Written by Debora Cahn
Directed by Christopher Misiano
“What are they doing?”
“Making plans.”
The opening teaser is the ultimate feel-good moment: a flash forward to what appears to be the dreamy happy ending for our West Wing originals. CJ is married to Danny (a welcome return by Timothy Busfield), Wil is a Congressman, Kate a published author…everyone seems happy, and Bartlet still seems healthy and god-like as usual.
Then the President’s limo arrives, we see a pair of feet…CUE opening credits.
Damn them!
Opening almost immediately after the convention that ended season six, The Ticket plunges us into an interesting episode that concerns itself with the theme of identity.
As far as the White House is concerned, it’s all about who leaked the information regarding the military shuttle. Is CJ the leak? Did Kate sell her out in the name of national security? Can Kate be trusted, given her covert intelligence past? How well does CJ “know” Greg Brock? With the mercurial-but-dogged Oliver Platt returning as Chief Counsel Babbish, we get a creeping, insidious look into how well people know each other inside the White House.
Identity comes into conflict when Josh and new VP-candidate Leo meet with CJ and Toby to co-ordinate strategy…only to butt heads about which identity is more important during an election year — President, or Democratic Party? It’s hurtful to watch as old friends and colleagues find themselves bashing each other, if only because an unknown, intangible future is descending upon them faster than any one of them cares to admit…
Identity next comes into play with the first Santos poll, analysed by another welcome returnee, Marlee Matlin’s Joey Lucas. Santos has charisma and looks, but can he convince the voters he’s substantial? Leo — is he a drag on the ticket, because of his past heart and drug & alcohol problems? And can these two men actually find some commong ground?
Finally, Donna and Josh have the most amazing, emotional scene, as she all but begs for a job…and Josh turns her down for political reasons…
…even though he would rather cut out his own heart than lose her a second time. So much unsaid, so much between two characters, and two wonderful actors. It lays the groundwork for a lot of interesting plot turns…
In fact, The Ticket succeeds because it ultimately sets identity as the theme for the entire season. Who are these people, running for the highest office in the land? Who are the White House staffers when they will (very shortly) no longer BE White House staffers? In the span of a fast-paced, tightly constructed sixty minutes, The Ticket lays pipe for what will prove to be a compelling season.
8 1/2
