The bits with Stanley and the President are quite good, and I don't mind the storyline with CJ's missing reporter and Donna's (semi-trite) realization that she wants to stay in her WH job because of how real and impactful it can be vs just reporting on what happens there. All of that is fine.
But the Toby storyline is pretty bad - all the ribbing about Andi aside, it's so very painfully 2002 in its presentation of Arab-world issues. It definitely reads poorly from an American perspective today, too!
And then there's Sam. He's just disgusting in this episode, such a blinded, defensive dude. The poor temp makes her points so well ("Charlie's a man." and I agree with Charlie's "Damn right" response, but you know, in a very different way than intended...) but to no avail, since this is clearly one of Sorkin's thinly veiled attempts to cleverly defend himself against accusations of doing exactly this crap. It's one of the things that's most damaging to the show on rewatching, and I always groan when I realize that this is that episode.
As was said in the podcast, Sheen smashed it, by knowing just how to judge his performance.
Sheen is so, so good, both in this ep and the previous one. Just fantastic acting, and of course Richard Schiff is right there along with him. It's a great bunch of scenes.
If you have HBO Max, you should check out the stage play of this episode they did last year as part of the US get out the vote effort! It was fun to see them all reprise their roles, with Sterling K Brown stepping in to play Leo. Watching Dule Hill and Allison Janney replay the prank war was especially entertaining.
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2021-11-20 11:56 pm (UTC)The bits with Stanley and the President are quite good, and I don't mind the storyline with CJ's missing reporter and Donna's (semi-trite) realization that she wants to stay in her WH job because of how real and impactful it can be vs just reporting on what happens there. All of that is fine.
But the Toby storyline is pretty bad - all the ribbing about Andi aside, it's so very painfully 2002 in its presentation of Arab-world issues. It definitely reads poorly from an American perspective today, too!
And then there's Sam. He's just disgusting in this episode, such a blinded, defensive dude. The poor temp makes her points so well ("Charlie's a man." and I agree with Charlie's "Damn right" response, but you know, in a very different way than intended...) but to no avail, since this is clearly one of Sorkin's thinly veiled attempts to cleverly defend himself against accusations of doing exactly this crap. It's one of the things that's most damaging to the show on rewatching, and I always groan when I realize that this is that episode.
I also agree that it makes him a poor candidate for future President in Hartsfield's Landing. As someone who watched the show in its original run, Sam is the character who my opinion has changed most on - I did like him quite a bit originally, thought he was funny and idealistic and a nice guy with a good heart. I missed him when he left. Now, though? He's a sexist dick who doesn't take criticism well and is often blinded by idealism that borders on naiveté. He'd be a terrible President. I'd much rather see CJ or Charlie in that role, if they were ever going to do a reboot series.
As was said in the podcast, Sheen smashed it, by knowing just how to judge his performance.
Sheen is so, so good, both in this ep and the previous one. Just fantastic acting, and of course Richard Schiff is right there along with him. It's a great bunch of scenes.
If you have HBO Max, you should check out the stage play of this episode they did last year as part of the US get out the vote effort! It was fun to see them all reprise their roles, with Sterling K Brown stepping in to play Leo. Watching Dule Hill and Allison Janney replay the prank war was especially entertaining.