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And now, the post at least a few of you have been waiting for!
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angearia‘s birthday! And because I’m the Worst Person Ever, I don’t have fic written for her (I’m working on it. It’ll happen this week!). I do, however, have something she (and eowyn_315) has been waiting for for a while now: my West Wing reaction post! So I hope you enjoy reading it and that it makes your birthday better!
Yay!
This is my reaction to the first two seasons, which is all I’ve seen so far. I’m sure I’m leaving stuff out and forgetting things, so feel free to throw questions at me. Also, I’m probably not going to read through it before I post it, so if there’s lots of grammar!fail (which there probably will be) just ignore it. Or point it out to me and I’ll fix it. But don’t point out the fact that this has no structure to it at all and I just randomly jump from topic to topic as it enters my mind. Don’t, because I already know that.
It’s long and obnoxiously flaily and stupidly full of random capitalization and I’m warning you now, okay? Brace yourself.
First off, you’ve got to realize that this show hits a bunch of my kinks. I kind of think it might have been designed for me.
I have such a kink for walk and talk. No, really I have a kink for any sort of long shot wherein A) you can actually see two people acting together, no editing (one of my faves is that shot in “Hellbound” in AtS S5 where Spike and Angel are sitting side by side on that couch? FAB. Oh, and the cab ride in Before Sunset where Jesse and Celine really talk it out and it‘s so unflinchingly raw and I love it), just real acting; B) the shot lasts for a really, really long time (think Rope); or C) the shot lasts a long time, everybody’s acting together, and THEY’RE CONSTANTLY MOVING (the opening of Serenity is great for this, and there’s a good one in Atonement, but the best one I’ve ever seen is that last big action sequence in Children of Men where all of a sudden you realize that THE PAST TWENTY MINUTES HAS BEEN ONE CONTINUOUS SHOT. And then you fall over dead, revive yourself, and give your soul to Alfonso Cuaron).
And half of this show is pretty much the camera following these people while they walk together and act together and OH YEAH THEY’RE REALLY SMART.
Kink number two: smart people talking about smart things in smart ways.
Embarrassing revelation: I love to listen to the economists talk on NPR. I have absolutely no idea what they’re saying, but it is sexy as hell to listen to them talking about it because they clearly know what they’re talking about. Dean Devlin calls this sort of thing “competence porn”: you know that part in Leverage (or insert your favorite heist movie here) where everybody does just exactly what they’re supposed to do using their own unique talent/skill and they do it really, really well? That’s hot to me.
So listening to smart people talk about smart things really does it for me. There’s lots of that in this show.
Another kink: banter. Wordplay. Anything quotable at all. This show is basically my wet dream when it comes to that. EVERYTHING EVERYONE SAYS IS AWESOME. Emmie was all, “Tell me your favorite lines!” and I’m like, “Are you serious? EVERYTHING THEY SAY IS MY FAVORITE.” Because it’s true.
Fourth kink is fantastic ensemble casts. CHECK.
I love everybody. NO REALLY. EVERYBODY. There isn't one character I don't love the stuffing out of (well, I don't love Mandy. I don’t really like her at all, but everyone else’s awesome is so overwhelming that I can ignore it. I don't mind that she's gone, though I wish they'd address it instead of just having her not be around. CONTINUITY PLEASE. Not too much to ask, really, I don‘t think). And now I'm gonna go through one by one and tell you why.
- Charlie. The reason I decided to watch this show NOW. Seriously, did y'all not know I have a huge crush on Dule Hill and have since, like, Holes? I think he's the most adorable thing ever, so y'all should have been like, "WATCH THIS SHOW: DULE HILL'S IN IT." Charlie is cute and sweet and lovely and I want to huggle him forever. And the most adorable person who ever lived ever ever ever. Whenever he slyly makes fun of the president I just flail with joy. I do think there should be more of him, though. I feel like he doesn't get enough screentime. Actually, I feel like they wrote him in and didn’t have a really great plan for him and so they rarely give him storylines of his own. Which is the one thing about this show that makes me want to yell SCREW YOU at the writers because this always happens with the black guy. It happened with Gunn, and I’m still mad at everyone involved at AtS for that. It happens all the time.
I do have faith, though, that they can do better with his character in future seasons. They’re good enough to do it. I hope they do.
I also think that I have come up with the world’s greatest idea for a spinoff: in fifteen years, have TWW: II with Charlie starring as the president. Our boy grew up and became the president! Wouldn’t he make a marvelous one? YES PLEASE.
- C.J. Um, I love Allison Janney and always have, and she’s one of those actors I think should be in everything ever because she always makes it better, but in this show she is AWESOME. I feel really bad for her a lot of the time, though: is it just me or do they show her messing things up a bunch? Like, everyone messes up, but I feel like it’s disproportionate with her. I hope they dial that down as time goes by. I love how hilarious she is when she's doing her press briefings--witty and snaky and classy and fun. Her inability to figure out the whole thing with Danny cracked me up. She is classy and awesome and smart and I heart her always. Basically, I wouldn’t say no to being her when I grow up. She’s definitely added to my List of Awesome Women.
