The Great West Wing Rewatch: 3.13 "Night Five"

Joel: You know, I have to wonder if the sexist talk subplot came up because somebody criticized comments in earlier episodes. There’s never been anything alarming in the previous episodes to the point where we simply had to bring it up, but it not like Sam’s comment in this episode came completely out of nowhere. It seemed like something that character would say, and wasn’t exactly out of line from other comments made on the show, so it didn’t seem exactly out of place until somebody brought it up. I’m not bringing it up now to say that Sam was right or wrong to say what he said, or that anybody in this storyline was. Different people read the same situation different ways, and nobody lashed out at anybody, it’s about as calm a discussion you can have on an episode of The West Wing. But I can’t help but think that Sam’s process here has to mirror Sorkin’s thoughts at some point when somebody pointed out a sexist comment or two that had shown up on the show previously. First there was the flat denial, then the trying to explain how the comment might have seemed sexist, but in fact was in no way, sexist. Then there was the worry that it might have in fact been accidentally offensive, which results in having to consult with the potentially offended party only to discover, that there is no real clear right or wrong here. The staffer wasn’t wrong to be offended, but Ainsley wasn’t wrong to not be offended by the comment either. Of course the writer of the episode was the one that got to write that the character who the comment was directed at didn’t find it offensive, so take that for what you will.

Chris: We see a return of Josh’s therapist from last season only this time he’s here to help the president work through the issues mentioned in the previous episode because clearly it’s something Bartlet is suppressing. Also addressed in this episode is something I’ve been noticing more and more lately but I’ve been holding off on actually bringing up and that’s the good-natured-but-still-present sexism that occurs almost every episode, typically in the bullpen scenes and finally a newcomer speaks up about it. Yes, something can be said about intent because it’s usually all meant in good fun and typically the females in the show dish it right back but taken out of context and it seems like those would be conversations that would be brought before some sort of HR department if not reviewed by some sort of congressional committee.

A good president is only obedient to their therapist.