This CNN electoral map has been fascinating to watch over the last couple months. But polls are just polls. Tomorrow it'll finally go blank and then start filling in real colors and numbers. And tomorrow I'm getting free coffee.
Oh Mrs. Landingham. "Two Cathedrals" really is one of the best hours of TV ever. And "Manchester" is pretty good too. But the other episodes in early S3 are really running together. They're still good but a lot seems like the same stuff over and over. Oh well. Hope it picks up.
I think I'm going to take the whole week off for Thanksgiving! \o/ Might even slip over to Disneyland one day and take a few pics of the Christmas decorations. :)
Yeah, I've been having the same trouble with early Season 3. I keep going 'now when does it get good again?', which is odd for me and TWW.
"Two Cathedrals" though....so good. So so good, even if it does make me cry many, many tears. 'Cause it's just that awesome and sad and beautiful and....guh, amazing. *goes off to watch said episode*
Yeah, I've been having the same trouble with early Season 3. I keep going 'now when does it get good again?', which is odd for me and TWW.
I think part of the problem is that there hasn't been a whole lot new happening in these episodes. Everyone keeps talking to Counsel and there's some sort of side crisis. "Indians in the Lobby" is the first episode that's actually distinctive plot-wise. (And the last episode on the disks I just sent back.)
"Two Cathedrals" though....so good. So so good, even if it does make me cry many, many tears. 'Cause it's just that awesome and sad and beautiful and....guh, amazing. *goes off to watch said episode*
I get sniffly at the point where Jed's railing against God and talks about Josh getting shot. "That's my son! What have I ever done to yours but praise his name?" And then he goes off into Latin. That whole scene is seriously one of the best ever.
Awhile back a friend challenged me to come up with my single favorite episode of any TV show ever, and I picked "Two Cathedrals." It comes as close to perfect as any show I've seen. Season 3's got some good stuff too, once you get into the swing of things.
I've never understood why Martin Sheen didn't get an Emmy for "Two Cathedrals" (or really, his work generally on WW). It makes me cry every time I watch it.
S3 doesn't really pick up for me until "Bartlet for America." Plus then you get the Mark Harmon arch at the end, which is just awesome and we won't go into just how many times I've watched it.
I really can't find anything negative to say about that episode. It's a pitch-perfect character study and somehow manages to be big and grand (the President yelling at God in the National Cathedral doesn't get much bigger) without going completely into melodrama. They pulled something off that I think with many others would have been ridiculous.
I think Noel is still my favorite episode, but that's not really based on merit. I just really really like it.
I've never understood why Martin Sheen didn't get an Emmy for "Two Cathedrals" (or really, his work generally on WW). It makes me cry every time I watch it.
I didn't know that. He *really* should have - he was consistently fantastic in that role, especially in that episode.
S3 doesn't really pick up for me until "Bartlet for America." Plus then you get the Mark Harmon arch at the end, which is just awesome and we won't go into just how many times I've watched it.
I'd forgotten about the Mark Harmon storyline! That was a good one. *sends mental vibes to Netflix to get my disks out*
That's wild! :D But it really does give a great mental picture of population. The giant red middle isn't quite as giant as the land size makes you think. I mean, I know all about electoral numbers, but it's still easy to see these giant middle states and think big numbers.
This is second best.
I saw that! Too funny!
IS IT OVER YET, MV?
*SIGHS* About 30 hours to go. Well, depending on how close it is and how many lawyers get involved.
"Two Cathedrals" really is one of the best hours of TV ever.
Bartlet's monologue in the Cathedral is one of my favorite dramatic speeches ever - despite the fact it's in Latin and I can't understand one word of it.
Your watching of TWW makes me want to go back and watch the first two seasons all over again!
I think part of the reason it works so well is that it balances the big and grand with the everyday things, like Bartlet's mannerisms, like flipping on his coat, or the turn away and smile move (I love how the last scene builds to that). The National Cathedral Scene is amazing and iconic, but the flashbacks pull everything together.
Noel is pretty fabulous. I love Josh in general, and Bradley Whitford is so good in that one.
Bartlet's monologue in the Cathedral is one of my favorite dramatic speeches ever - despite the fact it's in Latin and I can't understand one word of it.
*nods*
You made me just go look up what was said there, because I have no idea either. Found this on an episode guide:
"Gratias tibi ago, domine. Haec credam a deo pio? A deo iusto, a deo scito? Cruciatus in crucem. Tuus in terra servus, nuntius fui. Officium perfeci. Cruciatus in crucem. Eas in crucem!"
