The West Wing: Complete Season 5 [2001] [DVD] [2005]

I know there has been a lot of doom and gloom about TWW since Sorkin left, allow me to put the record straight.While season 5 does suffer from not having Sorkin at the helm, this is still a great series. The writing does not have the same quality or humour to it, many episodes are not funny - but that's partially through design. This season overall has many truely laugh out loud moments (several in the first episode, of all episodes, considering the topic) but this season is a very serious one, the mood has changed a lot while not being as "enjoyable" as the first 4 series it is still an honour to watch and still has the "wow" factor (less frequent, but still there).This series also benifits from 2 new semi-regular cast members. Marina, Toby's assistant and Ryan, an intern who works for Josh. Both very likable and humerous characters who add a lot to the scenes they are in. Leo is his usual no-nosense self and the President (after the episode "Shutdown", which I will come to) is his usual lovable self. Other than that some of the characters are slightly different, which is a bit unsettling - but not to get worked up over. Toby seems slightly more upbeat than usual, CJ is perhaps more critical of the administration and Josh is less welcoming - these are perhaps flaws in the new direction of the show, but be in no doubt - the things that made you love these characters are still there.The season kicks off about an hour after season 4 finished, the first 2 episodes are sheer brillaince, and the new writers certainly did do a great job of finishing off this storyline. Then, the series hits a slump, both in quality and in the administration itself. The approval rating of the Bartlet administration (which plummets) is much like the quality of the next few episodes. Bartlet is not leading and a feirce new speaker of the house has the White House on the ropes. Then, the episode "Shutdown" comes along. This, in my opinion, is up there with the classics of seasons 1-4 and Bartlet kicks into shape. From then on the season is much more enjoyable. As i've said above, it's not as funny, but it's very watchable. There are several very good episodes later on in the season, especially "The Supremes", "Gaza", "Eppur Si Muove" and "Memorial Day" - but there are many more enjoyable episodes.Without going into spoilers here, the climax of the series is very well done. There are 2 key storylines (obviously I won't say what) both very interesting and tense. We have 2 major cliffhangers going into season 6 and I eagerly await it's DVD release.I know season 5 has gotten a lot of bad press, and while it is the weakest out of the first 5 seasons, it is still very good. If you've watched series 1-4 I do not need to sell season 5 here, as you'll buy it just for the first couple of episodes alone. This season has some dissapointments in it, but overall could have been a lot worse and I think this is atleast a decent addition to an excellent creation.One definate downside is that the boset is a horrible colour! But that's hardly important.

After having read some of the reviews for season 5 I started to watch this season with trepidation, but I was astonished to discover that season 5 is not just good, it’s fantastic! In fact, I enjoyed it more than seasons 3 and 4 – and I didn’t expect that!Of course it’s different to the ‘light, bright and sparkling’ first two seasons, but it needed to be. I don’t think that wish-fulfilment fantasy could have lasted beyond season four, and in my opinion the cracks were already beginning to show by the end of the fourth season.Season five sees a more gritty approach to both the characters, their relationships and the business of politics. The days of Aaron Sorkin’s Camelot are over, and we get to see the West Wing without rose tinted glasses. At this point these people have been in power for six years. They came to Washington to change the world and they’re realising that they haven’t done it – and that they’re running out of time to make a difference. Tempers are frayed, relationships start breaking down. It’s fabulous drama and the acting is, as ever, sublime. There wasn’t a single episode of S5 that I didn’t enjoy, but for me the stand outs were: Constituency of One, Disaster Relief, Shutdown, The Supremes, No Exit, Gaza, and Memorial Day.The received wisdom seems to be that no one could write The West Wing as well as Sorkin, and I’ve even seen it suggested that if you enjoy this season you’re not smart enough to appreciate the genius of the first four seasons. Well, that may be true. Obviously, if it is, I’m not smart enough to realise it! But The West Wing has always been greater than the sum of its parts, and it continues to be so with other writers at the helm. Real fans of the show – of the characters, the drama, the politics and the relationships – will relish season five, as much for the changes as for what stays the same.Rent or buy it now, you won’t be disappointed!

After the cliffhanger at the end of season four, and as the first series with no creative input from Aaron Sorkin, and missing Rob Lowe's Sam Seaborn, series five has a lot to prove.It partially (in my opinion) manages it, a new balance is being achieved with the characters as Lowe's Sam is no longer there as a moral compass and as the writers try to fit this role onto one of the other already established characters I sometimes find myself thinking ' but X wouldn't have reacted like that'...Josh Malina's Will seems to become less likeable as the series progresses and again I find myself curious as to what Sorkin had intended for the character, there seem to be several plot threads (and I'm avoiding spoliers here) that take characters in directions that you wouldn't expect and seem a little 'out of character' with the history already established by series 1 - 4.On the other hand, the acting remains excellent and the series is still head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. Sheen's President Bartlett remains the guy I wish would run for office, John Spencer's Leo keeps the ship afloat making the tough decisions at times when no one else can. Allison Janney's C.J keeps me laughing & thinking - watch out for the 'big bird moment'. And the Josh and Donna 'will they wont they' continues - though Brad and Janel keep their chemistry and the dialogue snapping back and forth even if the script doesn't have the flow they had before.All in all it remains a great show, and I remain a 'wingnut' but there are times I find myself missing Sorkin and Lowe....gone but not forgotten

SUPERB!!!!