Santos/McGarry hits the campaign trail. Talk of Leo's health diverts attention from the issues, and his inexperience as a candidate shows. Ms. Chenoweth shines. Plus some Joey Lucas (Marlee Matlin). The teaser is a flashforward to the Bartlet Presidential Library dedication. The whole gang is there (well, no Seaborn), plus Danny. It's very nice, and the episode as a whole feels more classically WEST WING than the previous season. Plus the return of...Oliver Babish (Oliver Platt - BULWORTH)! Classified information about a military shuttle has been leaked, and he has to grill C.J. Donna applies to the Santos campaign for a job, and has an awkward but excellent scene with Josh, in which he tells her why she can't be hired.
3 Reviews
The Ticket
lassegalsgaard20 August 2022
Although this show is still standing in the shadows of its best days, the sixth season gave the show a well-needed boost. It became exciting again, and left the show off on a note that will push the final season into overdrive, trying to bring Matt Santos to the finish line and get him the presidency. That's a tough challenge, since even someone who would be a democrat like myself wants to vote for Arnie Vinick, but I'm sure that the show will manage it. And we're off to the races with one of the show's best openers, giving us the full Santos campaign dynamic.
I will forever fight the people who say that Sorkin leaving led to the show's downfall. I personally think that the fourth season showed that Sorkin had grown tired of the material, and I think that John Wells was able to reinvigorate the show by putting the focus back to where it was always supposed to be: on the underdogs. After the second election of Jed Bartlet, they became less interesting characters to be with 24/7, so when Wells decided to split the time between them and Matt Santos' campaign for president, it all started to feel like the old show again. This episode is more of that as it really goes into the issues facing Santos' possible presidency and the strained relationships that all the characters have with each other. Seeing Josh and Toby fight will never be fun, and seeing Donna on the verge of tears after a conversation with Josh is also heartbreaking. But it makes for good TV and even better storylines so I can't argue that it isn't the best route for the show. I'm still a little skeptical on choosing Leo to be the running mate for Santos, but the final scene of the episode gave that idea some clarity and left me much more open to the idea. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the coming episode before the election and how this entire thing can turn around to hopefully see Santos become the president-elect in a believable way and not rush to the finish line.
"The Ticket" presents great friction between all the characters and puts light on Santos' decision to include Leo on the ticket as his running mate. There's a lot that needs to be said and I'm sure the season will get to that, but for an opener, this might be one of the show's very best.
I will forever fight the people who say that Sorkin leaving led to the show's downfall. I personally think that the fourth season showed that Sorkin had grown tired of the material, and I think that John Wells was able to reinvigorate the show by putting the focus back to where it was always supposed to be: on the underdogs. After the second election of Jed Bartlet, they became less interesting characters to be with 24/7, so when Wells decided to split the time between them and Matt Santos' campaign for president, it all started to feel like the old show again. This episode is more of that as it really goes into the issues facing Santos' possible presidency and the strained relationships that all the characters have with each other. Seeing Josh and Toby fight will never be fun, and seeing Donna on the verge of tears after a conversation with Josh is also heartbreaking. But it makes for good TV and even better storylines so I can't argue that it isn't the best route for the show. I'm still a little skeptical on choosing Leo to be the running mate for Santos, but the final scene of the episode gave that idea some clarity and left me much more open to the idea. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the coming episode before the election and how this entire thing can turn around to hopefully see Santos become the president-elect in a believable way and not rush to the finish line.
"The Ticket" presents great friction between all the characters and puts light on Santos' decision to include Leo on the ticket as his running mate. There's a lot that needs to be said and I'm sure the season will get to that, but for an opener, this might be one of the show's very best.
Making Plans!
Sonatine9715 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The episode opens 3 years in the future set in Bartlet's presidential library. And waiting for the former POTUS are some of his senior staff (Toby, CJ, Charlie, Kate Harper and Will Bailey) plus Danny Concannon.
