3 reviews
The Bartlet Presidential Library
- robrosenberger
- Jan 2, 2013
- Permalink
The Ticket
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.
- lassegalsgaard
- Aug 19, 2022
- Permalink
Making Plans!
- Sonatine97
- May 14, 2020
- Permalink