"I give thanks to you, O Lord. Am I really to believe that these are the acts of a loving God? A just God? A wise God? To hell with your punishments. I was your servant here on Earth. And I spread your word and I did your work. To hell with your punishments. To hell with you!"
Your watching of TWW makes me want to go back and watch the first two seasons all over again!
It's been really fun, and makes me miss smart writing. There's really nothing on TV right now that's this well written. Where the writers not only can put together a plot, but love the words they use in dialog.
I think part of the reason it works so well is that it balances the big and grand with the everyday things, like Bartlet's mannerisms, like flipping on his coat, or the turn away and smile move (I love how the last scene builds to that). The National Cathedral Scene is amazing and iconic, but the flashbacks pull everything together.
Very much so! It's a very complete story.
Noel is pretty fabulous. I love Josh in general, and Bradley Whitford is so good in that one.
Erm. I love the West Wing and Jed Bartlett and Two Cathedrals(in general), but...I gotta say that my impression of the Big Scene was probably not what it was supposed to be. I thought it was President Bartlett throwing a fit(with good reason!) but giving bullshit reasons why God should favor him and not let bad things happen to him. I made jobs for people, God! How dare you let my friend die! But in Latin, so it sounded good. On the other hand, that's fairly in character for Jed Bartlett, so I can't argue with him saying it.
Yeah, I remember "Indians in the Lobby" as quite good (even though I haven't gotte there yet). But I don't remember what's after that. *will have to look* Isn't it funny how we ended up going through these episode at the same time?
And then he goes off into Latin. That whole scene is seriously one of the best ever.
And, if you can, you should Google-up a translation of that Latin. It's pretty powerful stuff too. And the ciggarette, and then the doors in the Oval Office opening in the storm and...I basically cry my way through the last, oh, fifteen minutes of that episode, really.
I actually agree. He was throwing a hissy fit. It wasn't really that I thought he was so noble there, but instead the "bigness" always strikes me in that you have the most powerful man on Earth raging against God - and all the man can do is get pissed off. There's so much he has in his power, but Mrs. Landingham's death was out of his control, and so all he can do is rage. He winds up crushing a cigarette on the floor, which was a petty insult.
Later on Mrs. Landingham (well, her ghost) scolded Jed saying that accidents happen and to stop using the "things are too hard/God is against me" as an excuse. So I think the episode itself wanted you to think that about that scene.
Yeah, I remember "Indians in the Lobby" as quite good (even though I haven't gotte there yet). But I don't remember what's after that. *will have to look* Isn't it funny how we ended up going through these episode at the same time?
Must be all the election stuff going on that inspired it!
And, if you can, you should Google-up a translation of that Latin. It's pretty powerful stuff too. And the ciggarette, and then the doors in the Oval Office opening in the storm and...I basically cry my way through the last, oh, fifteen minutes of that episode, really.
Ooh, I had forgotten that Mrs. Landingham showed up to tell him to stop whining. So I think you're right and his speech was intended to be more of a statement about Bartlett than about religion or God.
I do think it was. The whole episode was the process of Bartlet going from rending his clothes and shaking his fist, to picking himself up and going on. And I find the fist-shaking stage fascinating - a powerful man angry at his powerlessness.
The longer the angst goes on in a TV show the less remarkable the episodes seem to be. Probably 'cause it's hard to watch characters you like be in pain. Season 3 seems to be the season of EPIC MISERY in both West Wing and Doctor Who (okay, so maybe Season 6 and parts of Season 7 of West Wing are angst filled, as well. I blame the lack of Aaron Sorkin.)
I think you might have something there. It's one thing to do angst, and another to think that drama equals angst. Angst can make for an interesting story, but use it too much and you'll start burning people out.
Well yeah but you do have to admit that McCain has behaved like a giant loser throughout this campaign. He deserves the L regardless of how the election turns out.
I won't even mention what I'd like to do to Palin.
I love that episode SO MUCH. It was the first ep of the whole show I saw (years before I actually started to watch it), and I had NO IDEA what was going on, but I was still totally in tears. I love that song! I love that woman! I love that he yells at God in Latin....It's just so great.
