The Great West Wing Rewatch: 6.13 "King Corn"

Joel: When we first came up with the idea of doing this recap of The West Wing, it was based around the idea of spending an election year with television’s idea version of what the presidency and politics could be like. We of course had no idea at the time that the 2016 campaign season would be what it had become. And now, five and a half seasons later of the show, we get to the point where they are electing a new president just as is happening in real life. Which leads me to talk about Senator Vinick. He comes out of this episode looking the best. He’s the only one of the three candidates in the show to stand by his previous statements on ethanol, and to stand by what he truly believes. He’s the one that comes out looking the strongest by the end of the episode. I really love that this is the type of opponent that they went with the second time around. The only other republican presidential candidate we get to meet is during Bartlet’s reelection, and in that case we get a bit of a republican caricature. Comically conservative, not too bright, super in the bag for gun owners, etc. This time around we have a candidate that actually looks like they have the ability to be a good president and a strong leader, regardless of their political leanings. Earlier in the series Donna and Josh were watching one of his speeches after which Donna tells Josh that he has a year to talk her out of voting for the guy.
No matter how the election turns out on the show, you get the feeling that things are going to be fine. Your preferred party may not be in charge for the next four years but nobody is looking at this election as a possible sign of the downfall of the country. Contrast that to real life right now where of the two likely outcomes one is going to spell certain doom for the US. (We may not all agree on which outcome will be the bad one, but everyone seems to think that one of the results will be irreparably bad)  This is what this show makes me long for. A campaign where everyone is going to end up voting for who they want to lead, not voting to vote against the other guy.

Chris: I do like the structure of this episode even if the 3 different point of views didn't lead to a big dramatic moment at the end, just everyone having a rough day in Iowa. The structure puts on display a full spectrum of 3 candidates and we start with VP Russell who is all-to happy to pander to Iowa corn growers and supporting ethanol production, signing a pledge to maintain this stance. Then we move onto Santos, who doesn't want to support ethanol but ultimately caves into voicing support and signing the pledge. Finally, Vinnick is staunchly against ethanol both in the past and sticks to it, much to the disappointment of his staff. This episode also a first look into Vinick's campaign staff and, honestly, I wouldn't mind a alternate reality West Wing based off his staff. I enjoyed the conversation between Vinick and Santos at the end felt very much like a teaser for what's to come later in the show. Also, let it be known, Alan Alda has my favorite voice in Hollywood, I need all of my audiobooks to have him reading them.

A good president stands by his geopolitical ally even if they're up to sketchy nonsense.