Few TV shows are as demonstrative of Aaron Sorkin’s styleand sensibilities as a writer and filmmaker as his acclaimed series,The West Wing. Running from 1999 to 2006, the show’s seven-season run is only one example of how successful and beloved the political drama is to this day, as it’s still worth watching in the modern era.
ThoughThe West Wingoriginally aired on NBC,not HBO, it’s become one of thebest TV shows available to watch on HBO Max. Since being added to streaming,The West Winghas reached new audiences who might not have been aware of the series when it was airing, but still connect with the fast-paced dialogue and vivid political intrigue.
Thebest political TV shows to watchtoday have all drawn inspiration fromThe West Wing. In fact, the series' influence isn’t exclusive to the political genre, as many world-renowned dramas wouldn’t exist ifThe West Winghadn’t paved the way for them. However,nothing beats returning to the originaland falling in love with its thrilling world.
The West Wing Is An HBO Staple And One Of TV’s Best-Written Shows
There’s A Reason Why We Keep Coming Back To The West Wing
Every show created and written by Sorkin isimmediately hailed for its sharp dialogue and near-perfect pacing,andThe West Wingis no exception. Sorkin andThe West Winghave been credited with popularizing the walk-and-talk on television. The walk-and-talk sees the characters have an important exchange and communicate exposition while on the move, making the conversation more dynamic, which Sorkin excels at.
Thebest episodes ofThe West Wingall utilize fast and clever speeches and center on witty characters who don’t let anything get past them. Martin Sheen leads the cast as the Democratic President Jed Bartlett, who grapples with real-world issues and cultural conflicts through the fictionalized reality where Bartlett and his staff are in charge of keeping the United States on track.
Other members of the all-star ensemble include Rob Lowe, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, and Bradley Whitford, who make up the President’s immediate staff and deal with the press. However,it isn’t just politics that’s at the forefront ofThe West Wing,but the personal lives of the President and his employees as they try to balance their high-stress professions.
The West Wing’s Writing Is So Sharp, You Keep Wanting To Watch
The Writing Makes Even The Most Mundane Policy Changes Thrilling
Political dramas are inherently exciting, butThe West Wingtakes this to the next level thanks to the writing style.While writing is always important for film and television alike, the writers are particularly important for TV shows, and this comes through in the wayThe West Wingis elevated by the propulsive dialogue and story structure.
The West Wingdoes a great job of humanizing these high-powered individuals and focusing on the day-to-day.
The West Wingdoes a great job of humanizing these high-powered individuals and focusing on the day-to-day realities of being responsible for so many people. Sorkin has an incredible ability to make the mundane and commonplace as thrilling as the episodes when there’s serious violence or threats of war on the table.
As the political landscape of the U.S. changed throughoutThe West Wing’s run, it was interesting to see how the show evolved alongside this and took a stance on real-world conversations. Though some of these issues might seem dated by today’s standards, they were on the cutting edge of the discussions happening in the early 2000s,allowingThe West Wingto appeal to a wide audience.
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The West Wing Saw A Dip In Quality After Aaron Sorkin Left
The Later Seasons Of The West Wing Struggled Without Sorkin
There are many reasonswhy Aaron Sorkin leftThe West Wing, as he was a huge creative force behind the show, which would be a lot of pressure for anyone. Additionally, as always,there were differences between Sorkin and the network.When a show becomes as successful asThe West Wing, the producers want to ensure it remains that popular, which can spark conflict.
Sorkin departed after season 4, soThe West Winghad a strong enough foundation and cast of characters to continue through season 7. However,it’s impossible to ignore that there was a decline in the quality of the writingand storytelling after Sorkin left, as the show relied on his vision and understanding of the characters.
Other factors contributed toThe West Wing’s slow decline, as beloved characters exited the series, like Lowe’s character, Sam Seaborn. However, the heart and soul ofThe West Wingis still present in the later installments, as the first four seasons set the perfect tone for a political drama that hasn’t yet found its equal on television.