- Josh. Awesome. He just says what he thinks and he's bossy but Donna dishes it back and I love how snaky he is and I really don’t understand why he’s so cool but HE IS. I mean, he’s such a smartass! And I’m a smartass, so that’s probably why I love him, but he’s such a smartass! And arrogant but it’s okay because he really is that cool. And I love when he really shows how sweet he is like with the nuclear procedure card and whatever he wrote in the book he gave to Donna. AWWW! He’s a marshmallow! And I love how he’s always sticking his foot in his mouth. It’s fabulous.
- Sam. Is basically a big geek but he’s played by Rob Lowe so he’s a geek with pretty eyes. Also I kind of love how he’s like the little brother. It’s adorable. Perhaps my favorite Sam moment is when C.J. asks him who his favorite writer is and immediately--no hesitation, no sarcasm--he says, “Toby.” I don‘t know why, but I find that completely adorable. He was being so sincere! I love all of these guys and their relationships! Also, he is a feminist, even if he doesn't call himself one. Listen to him tirade about the wage gap! I love it when he tirades! The only reason I really liked him with Mallory was because she made him tirade! Tirading Sam is awesomesauce! The guy writes for a living and is apparently awesome at it. Excellence.
Also, can we talk about how much S1!Sam just does it for me? When his hair's short like that and he's wearing suits and those glasses and UNF. That's not typically my type--if I even have one--but can I repeat: UNF. I am sadface that his hair is longer this season. I liked it the other way. It really is amazing how completely it changes his face, that hair. I WANT S1!HAIR AGAIN. PRETTY, PRETTY S1!SAM.
- Toby. Is so wonderfully morose and misanthropic and I love him to death! He’s such an Eeyore! I like it when he gets angry and flies off the handle, and I like it when he’s pretending not to be happy/amused and I absolutely love it when he shows how much of a heart he has. I cried so much in that episode where he got the funeral for the vet. He’s such a good guy. And I also really loved the episode where they were trying to get the pardon for the guy to be executed and there was the whole discussion about Judaism. Loved that. He’s a guy who feels things very deeply but doesn’t show a lot. I think that’s cool. He’s also definitely the guy you want on your side.
- Leo. He is such a good guy, trying to take care of everybody. He's such a grandpa. I also love when he and Margaret yell at each other. Much fun. His relationship with Jed is really, really touching. And I was so rooting for him during the whole alcoholism thing.
- Jed. So. Great. I am madly, madly in love with how he knows everything ever (I think he could kick anyone’s ass at Jeopardy. I love that show) and doesn’t hesitate in telling it and then people roll their eyes and he pretends to be grouchy but it’s all in such good humor that it makes me grin. And he wants so badly to do the right thing. Even when I disagree with him, I always understand why he’s making the decisions he is. I always ask myself, “What kind of person would want to be president? What kind of person would want that kind of responsibility? What kind of person would think so much of themselves that they think they can handle that responsibility?” Well, the answer is Josiah Bartlett. I also like how he can be so prickly (like with Ellie, who I feel so much for) and also so teasing (like with Charlie).
- Donna. The most hilarious and awesome person ever, y/y? I could listen to her talk about ridiculous things forever. I love how she’ll get fixated on something and just go on and on about it and then switch topics and then switch again and it’s enough to make your head spin but somehow you keep up and how is she so great? And she keeps Josh in line and doesn’t let him boss her around and manages to completely just get her way with him a lot and it’s fab. Her devotion, especially to Josh, is really wonderful to see. You know, most of the time I find it difficult to get into her headspace because I have a hard time imagining being the way she is most of the time, but then she’ll have these soft moments. Like when they told her about the prez’s M.S. and she just handled it. There’s a lot more to her than she typically shows, I think.
- Abbey. She is HBIC on this show, isn’t she? She’s Dr. Bartlett, and that’s what everyone should call her! I love that she’s that smart. I love that she loves her husband so much but also isn’t afraid to call him on things and get angry at him when he deserves it (he deserves it). I’m really excited about her being in the regular cast next season. Stockard Channing is made of awesome.
- Ainsley. So there's this Ainsley girl, who I was predisposed to liking for the same reason I was predisposed to liking Brenda Lee on The Closer: because she's a woman on TV with a Southern accent who isn't stupid or a bigot. And I love that she’s a Republican and disagrees with the main cast on everything but she gets to state her opinion and does it intelligently and I feel like the show respects her opinions even if it disagrees. Also she is absolutely hilarious when she starts talking really fast and when she gets nervous and when she’s shutting Sam down. It’s probably wildly, wildly unrealistic that anyone (but especially a woman) would make it as far as she has in life while being so ridiculous when she’s nervous, and I kind of feel like I should be annoyed by that fact, but I can’t help it: I love her to death. I want her in the main cast, and I know she’s never going to be and it makes me want to cry. She’s so great.
- Joey Lucas.eowyn_315 says Josh has bad taste in women, but this is obviously not true when he likes her so much. ;D She is so cool! And funny. I am always happy when she pops back in!
And now it’s time for the moment you’ve all been waiting for because you know me and you know that this happens with me on every show ever except for Doctor Who: Ships!
Well, Jed and Abbey. Duh. You all know how I feel about married couples. I want to see them being couple-y more. Adorable.
