On the eve of the State of the Union address, Bartlet collapses in the Oval. Abbey rushes home. Leo figures out that there's something they're not telling him...and the multiple sclerosis plot line, one of the most compelling in show history, is off to the races. Some strange magic is in the air, as Mallory kisses Sam in appreciation for his President's letter of support for Leo, then C.J. gets Danny into her office and kisses the hell out of him. The final scene is one of the best in show history, as Jed tells his secretary of agriculture (Harry Groener, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) what to do in case he has to assume the Presidency. As if that's not enough, we've also got a little Fitz and some Lord John M.
4 Reviews
He Shall, from Time to Time...
lassegalsgaard7 June 2022
After having sat through a first season that I found to be entertaining, yet not to the standard that many other people had held this show, I was starting to wonder if "The West Wing" just wasn't for me. I mean, there are so many good shows out there, and I don't think it's so weird that there may be one or two of them that I don't get the hype for. I already know a couple of them, actually. However, these last few episodes have been enough for me to reassess all that and keep coming back to see where these characters would go and to see if they could somehow get me more hooked than I had already been. "In Excelsis Deo" did that with flying colors, and since then I've been very excited to see what the next few episodes would bring me. "He Shall, from Time to Time..." is an episode that finally brings a lot of stakes to the table and introduces a subplot that I found very unexpected, but also found to be the right way to go. It creates a lot of tension and urgency for these characters and provides some answers to questions I've had throughout the show. This episode was great, and it pulls out all the big guns, including more of Aaron Sorkin's exceptional writing. At the heart, it's about these characters and how they will do everything for each other, which is the thing they really needed to sell to make this show great.
I've needed something to understand where President Bartlet is coming from. I found his personality to be incredibly mixed over the season, and it seems like he hasn't been taking the role he has serious, except for a few fleeting moments. If this episode gave us anything, it gave us answers to that. Sure, it came in the form of a reveal that feels a tiny bit forced in some ways, but it added a lot of dramatic tension to the episode and explained more things about this character than I think even they realized they'd done at the time.
Throughout the episode, we see him struggle to get back to the job that he has been elected to do, seeing that passion that might have gotten him elected in the first place. If this episode was specifically focused on giving Bartlet more development, it definitely worked. If it wasn't, it still worked that way. Because with one swoop of that pen, they've managed to craft the makings of a great man that I believe would have been elected president, and he differs himself greatly from the more clownish man we've seen him as for the entirety of this season.
This situation that he finds himself in spreads to the other areas of the episode, which is also filled with a lot of tension. Not only is the President ill, but they're dealing with the fallout of Leo's past substance abuse. That offers another emotional crux of the episode, again focusing on the care that these people ultimately have for each other. This was something that I felt was severely lacking in the beginning, but it's coming out in full force now. And the simple thing of seeing these people actually like each other is what's making this show work.
There's definitely a lot to be said about each actor in this show. They're all showing an incredible amount of range, both performing in their humorous Sorkin-way, but giving the dramatic chops to balance as well. Martin Sheen really proves his acting abilities in this episode and goes beyond the fun demeanor he's had before. It's a very serious Bartlet we see in this episode, and if it wasn't for Sheen's incredible gift of being able to change his facial expression on a dime, it wouldn't have made as much sense. But he is talented and it makes Bartlet better.
"He Shall, from Time to Time..." is another great episode that focuses solely on character development, and it succeeds in making Bartlet a diverse character. It's largely focused on him, so he gets a lot of time to shine, but all the characters have moments of triumph in the episode which makes for a joyous experience.
I've needed something to understand where President Bartlet is coming from. I found his personality to be incredibly mixed over the season, and it seems like he hasn't been taking the role he has serious, except for a few fleeting moments. If this episode gave us anything, it gave us answers to that. Sure, it came in the form of a reveal that feels a tiny bit forced in some ways, but it added a lot of dramatic tension to the episode and explained more things about this character than I think even they realized they'd done at the time.
