings, but I'm focusing on their vow renewal in season 3. All the drama of that episode aside (who's pregnant? And of course, the giant car crash off a bridge), it was such a beautiful episode. Nathan and Haley had overcome so much in seasons 2 and 3. Plus, Lucas gave Haley away because her parents didn't come back for it! One of my favourite things about One Tree Hill was Lucas and Haley's friendship. 

4. Lily and Marshall "How I Met Your Mother"
I adore Lily and Marshall. And their wedding was no different. I loved Barney officiating, despite his complete disbelief in marriage as a concept and the fact that he cried while marrying them, haha. As Future Ted says, it was the perfect, intimate wedding they always wanted. Their vows were sweet and showed everything them as a couple.
Also, Marshall's line of "Hat. We thought of authentic native american headdress before we thought of hat," always makes me laugh.

3. Piper and Leo "Charmed"
You guys, Piper's mum's ghost got to come to her wedding. That gets me every time. I love Piper and Leo. I started watching Charmed in season 5, so I already knew they were married and the story behind it. But every time I watch it, it feels like I'd been watching from the beginning and waiting for them to get to this moment.
A witch marrying an angel, with the wedding officiated by a ghost. How is that not romantic? Haha. I can live without the Prue storyline of that episode though (not a huge Prue fan. Although Paige was in it for 2 seasons longer than Prue and I'm still not sure if I like her. Piper was always my favourite, and I like Phoebe... until the show seemed to be all about her. But that's a whole other issue).

2. Lucas and Peyton "One Tree Hill"
Gosh, Lucas and Peyton. Where do I start? Lucas marrying the girl of his dreams, that he foretold in the eight grade that he'd marry her one day (before they'd even spoken). And like so many other couples on this list, they'd overcome so much to get to the point of their wedding day.
And Peyton being pregnant with their daughter, with a potentially life-threatening condition; and Haley performing the ceremony... it was just perfect.

1. Booth and Brennan "Bones"
This has to be number one. You can say whatever you like about the show, that Brennan and Booth never should have gotten together, whatever. But Bones has the best character development, maybe ever. Brennan is so firmly anti-marriage in the beginning of the series, and watching her slowly let Booth in over the years and change her mind about it all... to see her at that altar in a wedding dress is such a great moment.
The vows were absolutely perfect, and I loved all the little references to the show's past.
There is not a more perfect TV wedding in my mind.

What are some of your favourite TV weddings?