Josh and Donna is the big one for everybody, right? I don't ship it all that hard at the moment, though I adore their interactions, but the potential is definitely there, and yeah, I'm gonna end up being all for that. [added later] Okay, the whole him sending her flowers thing and it making her mad and then she tells him about her ex-boyfriend and they talk about being in accidents? Yeah, I ship it now. And it’s only gonna intensify, isn’t it? *happy sigh*
I have no idea how common this is, but I ship Ainsley hardcore with Sam because A) she totally shut him down on live television, B) he took off all righteously indignant on her behalf to go fire those guys who sent her the dead flowers, and C) they snip at each other without any animosity and there's banter and stuff (and this one scene where she walks by him and he looks like he wants to hit her on the butt with rolled-up papers, and I know I‘m not supposed to find that kind of thing adorable, but you know what? I kind of do). Yeah. That's all I need in a ship. BONUS KINK: Dating Catwoman, y’all. They disagree about everything and it gives them a chance to both talk smart and tirade and it’s glorious, especially because you know there’s a lot of respect under there. I loooooove enemies in love. Love it. Also she says his name like all the time and I love how she says it. Is that a thing? I don’t even know. But it’s true. But I don't know that anything will happen, which makes me sadface, because I could ship them SO HARD you don’t even know. Maybe there's fic?
I actually don't really buy Zoey and Charlie. I like Zoey and I love Charlie, but I don't see tons of chemistry? Which sucks because I really, really wanted to like it because it could have been my Sweetness and Light ship for this show. *sigh*
Note: EVERYONE WHO EVER LIVED IS IN THIS SHOW.
Just off the top of my head? JANE LYNCH, y’all. Playing a random reporter. Hooker!Cuddy! Edward James Olmos! Principle Figgins/Abed’s dad! Of course Peggy Olson is the president’s daughter! The woman who plays Mrs. Landingham is in everything ever and I love her always and she made me cry on multiple occasions and her flashbacks were the greatest thing ever and have I mentioned that I love her? And a ton and a half of other people who for some reason aren’t popping into my head at the moment but should be.
This show made me cry like four times in the first season. I can’t think of another show that does that. WHEN MRS. LANDINGHAM TALKED ABOUT HER DEAD BOYS OMG I SOBBED. And other times, too, not all of which I can remember now.
I also feel like I’m learning about politics. Am I actually learning about politics? I don’t know. But it sure does feel like it. It simultaneously makes me feel better (more knowledge = better) and really angry (because it’s all so manipulative and bureaucratic, and I hate that).
I am going to need to buy a whole new userpics package to fit in all the icons I’m gonna want to get for this show. FAIL.
And a random remark in closing: any show that references the Southern Poverty Law Center (which is my crazy dream workplace) gets major points with me.
Before I close, a note: I'm not horny (and if I was, I wouldn't tell you), I just wanted to use this moodtheme option because there isn't an "in love" option, and basically I want to make out with this show the way Donna wants to make out with Eric. So there.
angearia‘s birthday! And because I’m the Worst Person Ever, I don’t have fic written for her (I’m working on it. It’ll happen this week!). I do, however, have something she (and eowyn_315) has been waiting for for a while now: my West Wing reaction post! So I hope you enjoy reading it and that it makes your birthday better!Yay!
This is my reaction to the first two seasons, which is all I’ve seen so far. I’m sure I’m leaving stuff out and forgetting things, so feel free to throw questions at me. Also, I’m probably not going to read through it before I post it, so if there’s lots of grammar!fail (which there probably will be) just ignore it. Or point it out to me and I’ll fix it. But don’t point out the fact that this has no structure to it at all and I just randomly jump from topic to topic as it enters my mind. Don’t, because I already know that.
It’s long and obnoxiously flaily and stupidly full of random capitalization and I’m warning you now, okay? Brace yourself.
First off, you’ve got to realize that this show hits a bunch of my kinks. I kind of think it might have been designed for me.
I have such a kink for walk and talk. No, really I have a kink for any sort of long shot wherein A) you can actually see two people acting together, no editing (one of my faves is that shot in “Hellbound” in AtS S5 where Spike and Angel are sitting side by side on that couch? FAB. Oh, and the cab ride in Before Sunset where Jesse and Celine really talk it out and it‘s so unflinchingly raw and I love it), just real acting; B) the shot lasts for a really, really long time (think Rope); or C) the shot lasts a long time, everybody’s acting together, and THEY’RE CONSTANTLY MOVING (the opening of Serenity is great for this, and there’s a good one in Atonement, but the best one I’ve ever seen is that last big action sequence in Children of Men where all of a sudden you realize that THE PAST TWENTY MINUTES HAS BEEN ONE CONTINUOUS SHOT. And then you fall over dead, revive yourself, and give your soul to Alfonso Cuaron).
And half of this show is pretty much the camera following these people while they walk together and act together and OH YEAH THEY’RE REALLY SMART.
Kink number two: smart people talking about smart things in smart ways.
Embarrassing revelation: I love to listen to the economists talk on NPR. I have absolutely no idea what they’re saying, but it is sexy as hell to listen to them talking about it because they clearly know what they’re talking about. Dean Devlin calls this sort of thing “competence porn”: you know that part in Leverage (or insert your favorite heist movie here) where everybody does just exactly what they’re supposed to do using their own unique talent/skill and they do it really, really well? That’s hot to me.
