The Diplomat, whose three seasons I've now watched twice, is every bit as smart as The West Wing and goes beyond it into both geopolitical brinkmanship and the complex marriage between two diplomats, brilliantly played by Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell. Alison Janney is in it, too, and so is Bradley Whitford. The dialogue is terrific, even the silences are impressive--and the settings in England are mouth-watering.
Yes, The Diplomat is wonderful. I’ve watched every episode of that, as well, but The West Wing centers on the inner workings of the White House, which might be essential as a reminder of how it should work there. Given the destruction of the East Wing and the goldification of the Oval Office, among other atrocities, I felt a rewatching of The West Wing might be a good thing right now.
(You’re right about the diplomat script and the actors being every bit as compelling. It is so well done. I’m glad there’s a mechanism for going back to watch entire scenes again.)
UPDATE: I'm watching Scandal. Five episodes in and I'm hooked! The feel is a lot like West Wing, only juicier. The past and present back-and-forths get a bit annoying, as they did on WW, but they at least let you know where you're going. Most of the time.
We’re West Wing soul mates -I’ve watched the show every election year since I discovered it -so many years ago-I didn’t realize until much later that the writing changed after season 4-don’t quote me on when-I saw subtle changes to the story line and read the back story -the story lines, characters and their lives were all there and alway took me back to happier times -not to mention the political education I glean every time rewatch it about how policy politics and government is supposed to move. Sometimes I pick one of the season and start watching there -like when VP was Jimmy Smits joined the cast in season 7?
I very much want to write a book comparing Obama's 2008 campaign to Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) West Wing campaign. I remember when Obama announced he was running, I thought, "Oh, he's the West Wing candidate." But he really wasn't. He was far more centrist than the Santos character.
Amen. I'll keep repeating the following tidbit. Good friends of ours pointed out that the latin root of the word liberal is liber, which means free. Another thing I think bears stating is antifa is short for anti-fascist. Let's say the full term to defuse the scaremongering propaganda using antifa as a venomous perjorative.
Freedom is good. Being against fascism is good. So, by following that train of logic, being a liberal anti-fascist is good, and I'll proudly wear both labels.
As for writing like the West Wing, I wonder about the value of it now. Those episodes arrived to a US in a different time and political climate. The lofty monologues that soared and buoyed viewers back then, probably play like fantasy in today's landscape.
If there's value in reconsidering the show, I think it's the portrayal of a political ideal to aspire to. I believe you and others are already doing that, albeit in the hard-nosed, straightforward diction this moment demands. We had gauzy, romantic depictions of a functional government, and too many of us were lullled into believing it was a constant we could assume happens without effort. I'll take the steely resolve in the work of Ramona Grigg, child of union laborers, middle class warrior, writer, feminist and humanist in today's landscape, over any television ready cinematic oratory in the moment we're in.
The Diplomat, whose three seasons I've now watched twice, is every bit as smart as The West Wing and goes beyond it into both geopolitical brinkmanship and the complex marriage between two diplomats, brilliantly played by Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell. Alison Janney is in it, too, and so is Bradley Whitford. The dialogue is terrific, even the silences are impressive--and the settings in England are mouth-watering.
Yes, The Diplomat is wonderful. I’ve watched every episode of that, as well, but The West Wing centers on the inner workings of the White House, which might be essential as a reminder of how it should work there. Given the destruction of the East Wing and the goldification of the Oval Office, among other atrocities, I felt a rewatching of The West Wing might be a good thing right now.
(You’re right about the diplomat script and the actors being every bit as compelling. It is so well done. I’m glad there’s a mechanism for going back to watch entire scenes again.)
I would find TWW sad. I’ve rewatched the first four seasons of Scandal because their satirical take on The Oval has proven cathartic.
I’ve never watched ‘Scandal’. Adding it to my watch list.
It’s batshit crazy. People spout rodomontades that I have to replay because they’re so funny.
How did I ever let it pass? I can't imagine. I'll fix that!
UPDATE: I'm watching Scandal. Five episodes in and I'm hooked! The feel is a lot like West Wing, only juicier. The past and present back-and-forths get a bit annoying, as they did on WW, but they at least let you know where you're going. Most of the time.
We’re West Wing soul mates -I’ve watched the show every election year since I discovered it -so many years ago-I didn’t realize until much later that the writing changed after season 4-don’t quote me on when-I saw subtle changes to the story line and read the back story -the story lines, characters and their lives were all there and alway took me back to happier times -not to mention the political education I glean every time rewatch it about how policy politics and government is supposed to move. Sometimes I pick one of the season and start watching there -like when VP was Jimmy Smits joined the cast in season 7?
Yes, I agree. Loved the Jimmy Smits episodes.
Ah.. dear Ramona, thanks so much for pointing my rowboat to The West Wing!!! ❤️😉😎
You’re most welcome! ❤️
I very much want to write a book comparing Obama's 2008 campaign to Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) West Wing campaign. I remember when Obama announced he was running, I thought, "Oh, he's the West Wing candidate." But he really wasn't. He was far more centrist than the Santos character.
Yes, I thought Obama would be our Santos, too. A liberal he was not… I knew that the minute he chose a Republican for his cabinet.
Anyone not horrified by the photo of an unarmed protester beaten down by weaponized law enforcement has something seriously wrong with them.
It’s really sickening, even more so because nobody in authority seems to care.
Amen. I'll keep repeating the following tidbit. Good friends of ours pointed out that the latin root of the word liberal is liber, which means free. Another thing I think bears stating is antifa is short for anti-fascist. Let's say the full term to defuse the scaremongering propaganda using antifa as a venomous perjorative.
Freedom is good. Being against fascism is good. So, by following that train of logic, being a liberal anti-fascist is good, and I'll proudly wear both labels.
As for writing like the West Wing, I wonder about the value of it now. Those episodes arrived to a US in a different time and political climate. The lofty monologues that soared and buoyed viewers back then, probably play like fantasy in today's landscape.
If there's value in reconsidering the show, I think it's the portrayal of a political ideal to aspire to. I believe you and others are already doing that, albeit in the hard-nosed, straightforward diction this moment demands. We had gauzy, romantic depictions of a functional government, and too many of us were lullled into believing it was a constant we could assume happens without effort. I'll take the steely resolve in the work of Ramona Grigg, child of union laborers, middle class warrior, writer, feminist and humanist in today's landscape, over any television ready cinematic oratory in the moment we're in.