The Great West Wing Rewatch: 5.19 "Talking Points"

Joel: By the end of this episode I’m not sure where Josh stood on the issue of free trade. I’m not sure if that was intentional, but I’m going to assume that it was. At the start of the episode the whole concept was set up in a “we feel one way and the enemy (republicans) feel the opposite” manner. Like many issues already addressed in this series, the goal of our heroes here was to outsmart, out-think and out talk the republicans to get the big win for the democratic party and the democratic way of thinking. Only it doesn’t work out that way. Republicans start being fine, even excited with the proposed free trade plan. With a little digging, Josh learns that the appeal of free trade isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In a manner of speaking, Josh has been blindsided by his own political rhetoric on the subject. Josh comes to realize that in some ways he was campaigned to on this deal just as much as the american people.
At the end of the episode, I’m not sure that Josh has done a complete 180 on his position on free trade. But the lines of right and wrong, and good and bad for the American people aren’t so clear anymore. And something like free trade is incredibly complicated. There is no clear solution, and both sides have very glaring flaws in the ideas they present. This is something that honestly, I’m really glad the leave a bit unresolved, because that’s a big aspect of government more often than not. That feeling of trying really hard to do the right thing, while at the same time never a hundred percent sure that the path you're taking was ever the best one to begin with.

Chris: For a moment, I was afraid this was going to be the beginning of Josh in another doghouse funk like he was earlier in the season but alas, he was just doing his president's bidding, which may differ from his own ideologies. However it clearly still affected Josh great, nothing seems to disturb him quite like agreeing with Republicans. We also reach a point with Josh and Donna with Donna's desire to further her career and broaden her responsibilities, something she's hinted at here and there but never really directly addressed it straight to Josh until this episode. Also, this episode marks the first time we're introduced to Kate Harper played by Mary McCormick, someone we'll get to know more as we go through the remaining seasons. I'm wondering if McCormick was brought on because things weren't clicking with the Angela Blake character, someone that was featured heavily for several episodes this season but then fell off the show completely. I think the problem there was that she was introduced by Josh being suspicious that she was replacing him and it was hard for fans to overcome that distrust. So the best way to fix that and still have another strong female character? Bring in a new Pentagon adviser that isn't directly tied to the West Wing staff and isn't a threat to replace anybody.

And if you noticed a lack of Toby in this episode, that's because Richard Schiff actually directed it.

A good president begins a national sleeping initiative by talking to everyone about economics.