So listening to smart people talk about smart things really does it for me. There’s lots of that in this show.
Another kink: banter. Wordplay. Anything quotable at all. This show is basically my wet dream when it comes to that. EVERYTHING EVERYONE SAYS IS AWESOME. Emmie was all, “Tell me your favorite lines!” and I’m like, “Are you serious? EVERYTHING THEY SAY IS MY FAVORITE.” Because it’s true.
Fourth kink is fantastic ensemble casts. CHECK.
I love everybody. NO REALLY. EVERYBODY. There isn't one character I don't love the stuffing out of (well, I don't love Mandy. I don’t really like her at all, but everyone else’s awesome is so overwhelming that I can ignore it. I don't mind that she's gone, though I wish they'd address it instead of just having her not be around. CONTINUITY PLEASE. Not too much to ask, really, I don‘t think). And now I'm gonna go through one by one and tell you why.
- Charlie. The reason I decided to watch this show NOW. Seriously, did y'all not know I have a huge crush on Dule Hill and have since, like, Holes? I think he's the most adorable thing ever, so y'all should have been like, "WATCH THIS SHOW: DULE HILL'S IN IT." Charlie is cute and sweet and lovely and I want to huggle him forever. And the most adorable person who ever lived ever ever ever. Whenever he slyly makes fun of the president I just flail with joy. I do think there should be more of him, though. I feel like he doesn't get enough screentime. Actually, I feel like they wrote him in and didn’t have a really great plan for him and so they rarely give him storylines of his own. Which is the one thing about this show that makes me want to yell SCREW YOU at the writers because this always happens with the black guy. It happened with Gunn, and I’m still mad at everyone involved at AtS for that. It happens all the time.
I do have faith, though, that they can do better with his character in future seasons. They’re good enough to do it. I hope they do.
I also think that I have come up with the world’s greatest idea for a spinoff: in fifteen years, have TWW: II with Charlie starring as the president. Our boy grew up and became the president! Wouldn’t he make a marvelous one? YES PLEASE.
- C.J. Um, I love Allison Janney and always have, and she’s one of those actors I think should be in everything ever because she always makes it better, but in this show she is AWESOME. I feel really bad for her a lot of the time, though: is it just me or do they show her messing things up a bunch? Like, everyone messes up, but I feel like it’s disproportionate with her. I hope they dial that down as time goes by. I love how hilarious she is when she's doing her press briefings--witty and snaky and classy and fun. Her inability to figure out the whole thing with Danny cracked me up. She is classy and awesome and smart and I heart her always. Basically, I wouldn’t say no to being her when I grow up. She’s definitely added to my List of Awesome Women.
- Josh. Awesome. He just says what he thinks and he's bossy but Donna dishes it back and I love how snaky he is and I really don’t understand why he’s so cool but HE IS. I mean, he’s such a smartass! And I’m a smartass, so that’s probably why I love him, but he’s such a smartass! And arrogant but it’s okay because he really is that cool. And I love when he really shows how sweet he is like with the nuclear procedure card and whatever he wrote in the book he gave to Donna. AWWW! He’s a marshmallow! And I love how he’s always sticking his foot in his mouth. It’s fabulous.
- Sam. Is basically a big geek but he’s played by Rob Lowe so he’s a geek with pretty eyes. Also I kind of love how he’s like the little brother. It’s adorable. Perhaps my favorite Sam moment is when C.J. asks him who his favorite writer is and immediately--no hesitation, no sarcasm--he says, “Toby.” I don‘t know why, but I find that completely adorable. He was being so sincere! I love all of these guys and their relationships! Also, he is a feminist, even if he doesn't call himself one. Listen to him tirade about the wage gap! I love it when he tirades! The only reason I really liked him with Mallory was because she made him tirade! Tirading Sam is awesomesauce! The guy writes for a living and is apparently awesome at it. Excellence.
Also, can we talk about how much S1!Sam just does it for me? When his hair's short like that and he's wearing suits and those glasses and UNF. That's not typically my type--if I even have one--but can I repeat: UNF. I am sadface that his hair is longer this season. I liked it the other way. It really is amazing how completely it changes his face, that hair. I WANT S1!HAIR AGAIN. PRETTY, PRETTY S1!SAM.
- Toby. Is so wonderfully morose and misanthropic and I love him to death! He’s such an Eeyore! I like it when he gets angry and flies off the handle, and I like it when he’s pretending not to be happy/amused and I absolutely love it when he shows how much of a heart he has. I cried so much in that episode where he got the funeral for the vet. He’s such a good guy. And I also really loved the episode where they were trying to get the pardon for the guy to be executed and there was the whole discussion about Judaism. Loved that. He’s a guy who feels things very deeply but doesn’t show a lot. I think that’s cool. He’s also definitely the guy you want on your side.
- Leo. He is such a good guy, trying to take care of everybody. He's such a grandpa. I also love when he and Margaret yell at each other. Much fun. His relationship with Jed is really, really touching. And I was so rooting for him during the whole alcoholism thing.
