I rather liked that she’d lied for no reason she could give – it seems so human – I thought perhaps because she did find the whole situation intimidating
Donna and the diary!! I love it because, as you say, it's so human. It dovetails so well with the larger issues of Bartlet's MS and his failure to disclose, and the way Abbey and his kids got wrapped up in it - in theory, Donna's diary (both its existence and contents) are no one else's business in the least. In practice, of course, they're now in the national interest due to the position she's taken. It's a very personal way to drive home the fact that even the people close to power can have no privacy, let alone the people in power.
And of course, the shipper in me loves that Josh 1. is wildly, coldly jealous of Cliff and 2. gets to read Donna's diary, where she's probably said embarrassing things about him. It's horrible and delightful.
Agreed with the rest of what you said on this ep - I've always felt bad for Toby's staffers there too! And the penny storyline is just dumb. I read a rumor years ago that that storyline is what started Rob Lowe's feeling disgruntled with the show, and honestly...fair.
Writing about this episode could end up being a list of what I found funniest
As I often say on tumblr, this show was secretly a comedy. Bartlet smacking his head on the desk never gets old.
it’s clear Abbey really is in some serious straits (and I love that it’s for her husband, who then gave her grief over not supporting his subsequent unilateralism.) I mean, it was her choice to do wrong and I was glad she moved to the point where she seemed ready to face sanctions for it, so long as they’re just, not politically motivated, but it’s nicely complicated.
I really enjoy Abbey's storyline this season, the way her choices and her career interact with her marriage, and just how much give there is in each of those things. And she and Oliver are just a delight to watch. Sorkin was really into banter of all kinds with this episode!
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2021-09-01 05:57 pm (UTC)Donna and the diary!! I love it because, as you say, it's so human. It dovetails so well with the larger issues of Bartlet's MS and his failure to disclose, and the way Abbey and his kids got wrapped up in it - in theory, Donna's diary (both its existence and contents) are no one else's business in the least. In practice, of course, they're now in the national interest due to the position she's taken. It's a very personal way to drive home the fact that even the people close to power can have no privacy, let alone the people in power.
And of course, the shipper in me loves that Josh 1. is wildly, coldly jealous of Cliff and 2. gets to read Donna's diary, where she's probably said embarrassing things about him. It's horrible and delightful.
Agreed with the rest of what you said on this ep - I've always felt bad for Toby's staffers there too! And the penny storyline is just dumb. I read a rumor years ago that that storyline is what started Rob Lowe's feeling disgruntled with the show, and honestly...fair.
Writing about this episode could end up being a list of what I found funniest
As I often say on tumblr, this show was secretly a comedy. Bartlet smacking his head on the desk never gets old.
it’s clear Abbey really is in some serious straits (and I love that it’s for her husband, who then gave her grief over not supporting his subsequent unilateralism.) I mean, it was her choice to do wrong and I was glad she moved to the point where she seemed ready to face sanctions for it, so long as they’re just, not politically motivated, but it’s nicely complicated.
I really enjoy Abbey's storyline this season, the way her choices and her career interact with her marriage, and just how much give there is in each of those things. And she and Oliver are just a delight to watch. Sorkin was really into banter of all kinds with this episode!