West Wing: The Complete 2nd Season (DVD)

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Physically, the West Wing is an office building located within the White House compound that holds the President´s Oval Office and the offices of the President´s support staff. Historically, it was built in 1902 as a temporary office by President Theodore Roosevelt to separate the President´s living quarters at the White House from the working one. Symbolically, it represents the center of power for the office of the President as it works to set and communicate the President´s agenda for the nation.

NBC´s television series "The West Wing" is a fast moving and equally fast-talking fictionalized behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the White House Executive Office and the dedicated group of people who work there. Before this, the only public face of the White House are the press conferences by the President´s Press Secretary and the occasional photo-op of the President getting into his official helicopter, Marine One. Although a lot of attention to detail may have been made to present credible scenarios, the accuracy with which this series depicts the work done at the actual West Wing is still up for speculation due to heavy dramatization for a television audience.

"The West Wing" assembles an amazing group of actors who play an equally amazing cast of characters. Democratic President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) is a former Governor of New Hampshire, Nobel Laureate in Economics and former 3-term Congressman. Supporting him is a group of highly motivated individuals whose sole goal in life is to have the President´s welfare and agenda as their top priority 24 hours a day, everyday. In charge of the Executive Office (West Wing) and the President´s de facto right-hand man and closest political advisor is White House Chief of Staff, Leo McGarry (John Spencer), who is also an old friend of Bartlet and a powerful figure in furthering the President´s political agenda. McGarry, together with his deputy Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford), work closely with Communications Director Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff), Toby´s deputy Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) and White House Press Secretary CJ Cregg (Allison Janney) to get the President´s message out to the media. Added into this mix are supporting characters like Vice-President John Hoynes (Tim Matheson), First Lady Abbey Bartlet (Stockard Channing), Presidential Aide Charlie Young (Dule Hill) and the President´s daughter Zoey (Elisabeth Moss).

The first season of the series was a humongous success for NBC, as the show earned a record nine Emmys, the most ever won by a single show in one season, beating out the much-touted "The Sopranos" and making its creator and writer Aaron Sorkin an overnight success. However, for all the great writing and fascinating stories told throughout the entire season, it unfortunately ended in a very conventional manner--with a major cliffhanger--where gunmen ambush President Bartlett and his senior staff as they are leaving a town hall meeting with college students. Although exciting and suspenseful, it doesn´t come as a surprise to many. Assassination attempts on the President´s life are as predictable in a show prominently featuring the Commander In Chief as rain showers in April.

Season Two opens with a double episode premiere that concludes the cliffhanger, revealing whom, among the group has been shot. While early conclusions point to this incident being an attempt on the life of the President, the actual intended target turned out to be somewhat of a surprise. Throughout the summer of 2000, there were many speculations on who will survive and who will not, and to keep to that spirit and to be fair to those who are still waiting patiently to find out when this new DVD set comes out, I will not reveal the details here either. But I will tell you that from the last few chaotic moments in that last scene from the first season, it is not who you think. While the wounded get treated, the story moves into flashback mode, revealing the early days of the Presidential primary, when Governor Bartlett was still a long shot for the party´s nomination. It is great that the writers take this chance to reveal how some members of the team eventually came to work for Bartlett on his campaign.

The second season also coincides with the second and third year of the Bartlett administration, which means mid-term elections and preparations for the President´s own reelection--if he decides to commit to it. Expect to also see the team deal with myriad political problems and world crises that at times can come out of left field. Vice-President Hoynes is again, his wayward self, often going against the administration´s agenda. Sorkin coyly uses Hoynes as a spoiler, the one team member that don´t always follow the rules. Whether he lasts through this administration´s full 4-year term is a good question.

Season Two is similar to the first season in terms of quality and it receives high marks all around--from the writing to the acting. However, one puzzling component of Season Two is the complete disappearance of Moira Kelly´s character, Mandy without a hint of explanation from any of the characters of the show. It is also interesting to note that two CSI alumnus--Jorja Fox (CSI) and Emily Procter (CSI:Miami)--are also recurring characters on the show in this second season.

Fans of Sorkin´s previous television effort, "Sports Night", can immediately identify the witty and fast-paced dialogue delivery style that is also a staple on "The West Wing". The camerawork is also quite similar and it keeps the on-screen action flowing smoothly by moving with the actors as they walk and talk around the various sets. The show´s intricately crafted plot and brilliantly written script sets such a high standard that is rarely achieved by any non-cable network show.