- Jed. So. Great. I am madly, madly in love with how he knows everything ever (I think he could kick anyone’s ass at Jeopardy. I love that show) and doesn’t hesitate in telling it and then people roll their eyes and he pretends to be grouchy but it’s all in such good humor that it makes me grin. And he wants so badly to do the right thing. Even when I disagree with him, I always understand why he’s making the decisions he is. I always ask myself, “What kind of person would want to be president? What kind of person would want that kind of responsibility? What kind of person would think so much of themselves that they think they can handle that responsibility?” Well, the answer is Josiah Bartlett. I also like how he can be so prickly (like with Ellie, who I feel so much for) and also so teasing (like with Charlie).
- Donna. The most hilarious and awesome person ever, y/y? I could listen to her talk about ridiculous things forever. I love how she’ll get fixated on something and just go on and on about it and then switch topics and then switch again and it’s enough to make your head spin but somehow you keep up and how is she so great? And she keeps Josh in line and doesn’t let him boss her around and manages to completely just get her way with him a lot and it’s fab. Her devotion, especially to Josh, is really wonderful to see. You know, most of the time I find it difficult to get into her headspace because I have a hard time imagining being the way she is most of the time, but then she’ll have these soft moments. Like when they told her about the prez’s M.S. and she just handled it. There’s a lot more to her than she typically shows, I think.
- Abbey. She is HBIC on this show, isn’t she? She’s Dr. Bartlett, and that’s what everyone should call her! I love that she’s that smart. I love that she loves her husband so much but also isn’t afraid to call him on things and get angry at him when he deserves it (he deserves it). I’m really excited about her being in the regular cast next season. Stockard Channing is made of awesome.
- Ainsley. So there's this Ainsley girl, who I was predisposed to liking for the same reason I was predisposed to liking Brenda Lee on The Closer: because she's a woman on TV with a Southern accent who isn't stupid or a bigot. And I love that she’s a Republican and disagrees with the main cast on everything but she gets to state her opinion and does it intelligently and I feel like the show respects her opinions even if it disagrees. Also she is absolutely hilarious when she starts talking really fast and when she gets nervous and when she’s shutting Sam down. It’s probably wildly, wildly unrealistic that anyone (but especially a woman) would make it as far as she has in life while being so ridiculous when she’s nervous, and I kind of feel like I should be annoyed by that fact, but I can’t help it: I love her to death. I want her in the main cast, and I know she’s never going to be and it makes me want to cry. She’s so great.
- Joey Lucas.
eowyn_315 says Josh has bad taste in women, but this is obviously not true when he likes her so much. ;D She is so cool! And funny. I am always happy when she pops back in!And now it’s time for the moment you’ve all been waiting for because you know me and you know that this happens with me on every show ever except for Doctor Who: Ships!
Well, Jed and Abbey. Duh. You all know how I feel about married couples. I want to see them being couple-y more. Adorable.
Josh and Donna is the big one for everybody, right? I don't ship it all that hard at the moment, though I adore their interactions, but the potential is definitely there, and yeah, I'm gonna end up being all for that. [added later] Okay, the whole him sending her flowers thing and it making her mad and then she tells him about her ex-boyfriend and they talk about being in accidents? Yeah, I ship it now. And it’s only gonna intensify, isn’t it? *happy sigh*
I have no idea how common this is, but I ship Ainsley hardcore with Sam because A) she totally shut him down on live television, B) he took off all righteously indignant on her behalf to go fire those guys who sent her the dead flowers, and C) they snip at each other without any animosity and there's banter and stuff (and this one scene where she walks by him and he looks like he wants to hit her on the butt with rolled-up papers, and I know I‘m not supposed to find that kind of thing adorable, but you know what? I kind of do). Yeah. That's all I need in a ship. BONUS KINK: Dating Catwoman, y’all. They disagree about everything and it gives them a chance to both talk smart and tirade and it’s glorious, especially because you know there’s a lot of respect under there. I loooooove enemies in love. Love it. Also she says his name like all the time and I love how she says it. Is that a thing? I don’t even know. But it’s true. But I don't know that anything will happen, which makes me sadface, because I could ship them SO HARD you don’t even know. Maybe there's fic?
I actually don't really buy Zoey and Charlie. I like Zoey and I love Charlie, but I don't see tons of chemistry? Which sucks because I really, really wanted to like it because it could have been my Sweetness and Light ship for this show. *sigh*
Note: EVERYONE WHO EVER LIVED IS IN THIS SHOW.
Just off the top of my head? JANE LYNCH, y’all. Playing a random reporter. Hooker!Cuddy! Edward James Olmos! Principle Figgins/Abed’s dad! Of course Peggy Olson is the president’s daughter! The woman who plays Mrs. Landingham is in everything ever and I love her always and she made me cry on multiple occasions and her flashbacks were the greatest thing ever and have I mentioned that I love her? And a ton and a half of other people who for some reason aren’t popping into my head at the moment but should be.
This show made me cry like four times in the first season. I can’t think of another show that does that. WHEN MRS. LANDINGHAM TALKED ABOUT HER DEAD BOYS OMG I SOBBED. And other times, too, not all of which I can remember now.