Throughout the episode, we see him struggle to get back to the job that he has been elected to do, seeing that passion that might have gotten him elected in the first place. If this episode was specifically focused on giving Bartlet more development, it definitely worked. If it wasn't, it still worked that way. Because with one swoop of that pen, they've managed to craft the makings of a great man that I believe would have been elected president, and he differs himself greatly from the more clownish man we've seen him as for the entirety of this season.
This situation that he finds himself in spreads to the other areas of the episode, which is also filled with a lot of tension. Not only is the President ill, but they're dealing with the fallout of Leo's past substance abuse. That offers another emotional crux of the episode, again focusing on the care that these people ultimately have for each other. This was something that I felt was severely lacking in the beginning, but it's coming out in full force now. And the simple thing of seeing these people actually like each other is what's making this show work.
There's definitely a lot to be said about each actor in this show. They're all showing an incredible amount of range, both performing in their humorous Sorkin-way, but giving the dramatic chops to balance as well. Martin Sheen really proves his acting abilities in this episode and goes beyond the fun demeanor he's had before. It's a very serious Bartlet we see in this episode, and if it wasn't for Sheen's incredible gift of being able to change his facial expression on a dime, it wouldn't have made as much sense. But he is talented and it makes Bartlet better.
"He Shall, from Time to Time..." is another great episode that focuses solely on character development, and it succeeds in making Bartlet a diverse character. It's largely focused on him, so he gets a lot of time to shine, but all the characters have moments of triumph in the episode which makes for a joyous experience.
Acting Masterclass from Richard
StuffedCat3 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
As with every episode, there are some excellent one-liners in this - especially memorable are the teleprompt typos in the opening scene - and the standard of acting, by everyone involved, is top-notch as usual.
There is though, for me, one scene in particular which stands out. It's not long, it's not 'dramatic', but in just a few words it says so much about Toby Ziegler as a character. It also proves beyond question that Richard Schiff is one hell of an actor!
In a short scene, Toby convinces President Bartlett and Josh Lyman to change not just some words in a 'State of the Union' speech mere hours away from delivery, but its entire sentiment.
I've watched this episode more than a score of times, and this little nugget never fails to bring a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. It's just THAT powerful.
There is though, for me, one scene in particular which stands out. It's not long, it's not 'dramatic', but in just a few words it says so much about Toby Ziegler as a character. It also proves beyond question that Richard Schiff is one hell of an actor!
In a short scene, Toby convinces President Bartlett and Josh Lyman to change not just some words in a 'State of the Union' speech mere hours away from delivery, but its entire sentiment.
I've watched this episode more than a score of times, and this little nugget never fails to bring a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. It's just THAT powerful.
THE WEST WING: SEASON 1, EPISODE 12: He Shall, from Time to Time..
dalydj-918-25517517 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
THE WEST WING: SEASON 1, EPISODE 12: He Shall, from Time to Time..
Directed by: Arlene Sanford
Written by: Aaron Sorkin
This episode brings to the table a couple of plots that been building up from past episodes. Especially everything involving Leo and his past struggle. John Spencer shows his greatness in the role as he can play cold and caring from scene to scene.
The episode also features characters reacting to President Bartlet as he has had a medical issue leading to him being bed ridden and out of action for most of the episode.
With this we get the return of Abbey and with this return we get a reveal about the true medical condition the president is suffering from. It really is incredible to witness great actors like Martin Sheen, John Spencer & Stockard Channing acting opposite one another. I always love a series which relies on its elder state actors who can really bring history to the relationship of their characters.
This episode brings to the table a couple of plots that been building up from past episodes. Especially everything involving Leo and his past struggle. John Spencer shows his greatness in the role as he can play cold and caring from scene to scene.
The episode also features characters reacting to President Bartlet as he has had a medical issue leading to him being bed ridden and out of action for most of the episode.
With this we get the return of Abbey and with this return we get a reveal about the true medical condition the president is suffering from. It really is incredible to witness great actors like Martin Sheen, John Spencer & Stockard Channing acting opposite one another. I always love a series which relies on its elder state actors who can really bring history to the relationship of their characters.
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