West Wing 7.4: "Mr. Frost"
Written by Alex Graves
Directed by Andrew Bernstein
In which the White House must face with an international crisis while also dealing with the investigation into the security leak, while Santos runs into a touchy subject on the campaign trail…
Before I even get into this episode, I wanted to say that this is the best episode of the season, from my point of view. As much as the action at the White House has become less and less interesting over the past season or so, there were a number of elements to this episode that brought back some wistful memories of days gone by. In short, this episode made it very clear that this is an administration, and very likely a series, in its waning months.
I’ll note that my conjecture about the leak was correct, but I take little pleasure in it. Toby used to be a character with a lot more to do, and his rapid decline in importance has been an interesting if saddening character arc. Toby was once defined by a strong desire to do the right thing, even when it’s foolhardy, and this feels like the last gasp of an idealist. This will not end well for Toby, and in a way, looking back, it’s hard to imagine how it could have been different. He’s just not someone who would slide into obscurity.
Unlike some of the recent episodes, this one was chock full of plot threads. There’s the breakdown of Bartlet’s Middle Eastern peace plan, which is another metaphor for his influence on the world. Bartlet was quite obviously searching for some place in the annals of history, beyond his censure and scandals, and he thought he had found it. Now, he’s up against an even larger force of history. Contrast this Bartlet to the man who strutted upon the stage in the first season, and the weariness and age are devastatingly apparent.
It’s an episode like this, similar and yet so very different from the early seasons, that makes me thankful that the series came this far. Sure, it would have been easy to end the series with the lighter, more energetic and idealistic administration that marked the Sorkin years. But the past few seasons have told the other side of the story. Even in the early seasons, there were darker times, moments when it was clear that the best days might never come again.
Inevitably there are those who would like to stay within the safe and comfortable confines of the first three or four seasons, when the heroes won the day with wit and endless energy and everything was full of promise. But like every administration, that cannot be forever, and there’s the need for a rightful heir.
I think Bartlet would, in other circumstances, find Santos’ answer about “intelligent design” to be a good and reasoned stance on a divisive topic. It also happens to fall squarely in line with my own stance on the subject. I happen to think that answers borne of belief in a given religion, whatever that religion might be, are best taught by the teachers of religion. Secular science is best taught within the secular realm. Overlap should be incidental. Santos framed it perfectly, and within that delicate structure of thought and reason was a reflection of the early Bartlet. Just a glimpse, but a reflection all the same.
Other moments added grace notes to the episode: Leo’s concerns about how being served might destroy the integrity of the Santos/McGarry campaign, the short bursts of a too-absent Charlie, the quirky “flirtation” from Annabeth, even the travails of CJ and her attempts to get some sleep. There wasn’t much dead space in this episode, which is a very good thing. More episodes like this would be much appreciated.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
Directed by Andrew Bernstein
In which the White House must face with an international crisis while also dealing with the investigation into the security leak, while Santos runs into a touchy subject on the campaign trail…
Before I even get into this episode, I wanted to say that this is the best episode of the season, from my point of view. As much as the action at the White House has become less and less interesting over the past season or so, there were a number of elements to this episode that brought back some wistful memories of days gone by. In short, this episode made it very clear that this is an administration, and very likely a series, in its waning months.
I’ll note that my conjecture about the leak was correct, but I take little pleasure in it. Toby used to be a character with a lot more to do, and his rapid decline in importance has been an interesting if saddening character arc. Toby was once defined by a strong desire to do the right thing, even when it’s foolhardy, and this feels like the last gasp of an idealist. This will not end well for Toby, and in a way, looking back, it’s hard to imagine how it could have been different. He’s just not someone who would slide into obscurity.
Unlike some of the recent episodes, this one was chock full of plot threads. There’s the breakdown of Bartlet’s Middle Eastern peace plan, which is another metaphor for his influence on the world. Bartlet was quite obviously searching for some place in the annals of history, beyond his censure and scandals, and he thought he had found it. Now, he’s up against an even larger force of history. Contrast this Bartlet to the man who strutted upon the stage in the first season, and the weariness and age are devastatingly apparent.
It’s an episode like this, similar and yet so very different from the early seasons, that makes me thankful that the series came this far. Sure, it would have been easy to end the series with the lighter, more energetic and idealistic administration that marked the Sorkin years. But the past few seasons have told the other side of the story. Even in the early seasons, there were darker times, moments when it was clear that the best days might never come again.
Inevitably there are those who would like to stay within the safe and comfortable confines of the first three or four seasons, when the heroes won the day with wit and endless energy and everything was full of promise. But like every administration, that cannot be forever, and there’s the need for a rightful heir.
I think Bartlet would, in other circumstances, find Santos’ answer about “intelligent design” to be a good and reasoned stance on a divisive topic. It also happens to fall squarely in line with my own stance on the subject. I happen to think that answers borne of belief in a given religion, whatever that religion might be, are best taught by the teachers of religion. Secular science is best taught within the secular realm. Overlap should be incidental. Santos framed it perfectly, and within that delicate structure of thought and reason was a reflection of the early Bartlet. Just a glimpse, but a reflection all the same.
Other moments added grace notes to the episode: Leo’s concerns about how being served might destroy the integrity of the Santos/McGarry campaign, the short bursts of a too-absent Charlie, the quirky “flirtation” from Annabeth, even the travails of CJ and her attempts to get some sleep. There wasn’t much dead space in this episode, which is a very good thing. More episodes like this would be much appreciated.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
posted by John Keegan | 16:33
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