I also feel like I’m learning about politics. Am I actually learning about politics? I don’t know. But it sure does feel like it. It simultaneously makes me feel better (more knowledge = better) and really angry (because it’s all so manipulative and bureaucratic, and I hate that).
I am going to need to buy a whole new userpics package to fit in all the icons I’m gonna want to get for this show. FAIL.
And a random remark in closing: any show that references the Southern Poverty Law Center (which is my crazy dream workplace) gets major points with me.
Before I close, a note: I'm not horny (and if I was, I wouldn't tell you), I just wanted to use this moodtheme option because there isn't an "in love" option, and basically I want to make out with this show the way Donna wants to make out with Eric. So there.
no subject
OMG you like Ainsley! And you ship Ainsley/Sam? FOR THE SAME REASONS I LOVE THEM! I've never actually talked to anyone else about this show in depth (besides Eowyn) 'cause I watched it on my own and loved it on my own. And I share the pain that Ainsley doesn't stay--I just loved her so much, she won me over completely with her entrance. And I agree that they treat her character with respect which is awesome.
We are shipping twins! Which totally doesn't surprise me at all. The Bartletts (how amazing is Abbey?), Josh/Donna (which sneaks up on you but it's so solid and wonderful), Ainsley/Sam. And yeah, I was never super invested in Zoe/Charlie so I get your point totally.
The ending of Season 2 was gutwrenching to me. GAH. So sad. And I love watching this show for the contact high of "competence porn" totally!
I remember loving Season 3 so much too so yay! More The West Wing!
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I love Ainsley so much! And I can't tell you how much I ship her with Sam! I am seriously starting to think that they might be The Couple I'd most want to see happen that never happen. Most of my other ships are canon at some point or another, but I don't think they're ever going to be and WHY WHY WHY? I'm convinced they are meant for each other. I'm so crushed by this.
[eta] YAY shipping twins! Abbey is so, so amazing. I want her to be in EVERY EPISODE EVER. I like what you say about Josh/Donna. It really has been sneaking up on me. At first I just liked their dynamic, but now all of a sudden I'm like, "Huh. Yeah, I ship that."
OH MRS. LANDINGHAM WHY? Seriously, that was low, killing her off like that! I adore that woman! I'm so emotionally wrung out right now! I can't wait to start S3! I'm seriously not going to get anything done until I finish this show. I just can't stop watching!
YAY!
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Also, I love Sam for how anal he is about writing. How Leo assigns him to write a birthday message so he can't take out Leo's daughter, who takes the message to the president who sends Sam back to work on the draft. And Sam is all 'I'm gonna get this, I'm gonna get this' and he keeps crumpling pages and throwing them on the floor. And how at the end Toby is leaning over Sam's shoulder and telling him to move out of the way. I also love how Toby's always telling Sam what he's writing is awful. Like Sam rambles off one extremely long nonsensical sentence and Toby is all "that was the worst piece of writing I've ever heard."
Oh, Toby and Sam. I just love all the friendships.
I don't think I'd ever noticed how CJ gets humiliated more. Do you mean like she makes more mistakes in public? 'Cause I can kinda see how they treat her like the fall guy for quite a bit. It more bothers me when they keep her out of the loop and she ends up looking like an idiot. But I think the show acknowledges how awesome CJ is, how she refuses to be kept out, and how hard her job is by the way they put Josh in the press room when CJ had oral surgery and he completely fucked it up.
OMG, the secret plan he leaked out. And how the president was all first you say there's a secret plan and now you don't support it? *dies*
I love this show so much!
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Oh, well. At least I know what I'll be asking for at Yuletide this year!
YES YES YES!!!!!! OMG I LOVED THAT! He's supposed to be going on a date and he's all like, "I gotta get this" and it's adorable and hilarious and I love him so hard. AND TOBY. OH THOSE TWO. I love all the things you're talking about!
I don't know about C.J. I just feel like she messes up a ton, and sometimes it's because they don't give her the info and that pisses me off. But I don't think the writers are doing it on purpose: it's just she's got the most interaction with the public so her failures are more dramatic. But I do agree about the show acknowledging her with the root canal thing.
HAHAHA! YES. "Yes, we have a secret inflation plan." OH JOSH.
I love it too! Oh so much! I can't tell you how much! *makes out with it*
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2. OMG YOUR KINKS ARE MY KINKS! (why am I not surprised?)
3. Actually, I feel like they wrote him in and didn’t have a really great plan for him and so they rarely give him storylines of his own.
Yeah. I am pretty exactly sure that they created the character specifically because they shot the pilot and someone went, "This show is too white."
4. OMG I love everyone ever on this show and you said exactly why.
5. Hahahaha I KNEW you would love Ainsley. I KNEW IT!
6. Joey Lucas is the one exception, and it's no coincidence that, unlike Josh's other crushes, she's way too awesome for him to pin down.
7. I actually do not ship Josh/Donna. I know, crazy, blasphemy, blah blah. I was undecided whether you'd ship them or not, because they are the banteriest of bantery couples, but there's also the awkward power imbalance (which can make Josh downright unpleasant at times), and that's what makes me frowny face.
