And here we are, back again. This time, it's a completely different show with Aaron Sorkin having left due to issues with the network, with executive producer John Wells taking over as showrunner and writer. This was never going to be an easy job to fit into, especially after Sorkin's legendary tenure on the show. However, it seems like Wells is well-versed in what came before and how Sorkin crafted the scenarios and characters, so why not give him a chance and see what happens. This first episode is a fine carry-over from the last season, but not an inherently great episode to start with.
I'm not blaming this on the transition between the two heads, as this episode feels like it was written during the "Sorkin-period." The character all seem like themselves and go through the episode not experiencing any big changes. However, there is something that's missing, and I'm not sure if it's the focus. I was interested in seeing where they were going with this kidnapping storyline, and I think having Bartlet invoke the 25th Amendment was a good narrative device. However, in this episode, they're trying to cram a lot of ideas into one season premiere, focusing on the kidnapping, but somehow also managing to focus on the aftermath of the kidnapping before it has even been resolved. The characters seem like they're in need of a focus and I think that's where the clash of interest come in. I'm not sure that Wells ever really wanted to work on this kidnapping storyline, so a lot of the things he may have wanted to dive into are being introduced a little too soon, not allowing the show's already-set arcs to play out. That's where it loses me a bit. I think that the character interactions are still really good, and I think it's great that we're finally seeing more of Bartlet's personal life, but it all seems like it's coming on a little too fast. Also, whoever did the lighting on this episode should be fired. Either it was cartoonishly over-exposed or too dark to see anything. That wasn't a good showcase of whatever they wanted to showcase.
With "7A WF 83429," we're entering new territory, and while the characters seem like they're the same, the overall narrative is a little muddled now. I'm hoping that Wells will find a way to resolve this issue and carry on with whatever he wants to do and bring the show back to its former glory.