The Debate

I'm watching the West Wing for the first time in 2023.

I hadn't realised initially that this episode had been broadcast live. Straight away I was really impressed by the realistic nature of dialogue - the slight stumbling over lines and the pauses while they were thinking of where they were going with their arguments. Both parties were so animated and so committed to their respective viewpoints. Alan Alda in particular was absolutely outstanding.

If I didn't recognise the characters as part of the TV show I would genuinely think this was a real debate (apart from the fact that I was far more interested and taken with these characters than I ever have been with real politicians).