8. I LOVE SAM/AINSLEY!! But I kind of love Sam/everybody, so... lol. But yeah, the two of them are awesomesauce.
9. Awww, I like Charlie/Zoey, though they are kind of awkward together.
10. I LOVE a show that talks seriously about politics. This is why I changed my major and went into politics. THIS SHOW. OMG.
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2. I am so not surprised by this either. But this show hits so many of them! It's delightful!
3. I think you're exactly right. Especially after they killed the black doctor in the pilot. But I do love him! Though most of my love is for the actor, I think. Do they ever develop him more? He deserves it.
4. Everyone is made of awesome thiiiiings.
5. YOU ARE PSYCHIC.
6. Yeah, she's seriously too awesome for him. I like that she doesn't give him the time of day.
7. No, I can totally understand this. I think if it continues the weird power stuff, it'll probably keep me from shipping it hardcore. But there's potential for me there right now. I'm gonna be sad if wonky power stuff ruins it. *pout*
8. YAY! I really hadn't heard anything about the ship (everything's Josh/Donna all the time), so I didn't know if I was the only one madly, madly shipping them. But it's such fun because she seems completely unaware of the possibility of being with him. She just treats him in the most straightforward manner and he is all annoyed with her but they do respect each other and it makes me grin.
Who else do you ship Sam with?
9. I think they're cute in theory, but I just don't believe it.
10. That is so great. I love this story.
Tomorrow I'm getting forty million icons.
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As for Josh/Donna, I felt like the wonky power stuff ruined it for a while in the middle, but then it gets better again, so you might feel okay about shipping them again, but at that point I just wasn't invested in them anymore.
I ship Sam with Laurie, Mallory, Donna, and Ainsley.
OMG I NEED MOAR ICONS.
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This comment makes me insanely happy. I want to get on a sugar high, giggle maniacally, and jump up and down on the bed with it. And I really couldn't explain why if you asked me.
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I watched a bunch of random episodes while they were on TV and appreciated how witty/relevant the dialogue was and how awesome the main characters are, but I never got a sense of timing or continuity or had a freaking clue about any of the romances. Perhaps because after Bush was elected my dad never let me watch it while he was within earshot because it made him too depressed about the actual state of the world. Stupid fatherly rules inhibiting my TV education.
(On a side note, can we please make mozilla firefox recognize "dialogue" in its spellcheck dictionary? "dialog" just looks ugly and wrong. Anybody with me?)
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Me! Me! *raises hand*
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#1. The best one I’ve ever seen is that last big action sequence in Children of Men where all of a sudden you realize that THE PAST TWENTY MINUTES HAS BEEN ONE CONTINUOUS SHOT. And then you fall over dead, revive yourself, and give your soul to Alfonso Cuaron.
OMGYES. You basically just summarized in one sentence the entirety of my 1000 word essay on Children of Men for my literature and film class - "the hopeless lethargy of the novel is replaced by the urgency of the film's camera work to heighten the reality of today's world and its evils, rather than presuppose the future evils of a world without children," or some such nonsense, but with a lot of blathering on about how the film speaks about the immigration and national security issue through showing not telling, but it's mostly flailing about the camera work.
#2. I have a huge crush on Dule Hill
His disapproving frowns at James Roday in Psych make me warm and squishy. A constant plethora of Psych re-runs was one of the reasons why I was disappointed to discover my parents had canceled their TiVo subscription while I was away at school. I guess this is their way of encouraging me to pursue my hobby of illegal downloading? What, you mean that's, like, bad or something?
#3. Allison Janney can do no wrong in my book. I forgive her for being in a movie with Mandy Moore, and for being in an incomprehensible episode of Lost that was supposed to be the Season 8, Issue #35 of the show: it was supposed to give us answers, but, um, didn't. Unlike Season 8, Issue #35, however, the episode of Lost contained Allison Janney, so it's saved from my eternal dislike. Season 8, Issue #35 is still [full of] crap.
#4. Josh is the asshole with the heart of gold. Sam is just the heart of gold, but in a surprisingly hot package for a geek.
#5. In my imaginary TV family (where Joyce Summers is my mom and Keith Mars is my dad), Jed Bartlet is my imaginary grandpa. My effing brilliant grandpa. And once I got over the OMGWTFHANDJIVE of "RIZZO IS THE FIRST LADY! WHEN'S THE SANDRA DEE NUMBER?," Abby is my imaginary grandma. Can I just say how much I appreciate that this couple raised three daughters? Even though we don't see much of them (other than Zoey), I can't think of a more nurturing set of parents for girls in particular.
Continued . . . because I get wordy when I flail verbally . . .
#7. Joey is just a little bit awesome. And made me proud of my one semester of ASL. And I think Kenny is a forerunner of Billy on BSG.
Lastly. #8. Ainsley.
My daddy wanted me to be Ainsley when I grew up - literally, I think Ainsley represents the great things his little girl with the big brain could accomplish. True, his specific goal for me was to someday work for Focus on the Family in some executive creative position that I think exists only in his head, but the thinking person's Republican (what she is) was always a possible path he'd envision for me as I asked about his politics at the dinner table after the nightly news, even while still in single digits. I was who he could talk politics with growing up, and while it's no secret I'm far more moderate than he is, I'm still slightly right of the middle on most everything, and I can attribute my interest in current events (and the fact that I read those antiquated old things called newspapers whenever available) to his mentoring. I hold such affection for Ainsley because she represents everything my daddy thinks I can be and what I can accomplish. And I think I just accidentally wrote a father's day card in your journal.
