The Great West Wing Rewatch: 3.15 "Dead Irish Writers"

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Joel: Someday I’m going to need Aaron Sorkin to write a show about science. Yes, the political angle in The West Wing is interesting, and the rousing speeches about what our political system could and should be are inspiring. But every now and then, he sneaks one in about science and it does my heart good. Sam talking about going to Mars because “it’s next” is a good example, and this episode has a fine example as well. Dr. Millgate says at one point in the show that Great Achievement has no roadmap. It’s a powerful statement that kicks off a powerful speech, one that ends with me wanting more money to be donated to scientific pursuits of any and all kinds. The political intrigue in this show is interesting. The Dr. Millgate storyline is tied in with a senator who is opposing the project for political reasons, and doing it in a sneaky way, again, for political reasons. And I love that Sam is able to work everything politically to make sure that he gets what he needs, but more than that I love that he does it not for political gain, but because it’s the right thing to do, both for his former teacher, and for the betterment of mankind in general.

Chris: First off, let me point out the irony of the title of this episode and the fact that we're posting this review on St. Patrick's dead. Secondly, I don't know if the troubled marriage plot arch from the beginning of the season was meant to only last for the first part of the season or was suppose to be an ongoing thing but I am glad they're beyond that at this point in the season. The Bartlet's being at odds with each other just wasn't working and, in my eyes, it made the First Lady seem petty for getting so unreasonably angry at things that seem incredibly minor in comparison to the things the president has to face on a daily basis. Not completely disregarding the First Lady's accomplishments or anything but her grudges in the beginning of the season seemed trivial. I am glad this rift between them was discarded because these two characters are much more enjoyable on the screen when they are working together or playing off of each other rather and digging into one another.

A good president lets the British Ambassador ogle at the First Lady's boobs.

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