There has always been some heated debate among Wingnuts regarding the inclusion of this scene, as it kind of gives away some surprises, especially at the end of the season. And I don't think the scene really adds much to the episode and seems a rather pointless addition.
But moving on from that the episode splits into two major storylines - the presidential campaign and the internal investigation with the White House with regards the leak of top secret information about the military space shuttle entering space in order to help the stricken space station.
What is instantly noticeable with this episode is the editing: the campaign trail is hotting up into a frenzy. Democratic Santos is 9 points behind Republican Vinick in the polls, and Josh (Santos' campaign manager) is micro-managing every aspect of the campaign even though he has dozens of helpers to take some of the load of his shoulders.
Because the campaign is so chaotic the editing is also fast, along with the dialogue. Even the camera is rarely steady, making you think you're watching a fly-on-the-wall documentary.
Compare and contrast that with the more gracious pace back in the White House where the investigation lead by White House Council, Oliver Babish. Everything is sedate and measured, even though the leak has major political ramifications for the sitting government and for Josh's campain trail.
But it is to the campaign that I found to be far more interesting/entertaining, not least because of the apparent weakness of having a former alcoholic and drug abuser in Leo McGarry as the VP nominee to Santos.
Everytime Leo stumps the media ask him about his health, and if he is keeping off the booze/drugs. Josh tries to protect him, but Leo is losing the credibility stakes and could be a drag on the ticket.
But the brilliance of this episode rests on Josh's shoulders. Bradley Whitford shines yet again as Josh tries desperately to micromanage every aspect of the campaign, to the point where he is so engrossed on the bigger picture that he is overlooking key issues that only become apparent when certain individuals have the determination to get in his face and tell him where's he's going wrong.
The final 2 or 3 minutes between Leo & Santos discussing Leo's viability as VP, is rather touching, especially with Josh looking in on them from outside Santos' office. For once Josh is locked out from any involvement while the two candidates become far more lucid in their vision for the presidency & vice presidency.
A great scene for a brilliant episode!
There has always been some heated debate among Wingnuts regarding the inclusion of this scene, as it kind of gives away some surprises, especially at the end of the season. And I don't think the scene really adds much to the episode and seems a rather pointless addition.
But moving on from that the episode splits into two major storylines - the presidential campaign and the internal investigation with the White House with regards the leak of top secret information about the military space shuttle entering space in order to help the stricken space station.
What is instantly noticeable with this episode is the editing: the campaign trail is hotting up into a frenzy. Democratic Santos is 9 points behind Republican Vinick in the polls, and Josh (Santos' campaign manager) is micro-managing every aspect of the campaign even though he has dozens of helpers to take some of the load of his shoulders.
Because the campaign is so chaotic the editing is also fast, along with the dialogue. Even the camera is rarely steady, making you think you're watching a fly-on-the-wall documentary.
Compare and contrast that with the more gracious pace back in the White House where the investigation lead by White House Council, Oliver Babish. Everything is sedate and measured, even though the leak has major political ramifications for the sitting government and for Josh's campain trail.
But it is to the campaign that I found to be far more interesting/entertaining, not least because of the apparent weakness of having a former alcoholic and drug abuser in Leo McGarry as the VP nominee to Santos.
Everytime Leo stumps the media ask him about his health, and if he is keeping off the booze/drugs. Josh tries to protect him, but Leo is losing the credibility stakes and could be a drag on the ticket.
But the brilliance of this episode rests on Josh's shoulders. Bradley Whitford shines yet again as Josh tries desperately to micromanage every aspect of the campaign, to the point where he is so engrossed on the bigger picture that he is overlooking key issues that only become apparent when certain individuals have the determination to get in his face and tell him where's he's going wrong.
The final 2 or 3 minutes between Leo & Santos discussing Leo's viability as VP, is rather touching, especially with Josh looking in on them from outside Santos' office. For once Josh is locked out from any involvement while the two candidates become far more lucid in their vision for the presidency & vice presidency.
A great scene for a brilliant episode!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
