Review of Inauguration Day Part II: Over There
Written by Toniann
Sometimes, it's foreshadowing, and sometimes, it's just inevitable.
Somehow I knew that window was going to break at some point in this
episode. Great deadpan response afterward (I think from
Josh): "That's never happened before."
It would be a kinder and more civilized world if saying "Good day
to you, Sir" got any of us anywhere, I agree.
I'm going to side with Toby and say that using the phrase "billions
and billions" in the inaugural speech is a bad idea unless you're
Carl Sagan, which you really, you know, can't be.
Here's what burns me about this episode: we never got to see the
Chief Justice. Okay, sure, it's fun that he's rhyming now, speaking
in verse (a literary curse), but what a cop out. Sheesh.
When POTUS went back to the residence, and Abbey was telling him to
come to bed and he said he was going to stay up, she told
him, "Tony's grandkids are in there, watching videos", and then
referred to Laurel & Hardy (which the president watched, to great
effect, later). Who is Tony and who are his grandkids? Were they
there as in, there in the rooms? Or there as in, there on the
videotape? What am I not getting?
As another poster has reported (thank you, Ms. K!), that was Jill
Sobule singing in the club that Josh, Toby, and CJ went to. Her first
song was "Heroes", and the second song was "Rock Me To Sleep".
Speaking of Toby, at the Inaugural Ball (or one of them) he was
awfully surrounded by beautiful women for a moment there, right
before he and Leo hugged. Team Toby works overtime. As a side note, I
imagine Andy was there somewhere. Wondering when they're going to
pick that storyline up again.
Speaking of Teams, I'm thinking Team Charlie needs to step up and
get to work. Jean Paul is royal an rich and supposedly handsome and
Charlie feels he's got his work cut out for him. Let's lend the guy a
hand. And honestly, Zoey can do better than that drippy French guy.
Won't you stay & take a job, Will Bailey? Well, we knew he'd be
sticking around (and Sam's not going to need that promotion, one way
or another). That was a nice scene.
I love Danny. Honestly, I have nothing better to say than that.
He's a great character and I think his absence (necessitated, I
assume, by Timothy Busfield's other commitments) was part of what's
been wrong with TWW for awhile now. Having him back is doing wonders
for the upward climb out of sharkdom, imho.
Well, okay. I fell for the tease -- I really did think Donna had
done something she shouldn't have, at the end of Part One and even
for much of the episode last night. Pretty much until Danny showed
Josh the article, actually. And what can I say? When all is said and
done, I at least applaud Sorkin for staying true to character: Josh
is right, Donna would never say something like that to a reporter,
even if she thought she was off the record. Taking the fall for Jack
was... probably somewhat stupid, but it was a good-hearted gesture. I
have a feeling Donna's prone to those in relationships, deserved or
not.
Having said that: I have to confess I get a kick out of the
Josh/Donna UST thing. Mostly because Josh -- rather, Bradley
Whitford, carries it off so well. Loved the moment where he was
wondering why she wasn't at the bar and Toby kept telling him, "Leave
her alone, it's his last night here". And I also really liked the
snowballs-at-the-window bit. having said that, I might feel that lap
sitting and "Wild Thing" nicknames are over-the-top unless we're
going to go ahead with this relationship thing. And there are plenty
of good logical and storytelling reasons not to. As with CJ and
Danny, it's the flirt that's fun. Delving into more than that might
get... overpowering.
But Donna did really look great. :)
"Mr. President, you'll have to imagine my utter surprise."
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