Very few television series have balanced the complexity of human relationships with the inner workings of politics as well as The West Wing. This NBC political drama focused on President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet and his staff as they navigated the responsibilities, challenges, and relationships of the Presidency.
Even though this award-winning TV series aired from 1999 to 2006, it's still relevant, beloved, and continuing to expand its fan base today thanks to streaming platforms like Netflix. While many of The West Wing's episodes are works of genius, other episodes were not quite as impactful. It's telling that the worst episodes belong to the three seasons which followed the show's creator and primary writer Aaron Sorkin's departure. Here are the worst episodes of The West Wing according to IMDb.
Eppur Si Muove
Ellie Barlet is forced into the spotlight when news about the research projects she's involved in is released to the press. The President is furious and wants the fight, but that isn't what Ellie wants at all. Toby is determined to find who leaked the information about Ellie. He confronts Will who doesn't deny it, but the audience later sees it was actually the Vice President. Finally, C.J. has the Sesame Street characters tape a special with the First Lady to improve Abbey's image and justify her volunteering at a clinic.
The source of conflict for "Eppur Si Muove" is excellent and worth exploring, but it lacks the Aaron Sorkin touch.
Disaster Relief
This episode has President Bartlet ignoring his schedule to stay in Oklahoma with tornado victims. Meanwhile, Josh Lyman deals with the threat of being replaced and the fallout of playing a role in a senator's switch from Democrat to Republican.
President Bartlet's moments with the storm victims are powerful and the highlight of the episode. However, his motivations, while understandably human, are still thoughtless and a little selfish. That reveal, coupled with seeing how his absence causes trouble for his staff, undercuts those powerful scenes with the victims. Lastly, Bradley Whitford's portrayal of Josh trying to cope is brilliant, but it's still something the audience has seen before.
Constituency Of One
Will is offered the position of the Vice President's Communications Director which puts him at odds with Toby. Josh is on a personal high after being dubbed the "101st Senator." Unfortunately, his arrogance soon plays a factor in a senator's decision to defect to the Republican Party.
Throughout it all, Amy gets between the President and First Lady and is blasted by him when she pushes the First Lady's budget. The amount of friction, confrontation, and defeats for show's characters in this episode are realistic, but perhaps not worth a repeat watch.
An Khe
When five U.S. pilots are shot down over North Korea, President Bartlett sends in a SEAL team to rescue them. The pilots are recovered, but a SEAL is lost in the process. Meanwhile, Leo refuses to desert his friend who saved his life in Vietnam and is now in trouble over mishandling a defense contract. But when Leo learns his friend is truly guilty, he feels they have done a disservice to the memory of those who didn't survive Vietnam.
Leo's storyline is the best part of the episode, but the other storylines don't accomplish much or serve the other characters involved in them. An Khe is an example of how the West Wing sans Aaron Sorkin tends to fall flat.
Abu El Banat
The First Family tries to get together for an early Christmas at the White House, but a hostage crisis and a son-in-law's intention to run for Congress when he's unwanted complicates things. On top of it all, the Attorney General's stance on assisted suicide is an issue Toby wants the Vice President to handle.
The Barlet girls watching the carolers together and the President his grandson lighting the tree intend to provide a happy conclusion of sorts. Unfortunately, it just isn't enough.
The Long Goodbye
In this episode, C.J. unwittingly returns home for her high school reunion where she discovers her father's wife has left him and he's struggling with Alzheimer's. It's a difficult watch as it hits hard and maybe too close to home for some. It also makes the audience long for a return to Washington instead of appreciating this personal departure episode.
Jefferson Lives
Even though the storyline about Zoey's kidnapping is over, things are still far from normal. President Bartlet learns his pick for the Vice Presidential nominee won't , the First Lady still blames him, and Zoey is clearly not over her horrific episode.
Very little is resolved in "Jefferson Lives." One important moment is President Bartlet settling for a mediocre Vice Presidential candidate who intends to demand more from the position. It's not what the audience wants to hear and makes the audience long for a Barlet comeback.
Privateers
This episode is all about Amy Gardner's worst day ever. During her first day as the First Lady's Chief of Staff, she's asked to get the President to veto his own bill and prove the First Lady was related to a Privateer, not a pirate. Oh, and her pictures keep falling off her office wall.
"Privateers" has some great moments. C.J.'s laughing fits and Amy's invention of the Francis Scott Key key award is fantastic. However, the stakes for Amy's failures are just a mirage. Once she its defeat and is honest with the First Lady, Abbey states she doesn't want to fire her at all and just needs to adjust. After all, she used to babysit Amy.
Ninety Miles Away
Leo embarks on a secret visit to Cuba and political debate ensues over whether the U.S. should lift a Cold War embargo. It's an interesting concept. However, the intrigue of trying to prevent the visit from leaking, the possibility of a second chance for a deal, and the mystery of Kate Harper's involvement simply aren't as compelling as they should be. Also, the ending flashback is sad than an intriguing twist. It also puts the focus on Leo's past yet again which is something the audience has seen before.
Access
In "Access," a camera crew follows C.J. around for the day where things don't go according to plan. The problem here is the startling departure from the traditional format of the show in a way that just didn't work. The episode also includes clips from past Presidential press secretaries. Unfortunately, the mix of fact and fiction contrast more than compliments.