Review of War Crimes

Written by Toniann

I've often wished I could pinpoint what it is, exactly, that makes me really and truly like a particular episode of The West Wing. Granted, I generally like them all (any WW is a good WW), but some seem to click more than others. This was one that clicked, for me.

I think it's at least partially when there's a theme that threads through an entire episode, something we see experienced throughout the cast of characters in different ways. In this episode, it was the concept of being "subject to each other". We saw it with Bartlet and Hoynes, Toby and Sam, Toby and the staff, Josh and Donna. And for me, at least, it worked like magic.

  • Let me just say, these people are gambling fools. That's quite an office betting pool they have going, reaching all the way up to Bartlet himself (who has a pretty poor system for picking teams). I'm betting, personally, that Sam and his indecisiveness don't do too well in the standings either. Somehow I think Charlie probably has it locked.

  • So what was it with that reporter, Will Sawyer? I loved his sitting in the wrong chair and the bit about brass plaques, plus his quip about making donations. He had a great point about being a White House reporter and how seriously he (and the rest of us should) take all of the drivel. And let's just say, I was intrigued by his interactions with CJ as well.

  • You know, I was kind of bored with Jed and Abbey's religious debate -- oh, it started good, but they got wordy after a bit. Then at the end they made a couple of good points, and then there was the bit about turning on Sinatra. Plus getting to hear Martin Sheen sing "You make me egg foo yong".

  • Don't you love the way Charlie is trailing after them through that whole teasing debate, listening to comments like "any time you want me to cleanse you with water, I'm game"? He seemed more like a member of the family than an employee. Which I guess he is.

  • This episode has a lot of contenders for "most touching moment", but I'm giving the award to Leo, in response to the president suggesting they be subject to each other, saying, "I'm fine. I've got Margaret."

  • Donna, Donna, Donna. I'm not quite sure why she lied about the diary, except that I think she panicked and perhaps she was thinking about the personal things written in it that she wouldn't want revealed... namely, maybe, about a certain Josh Lyman, perhaps? Anyhow, I've got to say, when Cliff the Cute Republican started tossing prison terms out at her I thought she'd crumble -- and you've got to give her credit for that great comeback about how he might be uncomfortable saying that he might have seen her diary while he was hunting around for his boxer shorts.

  • As for Josh and Donna... I think the truth is that no matter what he told Sam, he was still mad. And why? Yes, Donna screwed up. There's no denying that. But Toby screwed up. And recently CJ screwed up. And so has Sam, and Josh, and Leo. Usually they support each other, in times of screw ups. And eventually Josh did. But first he get really smoking mad. I can't believe, gentle readers, that it wasn't just a little bit personal.

  • Sam clearly has not purchased a gumball in quite some time. Why, the really big ones cost a quarter sometimes.

  • Bartlet and Hoynes' scenes were the best I've ever seen them have. I liked the way they really talked to each other about the issue, the way they both really said the truth. And in the end, two men who truly don't like each other very much agreed to work together. It was something to see.

  • Obviously, though, Bartlet doesn't know that Hoynes is a recovering alcoholic (as we do, from the first season episode with Leo) or he wouldn't have asked him to have a beer.

  • Ah, a Nancy sighting. And more or less filling in for Mrs. Landingham. I wonder if that's going to be what ends up happening, more or less, on a regular basis.

  • Leo's scenes with the general (or was he a general? I can't recall) were leading up to something, I could tell, but I didn't guess what. Shockingly powerful. Leo was very much rocked to the core, and John Spencer was amazing, wasn't he?

  • I confess, I got a big chuckle out of Toby hiding from CJ behind a paper. Don't forget, Toby, she's not just The Jackal, she's The Enforcer.

  • And I also loved what Toby said to the assembled staffers. Far more effective than storming and railing and yelling at them, Tobster -- just give them the ultimate guilt trip instead. But what he said, in all seriousness, was nice. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for you." Ah, there's the Toby I love.

  • As a complete side note, is it just me or are there a lot of hair color commercials during TWW? Is there something about us as a demographic that makes people think hair color is important to us West Wing viewers?

  • Lastly, Josh and Donna's final scene by the fountain was a great finishing touch. Unfortunately our phone rang just then (of *course* I didn't answer it, but I was distracted) and I missed a couple of lines. What I didn't catch was whether Josh said he's read the diary or not, before giving it to Cliff. Anyhow, when he sat back down and put his arm around Donna (loosely) and said, "It's gonna be alright", I thought, yes indeed, be subject to each other.

    "Oh, like I'm not already going to hell."

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