Written by Lawrence O’Donnell Jr.
Directed by Christopher Misiano
“You know what I hate most about campaigns? Surprises. I don’t want them. Got it?”
This was the most masterful game of chess I’ve seen depicted on television in some time. Tactics, machinations, moves and counter-moves. Palpable hits against opponents, and questions of loyalty.
This was definitely Vinick’s episode, and Alan Alda was his usual stunning self. You can see the cogwheels in his brain ticking away as he thinks of ways to increase the gap between himself and Santos. You can see the joy in his eyes as he realizes he’s got Santos cornered on immigration issues…and you can see the depth of rage as he faces off against the religious wing of his party.
The end result is that, as both Santos and Vinick are told, sometimes you have good days, and sometimes you have bad days. Message of the Week tells a tale that the insipid Commander-in-Chief could never tell. THAT series is about the evil people trying to stop the good guys from running the country.
There are few, if any, good guys or bad guys on The West Wing. This episode in particular shows that partisan politics is much deeper, much more complicated, and much more subtle than its surface gloss makes us believe. There are moderates and hard liners in both parties. There are conflicts and crises of consciousness. These are human beings with deeply held beliefs…allied with, and fighting against, other human beings with other beliefs. There are no right answers � only shades of truth. This is meaty stuff, far removed from the black-and-white travesty of Commander-in-Chief.
Then there’s the loyalty sub-plot. Bruno’s confrontation with Josh, Vinick’s battle with his party’s right, Leon resigning from Vinick’s team…they’re all presented without resolution. The arguments and hurt feelings hang there, as in real life. A few pat words and assurances aren’t going to solve such issues, and there will be long term consequences for many of these characters. Leon’s departure is particularly poignant, as it illustrates the cultural and ethnic divides in America in a simple, quiet, painful scene.
Message of Week is a masterful episode, and its central message is taken right out of physics: for every action, there is an equal & opposite reaction. Few shows illustrate this principle as delicately as The West Wing.
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