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"Two Cathedrals" though....so good. So so good, even if it does make me cry many, many tears. 'Cause it's just that awesome and sad and beautiful and....guh, amazing. *goes off to watch said episode*
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I think part of the problem is that there hasn't been a whole lot new happening in these episodes. Everyone keeps talking to Counsel and there's some sort of side crisis. "Indians in the Lobby" is the first episode that's actually distinctive plot-wise. (And the last episode on the disks I just sent back.)
"Two Cathedrals" though....so good. So so good, even if it does make me cry many, many tears. 'Cause it's just that awesome and sad and beautiful and....guh, amazing. *goes off to watch said episode*
I get sniffly at the point where Jed's railing against God and talks about Josh getting shot. "That's my son! What have I ever done to yours but praise his name?" And then he goes off into Latin. That whole scene is seriously one of the best ever.
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S3 doesn't really pick up for me until "Bartlet for America." Plus then you get the Mark Harmon arch at the end, which is just awesome and we won't go into just how many times I've watched it.
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I think Noel is still my favorite episode, but that's not really based on merit. I just really really like it.
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This is second best.
IS IT OVER YET, MV?
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Got to get the important things sorted! XD
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I didn't know that. He *really* should have - he was consistently fantastic in that role, especially in that episode.
S3 doesn't really pick up for me until "Bartlet for America." Plus then you get the Mark Harmon arch at the end, which is just awesome and we won't go into just how many times I've watched it.
I'd forgotten about the Mark Harmon storyline! That was a good one. *sends mental vibes to Netflix to get my disks out*
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That's wild! :D But it really does give a great mental picture of population. The giant red middle isn't quite as giant as the land size makes you think. I mean, I know all about electoral numbers, but it's still easy to see these giant middle states and think big numbers.
This is second best.
I saw that! Too funny!
IS IT OVER YET, MV?
*SIGHS* About 30 hours to go. Well, depending on how close it is and how many lawyers get involved.
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Bartlet's monologue in the Cathedral is one of my favorite dramatic speeches ever - despite the fact it's in Latin and I can't understand one word of it.
Your watching of TWW makes me want to go back and watch the first two seasons all over again!
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Noel is pretty fabulous. I love Josh in general, and Bradley Whitford is so good in that one.
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*nods*
You made me just go look up what was said there, because I have no idea either. Found this on an episode guide:
"Gratias tibi ago, domine. Haec credam a deo pio? A deo iusto, a deo scito? Cruciatus in crucem. Tuus in terra servus, nuntius fui. Officium perfeci. Cruciatus in crucem. Eas in crucem!"
Your watching of TWW makes me want to go back and watch the first two seasons all over again!"I give thanks to you, O Lord. Am I really to believe that these are the acts of a loving God? A just God? A wise God? To hell with your punishments. I was your servant here on Earth. And I spread your word and I did your work. To hell with your punishments. To hell with you!"
It's been really fun, and makes me miss smart writing. There's really nothing on TV right now that's this well written. Where the writers not only can put together a plot, but love the words they use in dialog.
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Very much so! It's a very complete story.
Noel is pretty fabulous. I love Josh in general, and Bradley Whitford is so good in that one.
*nods*
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And then he goes off into Latin. That whole scene is seriously one of the best ever.
And, if you can, you should Google-up a translation of that Latin. It's pretty powerful stuff too. And the ciggarette, and then the doors in the Oval Office opening in the storm and...I basically cry my way through the last, oh, fifteen minutes of that episode, really.
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Later on Mrs. Landingham (well, her ghost) scolded Jed saying that accidents happen and to stop using the "things are too hard/God is against me" as an excuse. So I think the episode itself wanted you to think that about that scene.
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Must be all the election stuff going on that inspired it!
And, if you can, you should Google-up a translation of that Latin. It's pretty powerful stuff too. And the ciggarette, and then the doors in the Oval Office opening in the storm and...I basically cry my way through the last, oh, fifteen minutes of that episode, really.
I found it! :)
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Must be. :)
Yeah, that Latin? Only reason I can swear at people in four languages instead of just three. Only two are actually useful, but hey, whatever.
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I know it's immature but I want to put a giant "L" on McCain's head and call it good.
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I won't even mention what I'd like to do to Palin.
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I love that episode SO MUCH. It was the first ep of the whole show I saw (years before I actually started to watch it), and I had NO IDEA what was going on, but I was still totally in tears. I love that song! I love that woman! I love that he yells at God in Latin....It's just so great.
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