Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26520 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-04-08
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 3
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 495 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Aaron Sorkin's American political drama The West Wing, set in the White House, has won innumerable awards--and rightly so. Its depiction of a well-meaning Democrat administration has warmed the hearts of countless Americans. However, The West Wing is more than mere feel-good viewing for sentimental patriots. It is among the best-written, sharpest, funny and moving American TV series of all time.

In its first series, The West Wing established the cast of characters who comprise the White House staff. There's Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer), a recovering alcoholic whose efforts to be the cornerstone of the administration contribute to the break-up of his marriage. CJ (Alison Janney) is the formidable Press Spokeswoman embroiled in a tentative on-off relationship with Timothy (Thirtysomething) Busfield's reporter. Brilliant but grumpy communications deputy Toby Ziegler, Rob Lowe's brilliant but faintly nerdy Sam Seaborn and brilliant but smart-alecky Josh Lyman make up the rest of the inner circle. Initially, the series' creators had intended to keep the President off-screen. Wisely, however, they went with Martin Sheen's Jed Bartlet, whose eccentric volatility, caution, humour and strength in a crisis make for such an impressively plausible fictional President that polls once expressed a preference for Bartlet over the genuine incumbent.

The issues broached in the first series have striking, often prescient contemporary relevance. We see the President having to be talked down from a "disproportionate response" when terrorists shoot down a plane carrying his personal doctor, or acting as broker in a dangerous stand-off between India and Pakistan. Gun control laws, gays in the military, Fundamentalist pressure groups are all addressed--the latter in a most satisfying manner ("Get your fat asses out of the White House!")--while the episode "Take This Sabbath Day" is a superb dramatic meditation on Capital punishment.

Handled incorrectly, The West Wing could have been turgid, didactic propaganda for The American Way. However, the writers are careful to show that, decent as this administration is, its achievements, though hard-won, are minimal. Moreover, the brisk, staccato-like, almost musical exchanges of dialogue, between Josh and his PA Donna, for instance, as they pace purposefully up and down the corridors are the show's abiding joy. This is wonderful and addictive viewing.--David Stubbs

DVD Description
Includes the following episodes (Season 1, Part 1):

Pilot Episode
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
A Proportional Response
Five Votes Down
The Crackpots And These Women
Mr Willis Of Ohio
The State Dinner
Enemies
The Short List
In Excelsis Deo
Lord John Marbury

Synopsis
The highly acclaimed television series THE WEST WING follows American president Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and his White House staff through their daily lives as they tackle issues great and small. Cast members include Rob Lowe, Stockard Channing, John Spencer, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, Dule Hill, and Bradley Whitford. This release features the first half of the first season and includes episodes such as "Pilot Episode," "Five Votes Down," "The State Dinner," and "The Short List."

Customer Reviews

Best TV drama of all time?
I myself was slow to catch on to the appeal of the West Wing. I had heard of the show when it started on Channel 4 but had little interest in watching a show that I believed would be full of chest-thumping, nauseating Americana. I certainly got that wrong, as while the show is definetely proud to be American, the sheer all-round quality on display makes it easy to live with and (whisper it) almost enjoy. Prime-time American dramas like the X-Files, ER and the Sopranos have proven conclusively that the Americans can do high-budget drama better than anyone else.
The West Wing takes the best elements of these shows and combines them, making it one of the best programs I've ever watched. The acting is superb with Martin Sheen having the role of a lifetime and Rob Lowe being amazingly believable as a naive and lovable guy. Alison Janney has proved herself in films (most notably American Beauty) but this is a great role for her and the rest of the cast are equally admirable, especially John Spencer (The Negotiator) and Richard Schiff. The recurring guest stars are also top-notch featuring such luminaries as John de Lancie, Alan Arkin and Stockard Channing.
The quality of the writing is better than in most recent Hollywood films and is one of the few American shows that doesn't seem to think that the audience is stupid. The humour in the show makes it better than most sit-coms, while the sharp change to gritty realism comes as a visceral shock.
I could go on about this show forever, but basically, if you want to watch an amusing, intelligent, well-acted and thought-provoking show, then look no further. I will definitely be purchasing this DVD, I recommend you all do the same.

Don't blame me, I voted for Bartlet!
When a fictional character is influential enough that a poll indicated 75% of Americans would have voted for him in the last presidential election you know that a series has something special going for it. The West Wing depicts the "behind the scenes" staff of a Democrat White House, the very people who in real life you would probably dislike. After all, these are the "spin doctors" and not elected officials.

Yet this series makes you instantly care for and respect these people. Focusing on a number of core characters this series rapidly defines the personalities of the staff and makes them real. This is achieved by a combination of good quality writing and superb acting. This series has twice won the Screen Actors Guild ensemble award and that is a true reflection of how every character,every actor, pulls their weight to make this one of the best shows on TV.

This first series did not have a single weak episode, but in this box set is one of the best episodes of any series ever. The episode "In Excelsis Deo" (which won Richard Schiff a well deserved Emmy) is a truly moving piece of contemporary drama and is almost worth the price alone. To get this with 10 other wonderful episodes makes this a must buy.

Oh, and C.J. rules! If you haven't seen the series yet you'll just have to agree with this statement once you've watched it...

Political perfection!
At last a television drama series that treats the viewer as an intellectual! Wonderfully written, brilliantly acted and supremely directed. A series that confronts serious issues with the detail and content they deserve, yet provides us with characters to warm to. Lightened by the witty exchanges between C.J and Danny, Toby, Josh ... and well, all the characters; The West Wing is the perfect combination of hard hitting issues and compelling drama. I only wish there were more programmes of this quality on our television screens.