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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