I think the only couple I consciously ship in terms of wanting them to have screentime together is Jed/Abby. I do enjoy the back-and-forth tension and devotion of Josh/Donna, and the snipey I-hate-you-but-I-want-you-ness of Sam/Ainsley (she is my favorite ship for Sam, btw), but I just want more cute old marrieds time with Jed and Abby! It's what I see at home, it's what's familiar to me, and I don't see happily long-time married couples on TV enough for it not to be a squee-inducing novelty for me.
Shit. (shoot! gotta watch the language!) Now I need to buy more icons just for TWW stuff.
OH!!!!
And now that you've finished season 2, you must read The Garden Club by Holly. Buffy/TWW crossover! Season 4 Scoobies! Spike/Donna friendship! Giles/Toby drinking together! White House Senior Staff caught in an apocalypse! Seriously, I only checked out TWW after beginning to read Holly's fic - it portrayed how much fun the characters are so well that I fell in love with them without watching a single episode. The first fic is my favorite, though the sequel's Spike/Jed friendship is a thing of true beauty. Really, cancel your plans for this weekend and read these fics. You really won't regret it.
Re: Continued . . . because I get wordy when I flail verbally . . .
I have one in return, also BtVS/TWW: Just Another Meeting by
(It is actually a FitB to her story 'Seven Years After', a fic that goes AU post S6. All you need to know is that Buffy & souled!Spike started a relationship (The First doesn't show up yadda yadda), it all goes wrong (issues!) and he goes off to England and gets hired by the Watcher's Council. This fic is set some years later.)
Re: Continued . . . because I get wordy when I flail verbally . . .
This is the best description of Donna ever.
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Dean Devlin calls this sort of thing “competence porn”
This is my biggest kink ever.
Don't really have much to say, except I too loved everyone, and have later (thank you
I just wanted to use this moodtheme option because there isn't an "in love" option
Ah! But you can have that. Just write 'in love' in the box next to the mood you've chosen! :)
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http://nymag.com/news/politics/45786/
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Second: It fills me with glee to read people flailing about this show. I watched it as it aired on TV, and while I did get the fandom side of it for the last couple of seasons, I never really got that fandom squee (because by that time, fans were often bitter and annoyed with the show and there was a decided lack of squee).
Item the Third: The Josh/Donna thing is so weird for me because I've always kind of 'shipped it, but it wasn't this huge thing until I one day decided to read fic - and immersed myself in it for four months, barely surfacing for food (and I think J/D fic is where my secret relationship kink really took hold because HOLY CRAP, SO MANY SECRET MARRIAGE FICS!). I came out the other end a HUGE 'shipper. So yeah, even though I 'ship them hardcore, I can see why someone wouldn't.
I feel like there's so much I want to say, but all of it assumes full canon knowledge. So I'll just shut up and let you get on with season 3.
(P.S. Bartlet, not Bartlett. =)
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BUT YES, OH MY GOD, WE HAVE THE SAME OPINIONS ON EVERYTHING. To dial it down a little, I adore everyone on this show. But I particularly love the women. Because they are smart and they are funny and they have relationships and they're fucking fantastic at their jobs and literally, they are just so wonderful. I adore CJ because she came from a far less political background and she fucks up but usually only when they leave her out of decisions and then she yells at them for it an it's awesome. And the way Donna comes into her own over the series? Fantastic. BUT LET ME JUST TALK ABOUT AINSLEY. I ADORE THAT WOMAN. NO REALLY. I DO NOT AGREE WITH HER POLITICS AT ALL BUT SHE IS SJUST SO WONDERFUL AND SO OPEN MINDED AND SO FIERCELY INTELLIGENT AND I JUST, I ADORE HER. I REALLY, REALLY DO.
And I absolutely ship her with Sam. Also, I ship CJ/Toby like burning.
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Saw this mentioned on the BBC and thought of you and your awesome tv watching flist! Not that rankings like this are that important as we all have our own ideas, but it is quite fun to argue about them and, anyway Buffy is 3rd, so that is cool! (Though why not 1st? And where is Spike?!!!! How can there be Edward Cullen and no Spike?!). But, anyway, to get back to your post, why are there no TWW characters in the list? There are so many amazing characters to choose from. What do you think?
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Also, I really need to rewatch TWW. I used to watch it sporadically because my dad is totally obsessed, but I had that obnoxious teenaged "my parents like it so it must be lame" attitude at the time and failed to properly appreciate it.
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I have absolutely have to rec you this. Like, right this minute. I didn't realize Yahtzee wrote crackfic, but she did, and it's Charlie and Gunn and some dude from Smallville (which I don't care about and mostly skipped), saying what you're saying and you Must Read It.
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so I'm not sure where you are in West Wing by now, but I'm hoping you've warmed up to Kate Harper (who I disliked at first but as she continued on I kinda fell in love with her for being a total secret!spaz
And what do you mean you don't ship Toby/Andy??? Why are they not on your list??