{"id":2966,"date":"2013-10-29T13:00:55","date_gmt":"2013-10-29T20:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/markwatches.net\/reviews\/?p=2966"},"modified":"2013-10-29T11:57:20","modified_gmt":"2013-10-29T18:57:20","slug":"mark-watches-the-west-wing-s04e10-arctic-radar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/markwatches.net\/reviews\/2013\/10\/mark-watches-the-west-wing-s04e10-arctic-radar\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Watches ‘The West Wing’: S04E10 – Arctic Radar"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the tenth episode of the fourth season of The West Wing<\/i>, THIS SEASON IS SO GOOD. Intrigued? Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to watch The West Wing<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Y\u00e2\u20ac\u2122all, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m so pleased<\/i> with this episode. SO GOOD.<\/p>\n

Sam\/Toby\/Will<\/b><\/p>\n

Interlaced throughout \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Arctic Radar\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is an engaging story about the future of the White House and its staff. In the wake of Horton Wilde\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s victory in the California 47th, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s now time for Sam to begin his transition to\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 well, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s still uncertain. At the very least, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be out of the White House for three months while he campaigns. What happens after<\/i> that, though? That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s left for the future. For now, though, Toby\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s got a monumental problem on his hands: He cannot fill the vacuum left in Sam\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s absence. Much like when Sam had to take Josh\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s place at the beginning of the season, Toby realizes just how vital Sam has been to the speechwriting process. Initially, this is all I saw the plot as. How do you replace Sam when the position requires someone of exceptional<\/i> intelligence? (And while I understood Toby\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s point, I was irked that he used the example of hiring someone who was African American because\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 oh, come on<\/i>, you can come up with an example that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s far less loaded than that. No, thanks.)<\/p>\n

That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s when Sorkin presents us with an opportunity that, in hindsight, was always there to begin with: WILL BAILEY TAKING SAM\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S PLACE. As I mentioned in the video, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know any of the casting spoilers for this show, so I have no idea how many episodes Joshua Malina is in. This made \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Arctic Radar\u00e2\u20ac\u009d a whole lot of fun to watch because IT WAS SO EXCITING TO REALIZE THAT WILL COULD TAKE SAM\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S PLACE. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not just a fascinating bit of character development, but it provides the writers with a way to deal with Sam\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s departure if he does<\/i> win the California 47th.<\/p>\n

And then, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a surprise punch in the heart waiting in the end. Like I said, I thought this was just about Toby not trusting another person to take Sam\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s place. However, after Will presents Toby with a stellar example of his talent, Toby suddenly finds himself opening up about his own doubts as a writer. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a sobering, grim moment, one I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t expect. I love the way it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s filmed. Toby is shrouded by darkness in that room, hinting at the struggle he has with his own ability, haunted by the thought that he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not<\/i> going to be remembered for writing Bartlet\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s second Inaugural speech. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s such a raw moment for the character, especially since he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not known for being this emotionally honest.<\/p>\n

I think Will\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s advice is actually spot-on. Look at how much Toby\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been dealing with lately! And we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even know what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going on with him and Andy, either. Taking a break \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and getting a relief pitcher to rest \u00e2\u20ac\u201c might be precisely what Toby needs. However, the final line hints at the possibility that maybe Toby just needs to jump head first into this with Will to help him instead<\/i>.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122M SO INTO THIS.<\/p>\n

Donna<\/b><\/p>\n

AHHHHH SO MANY FEELINGS AND AHHHHHHH JACK REESE BASICALLY SHIPS DONNA\/JOSH AND AHHHHHH I CAN\u00e2\u20ac\u2122T DEAL WITH THESE TWO. I CAN\u00e2\u20ac\u2122T. Please tell me I was not the only person who saw the way that Josh stared<\/i> at Donna after Jack pointed out that Josh basically knows Donna like a girlfriend and ahhhhhhhh IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING?<\/i> I mean, this story was such a mess<\/i> after Josh thought it was appropriate to tell Jack about all of Donna\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s idiosyncrasies, except he did this because HE FINDS DONNA ENDLESSLY ENDEARING.<\/p>\n

