Pilot

In this fairly light and fun introduction to The West Wing: Josh faces losing his job after offending Christians during an appearance on a talk show.

Leo must deal with 137 Cuban refugees who escaped on rafts and are seeking asylum.

Each character is introduced finding out on phone or pager about the President having a bicycle accident. This was a wonderful way of introducing the characters, it briefly shared some character traits and boasted a few nice looking sets.

The set of The West Wing was wonderfully put together and looked genuine. There is a long tracking shot through many rooms of the set and I was very impressed by their detail and that the rooms were all connected.

The character of Sam holds the episodes melodrama by accidentally sleeping with a call girl then telling unknowingly tells Leo's daughter about it. This may put his career on the line.

The pilot had a very upbeat and comedic tone. The dialogue was fast-paced and witty. The characters were interesting and they are the main reason I shall continue watching. The nature of the show allows them to deal with very serious subject matter which I am sure they will. This episode didn't delve into anything of great depth, but the light-hearted comedy was interesting enough. However, the great dialogue mixed with character-study and serious political subject matter is what I am hoping for.

This is a pilot that Aaron Sorkin sets in motion, bouncing off walls, clashing, running through tunnels and hallways, and on and on. One of the most ambitious and satisfying shows ever on TV. I hadn't watched this episode for ten years and it was so enjoyable. It shows the wheeling and dealing that goes on in the White House and the characters that make it happen. I'm sure with the polarized environment of the day, viewers will try to impose their own views. But it's a gem no matter what.

Aaron Sorkin's sharp dialogue introduces a super-duper ensemble cast for "The West Wing", a political series that holds up exceedingly well 25 years later.

Rob Lowe earns starring billing, as perhaps the most underrated member of the Brat Pack more than holds his own amongst the first-rate character actors. He's sexy and intelligent, while his foiibles make for excellent comic relief. The main issue at hand is how key White House advisor Bradley Whitford is in hot water for an ill-advised insult to the Tea Party on a right-wing-hosted TV show, while guest star Lisa Edelstein is terrific as a woman Lowe picks up in a bar who comically turns out to be a call girl.

The segment is loaded with detail and leads to a brilliant climax for the grand entrance of the president, iconically played by Martin Sheen, finally shows up and eloquently lays down the law to friend and foe alike (all that's missing is a standing ovation for him. His speech includes a still relevant appreciation for immigrants, in this case for Cuban refugees, many of whom died in a daring escape from Cuba to Florida on rafts.

This is a wonderful pilot episode of what became a wonderful show (well, at least for the first four years), penned by the incredible talent that is Aaron Sorkin.

To introduce and get us to like all those characters, even the minor ones, and establish the world that is the daily life of West Wing staffers, as well as trying to tell a story, was a huge task, but it's all carried off in style.

A lovely first episode.