The West Wing

[erpowers]

Over the last few years the show The West Wing has been falling in the ratings. I believe the reason for the fall in the ratings is the fact that after September 11th the writers of the show have made Martin Sheen's character (President Bartlett) sound more like Bush. It seems to me that after 911 the show changed and Bartlett became angrier and wanted to bomb things or end problems in a military way. I think this might have turned off some people who may have seen Bartlett as the anti-Bush. So what do other DUers think.

[NYCGirl]

1. I think the problem is that Aaron Sorkin is no longer writing it. (eom)

NT

[sallyseven]

2. Sorkin was the key

This even handed crap is a losing proposition. The new guy must have gotten the rove fax.

[LifeDuringWartime]

3. ive only seen the first two seasons

in entirety and a few random newer ones. when and why did sorkin stop writing? it's a great show so far!

[Bombtrack]

4. Bartlett was hawkish in the first few episodes of the series

Remember his doctor got killed by terrorists or something and he wanted to fuck some stuff uop?

I just stopped watching after Sorking stopped writing it or maybe shortly before. I think it had something to do with the fact that I was really turned off from Martin Sheen and most of the Dean supporters during the primaries. I didn't conciously make that decision it just happened that way. At least that's probably a big reason I got turned off.

[Selwynn]

6. He wasn't hawkish.

There is a difference between a political ideology of hawkishness and a personal tragedy that fucks with your emotions ands keeps you from thinking straight. It was about the conflict between what you know to be right in your head and what hurts in your heart - that and having the power to actually do something different if you wanted to. Which is what the second episode of the first season, called "A proportional response" is all about.

It was clear he was not written as a hawkish character at any point, but rather written as the opposite who has those convictions tested by fire and perosnal loss. I love Leo's lines in the final conversation between him and Bartlett.

[Selwynn]

5. Sorry, I don't think you can make that connection.

It wasn't when 9/11 happened, in fact their first show after 9/11 was anything but conservative. Season three and four continued the tradition of ideological excellence. However, what actually happened was that Aaron Sorkin left the show before last season, and then BAM - as soon as that happened, the writing sucked AND also reflected a deliberate attempt to move Bartlett and all characters around him more toward the center.

The problem is, in doing so they underminded everything we cared about in the characters, and turned them into completely different and less interesting characters.

Last season of the west wing was a huge huge disappointment. Even the cast and producers of the show have been interviewed admitting they have a lot of work to do. Most don't think the show deservesr emmy nominations for best drama after last year. I agree.

They can't get sorkin back (I don't think) but they need to figure out that it was his vision and style, and they're going to half to find a way to carry taht on instead of trying to abandon what works, and what people have loved through four (not the fifth) season.