User Reviews

It's easy to see why "The West Wing" won the most Emmys any show had ever won in their first season. Everything is top notch; from the writing, pacing, directing and cast. Even Rob Lowe, who I'm not fond of, sparkles in his role.

Of a great first season, this would be the one episode to show someone who had never seen it before. Each episode deals with some issues the White House has to handle. This one deals with the death penalty.

President Bartlett, a devout Catholic, must decide whether to stay a prisoners execution or let it proceed. While his religion tells him one thing, the population of the US tells him something else. He seeks guidance from different religions and trusted aides, which only muddy up the waters even more. He even calls the Pope. Finally he calls for his old Father ( Karl Malden in his last screen role ever) to help him wrestle with the final decision.

Aaron Sorkin brings so much realism to The West Wing. ( It's true the US won't execute a prisoner after sundown Friday. Hence the episode title) And the Bible passages are all authentic too. While it does deal with a Dem president (Haters used to call it "The LEFT Wing"). The policies and issues on the show are reality based so you kinda get an idea of what the White House goes thru.

While the show deals with serious issues, there are still some humor in every show. Usually at someone's expense who deserved it.

Regardless how one feels about the death penalty, this episode will make you think, a sign of GREAT TV. There are consequences either way Bartlett decides and he has to take all into consideration.

People are too fast to label a TV show "best ever!" (I'm only thru Season 2 but I will finish series) Sorkin left after the fourth season so hopefully the shows quality won't suffer that much. But I will say the first two season of West Wing is easily one of top NETWORK dramas I've seen. Is it as good as "The Wire", "Breaking Bad" or "Sopranos"? (all cable dramas) Weeeeeeeeell knocking off Omar, Walter or Tony is a tough challenge!!

Great episode and what treat to see Karl Malden, in what I now realize, was his final acting appearance.

What a spectacular piece of dramatic art - from the screenplay to the performances; from the brilliant direction to the moving piece of music that accompanied the fade out at the end. The West Wing in its first few years was some of the greatest television of all time, and this episode sits at the top of its storied and remarkable run.

I especially liked when the president just appears behind Joey, and also everything with Joey and the interpreter in it, and also when Joey is talking to the president in the oval office.

The writing just flows so well. Esp in the oval office scene with Joey.

Hands down this is the finest episode of any television show ever. Doesn't matter if you are Democrat or Republican, this episode shows the struggles every President and his advisors must go through when considering to stay an execution. It illustrates the human side to being President and staff during the debate. Do you follow your heart, mind, and religion and stay the execution? Or do you follow what the American People want? And allow it? Do you follow the Commandment that says "thou shall not murder?" And while Simon Cruz (the killer in this episode) is a murderer, does that then allow the President the right to murder him for his crimes?

I give this 4 stars because the B storyline involving the deaf chief of staff for the problematic Democratic Congressional seat was interesting. But I found the main storyline about the death penalty to be awful. Not because it's about the death penalty, but because of all of the emphasis in the perspective of religious leaders and the little emphasis on the perspective of evidence of wrongful death penalty convictions of the past. The scene between Charlie and the President was interesting and good. But the stuff with the President's childhood religious leader was so stupid and annoying. Not only was the hypothetical story awful and useless, but the President didn't address the faults in the story. The main one being that it's a made-up-story that pre-supposes an afterlife science that we have no good evidence is possible. And no one addresses the flaw in using such baseless hypotheticals to try to address an actual real circumstance in the real world. Really dumb. I also wished the ending was a bit more resolved. Whether they chose to intervene or not, it could have been more clear what they decided. I also would have liked if someone had address that the Bill of rights is about protecting the rights of people even if certain circumstances make those rights unpopular for people to support protecting. If that's the issue, the course of action should be to remove the protecting, not ignore the rights instilled in the constitution.

FYI: I generally have liked the show so far. And this is largely why I was so upset by this episodes. If the B story had been bad as well or didn't exist It might have gotten a 1 or 2 star review from me.