Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2178 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-09-26
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Danish, Greek, Finnish, Swedish, Hebrew, Arabic
• Number of discs: 6
• Running time: 912 minutes

DVD Description
The West Wing returns for a behind-the-scenes look at another year in the life of the eclectic group of frenzied staffers in the Oval Office from creator Aaron Sorkin. The sixth season has enjoyed popular and critical resurgence in the US, thanks in part to the addition of recurring guest stars Alan Alda as Republican Presidential candidate Arnold Vinick and Jimmy Smits as Democratic candidate Matthew Santos, a bright and enigmatic congressman from Texas. Both go up against current Vice President and candidate, Robert Russell played by Gary Cole.

We rejoin the Bartlet administration in the aftermath of the Gaza Strip attack that seriously wounded Donna and killed several others and finds President Bartlet facing strong opposition to his peace plans. Defying the wishes of the majority of Congress - including some of the White House's democratic allies - the American People and the Vice President, Bartlet persists in the hope that inviting Palestinian and Iranian leaders to participate in peace talks will forestall the necessity of a U.S. military retaliation. Even Leo feels that the President should order an attack to make a decisive statement on terrorism.

Adding to the stresses of the peace negotiations, magicians Penn and Teller cause controversy at the White House when they burn the American flag as part of their act celebrating Bartlet's birthday. An asteroid hurtles towards Earth and a leak of oxygen on the International Space Station requires a controversial rescue mission and Bartlet is stricken by a paralyzing episode of his multiple sclerosis.

Synopsis
The Presidential race is on. Following the events of the Gaza Strip President Bartlett continues in his hope to bring the Palestinian and Iranian leaders to peace talks so stop any chance of military action. In addition to this, the American flag goes up in smoke during a magic act celebrating Bartlett's birthday; an asteroid is rapidly moving towards Earth; a rescue mission is required at the International Space Centre; and Bartlett is debilitated by his multiple sclerosis.

Customer Reviews

Things Fall Apart
'Things Fall Apart' is the title of one of the episodes of this sixth series, and serves as a useful epigram for what is an inevitable theme given the story elements which have led us to Season Six. The production team very bravely (and wisely) avoid mawkish sentiment in giving us a Bartlet who may be brilliant but is also human, and in this series we see the ideal President of the first few seasons fleshed out as we witness the final endgames of his administration. The cast are, as always, superb, and if we as viewers mourn the energy and intimacy they shared in the earlier series I believe that that is deliberate - change is hard, as hard for us as viewers as it is for the staffers we've come to love.

'West Wing' is, for my money, probably the best television drama ever made, and so long as the writers are willing to challenge our comfort it can certainly remain so. Whether it can succeed through future cast changes remains to be seen... Roll on Series Seven.

The Triumph and the Tragedy
American TV can be so cheesy - you know the stuff - canned laughter, pauses for effect etc etc. Sometimes it can be among the best in the world - and this season of the West Wing sits happily in that range. It's passionate; it's edgy; it's optimistic; and it's a fitting tribute to John Spenser who very sadly died shortly after it's completion. Among the best acting that all the main stars - and the superb supporting cast - have ever done. This is believable, with a little more grit and realism than some of the outright idealism that some previous seasons have embraced. This is the story of the fall of a great and noble King - and the making and rise of the next king. Martin Sheen has never been better. Alan Alda is totally believable as the Republican challenger and Jimmy Smits confirms the acting range previously hinted at in TV series he's held together in the past. Fans will not need converted or talked into watching and buying this set, but for newcomers to the West Wing, it just doesn't get better than this. Vive la Republic! Martin Sheen for PM!

A return to form
Season 6 of the West Wing marks a return to form for West Wing devotees who have missed the Sorkin-written snappy dialogue of the early seasons. We're in the run up to the next Presidential Race and the big question on everyone's lips is who will hold the Democratic ticket. And in the background there's the minor question of still having a country to run...

As ever, the ensemble cast work beautifully together, with Bradley Whitford a stand-out as Josh Lyman, and the addition of Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda deepening the cast. Alda in particular is an excellent addition as a Republican senator and in introducing his character as a sympathetic, nuanced and unstereotypical Republican the team behind the show have gone a long way in redressing its previously one dimensional representation of Republicans. Of course, the world would be a better place if any politicians actually were as intelligent and altruistic as Bartlett or Vinick - Democrat or Republican, but if you are able to suspend your disbelief on that score you won't be disappointed by the quality of this season. The West Wing remains one of the few "must see" intelligent dramas being produced these days: enjoy it while it is still topical.