Y\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ALL. MAKE IT HAPPEN<\/i>. Oh god, I realize that is a useless thing to say, but a boy can hope<\/i>. Like, if Christian Slater\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s entire role here is to basically get Josh to realize that Donna is perfect incarnate<\/i>, then I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m fine with that. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122M SO FINE.<\/p>\n

Josh<\/b><\/p>\n

And yet, Josh still does something I hate in this episode, despite that otherwise, I think this is one fine example of why The West Wing<\/i> is a great show. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s even more egregious given that he makes that really unfortunate Jackie Robinson comment and the text criticizes him for making it. <\/i>THAT IS GOOD. THAT WAS A GREAT SCENE AND REALLY GOOD WRITING. And then Josh goes on that rant with the Star Trek<\/i> fan that is so transparently and obviously Aaron Sorkin telling fans of his show how they are to enjoy The West Wing<\/i>. What an awful, disjointed, and downright offensive scene. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fucking abysmal<\/i>. First of all, I DON\u00e2\u20ac\u2122T THINK YOU KNOW WHAT A FETISH IS, AARON SORKIN. Because trust me, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not making lists to determine your favorite episode of a show<\/i>. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not! I assure you that the vast majority of fans who do this aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t then masturbating to said lists. (My comment assumes that Sorkin meant fetish in the sexual context of the word. If not, then my bad.)<\/p>\n

I just hate<\/i> the way this is executed. I hate that the woman just agrees<\/i> with him, I hate that it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s framed in this ridiculous \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hobby\u00e2\u20ac\u009d logic, as if that excuses everything that preceded it, and I hate that we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re expected to believe that Josh would even say<\/i> something like this. The dude is OBSESSED WITH SPORTS. WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY SEEN HIM DO THE VERY THING HE IS CRITICIZING.<\/p>\n

Oh god, no<\/i>.<\/p>\n

C.J.<\/b><\/p>\n

I feel like one of the general themes of her character is that we should never, ever<\/i> cross her. She will crush you and do so with a giant smile plastered on her face. (Of course, if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re Charlie, then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s acceptable. Charlie will win. Charlie cannot lose. Charlie is the answer<\/i>.) I admit that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d love to see a plot for her that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a little more in-depth than what we get in \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Arctic Radar,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d but I was pleased to see her take that reporter down. (That actor was on Angel<\/i>, wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t he??? In the pilot, right??)<\/p>\n

Bartlet\/Vicky Hilton<\/b><\/p>\n

In addition to the plot involving Sam, Toby, and Will, the other main story that we get over the course of this episode concerns a soldier, Vicky Hilton, who was ordered to end a relationship with another officer and now possibly faces a dishonorable discharge for her actions. For the most part, this isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even about the solution to this issue. Leo is convinced that the White House shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get involved in the problem, despite that every<\/i> staffer feels that this is wrong for a different reason. (Though I must repeat myself here: Could this show stop<\/i> referring to any issue that Amy brings up as being from \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the women\u00e2\u20ac\u009d? I understand wanting to speak in shorthand, but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s always done in this derogatory manner, and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s really gross.) Leo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s job is<\/i> to filter what does and does not get to the President, so that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s why he asks Charlie to try to keep the U.N. Secretary General off of Bartlet\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s desk.<\/p>\n

But why shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t<\/i> the President get involved in more things? Why are they afraid? This is Bartlet\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s second term. He isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t going to win over a Republican majority in Congress, so why not<\/i> do whatever they want? Of course, this all comes to a head in one of the most hilariously entertaining scenes in the whole show. Oh my god, look how red Bartlet\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face gets when he yells at the phone.<\/i> It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s glorious. I haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t spoken of it yet, but these actors have such brilliant<\/i> comic timing. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s talent, y\u00e2\u20ac\u2122all. The writing is spectacular, too, but the way these people pull it off is such a treat.<\/p>\n

Ugh, I just love it when Leo gets all feelings explosion at Bartlet. More of this? More of it, thanks.<\/p>\n

The video commission for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Arctic Radar\u00e2\u20ac\u009d can be downloaded right here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mark Links Stuff<\/b><\/p>\n

– If you would like to support this website and keep Mark Does Stuff running, I’ve put up a detailed post explaining how you can!<\/a>
\n– Please check out the MarkDoesStuff.com<\/a>. All Mark Watches videos for past shows\/season are now archived there!
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