The West Wing: Complete Season 5 [2001]

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

I realise I'm coming very late to the West Wing: I didn't watch it when it was on TV and then took ages to get round to it on DVD. For me Season 1 was the best - I just fell in love with it within minutes of the first episode. But I have to say that by Season 4 I was - the odd great episode apart - getting rather weary of Aaron Sorkin's increasingly familiar tropes. Even so, reviews of Season 5 didn't sound good and I put off buying it for months. Then I did. And, guess what: I love it! To me the show has completely got its mojo back with sharp, involving plots and - despite Sorkin's absence - some funny and witty dialogue. And it has an edge that Sorkin lost a while ago with his increasingly mawkish feel-good stories awash with wish-fulfilment patriotism. It was also nice to see the new writers disposing rapidly of some of Sorkin's less successful characters (though I have to confess to finding Will Bailey so irritating I shout abuse at him every time he appears on screen). So, probably alone of all your reviewers, I actually prefer Season 5 to Season 4 (though 1 and 2 remain beyond criticism). The episode that flashes back to Leo in Vietnam, An Khe, is in my opinion as good as anything Sorkin at his best might have written

I was never not going to buy series 5 but I thought I would read all the reviews anyway. "So what" I thought. The standards of this programme are sooooo high that even in a dip in form would still outshine anything else by a country mile or 3. There was no need to worry. I found every episode engaging and whilst there was a slight change of style and sometimes pace, I found this to be even more gripping. Several episodes had enormous cliffhanger moments and the laughs were still there.. The administration is all over the place at times and this can be felt through the excellent writing and acting. S5 is stimulating grown up TV and I really enjoyed it. S6 now on order.

Those that say this season of the West Wing lacks the flare of previous seasons are wrong. Although Sorkin left, John Wells and the team supporting him were able to engage with issues behind the patriotic stories of the first four seasons and produce a collection of stories more realistic in content. The season openers are the natural result of Sorkin's storylines in seasons one and two, and reveal the underlying tension in the relationship between the President, Leo and Abbey that has only been insinuated previously. Leo's determination to make Bartlet the President always carried the risk of 'endangering' the lives of the First Family.The episodes entitled 'Separation of Power' and 'Shutdown' are perhaps the most true to life - how many times has the Federal government been shutdown over Budget diputes, with national monuments and office buildings closing? Similarly, 'The Supremes' addressess an issue that remains at the forefront of American politics today - the composition of the Supreme Court and potential long term effect any change within would cause.Sometimes, the dialogue isn't as sparky as it once was, but surely this is a reasonble sacrifice for stories that deal with the issues - such as nuclear weapons, the Supreme Court, the threat posed by WMD ('No Exit') and the Middle East - that feature so prominently in the world today and in such an effective manner.Every show has a season in which it has to pursue a new direction and distance itself from previous seasons, partially reinventing itself; this is such a season.

I've given this 5 Stars because it has been, for me, the best and most gritty season yet. In my mind, some reviewers have been too critical of the writers; what the writers have captured is the tension and fatigue of the staff that has been increasingly apparent as the seasons have progressed. Toby, as ever, has the driest wit and the humour remains across the cast, it's just a little more subtle than previously and I think the show benefits. The strain between Mr and Mrs Bartlett is oh so apparent, as it should be considering the story line. Josh fluctuates between a crestfallen hero and an enigmatic genius and battles back when everything is against him. Everything about this is class - the acting, the writing and the directing.The West Wing is outstanding and this is its most underrated season; watch it now, it won't disappoint.

I can't believe that they've managed to get through 5 series and keep this as fresh and engaging as they have. It continues to be well written, brilliantly acted with wit, charm and really character engagement. Another great series.

I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but I will shortly. What I WOULD LIKE is a notification when you have the "7th SEASON' of West Wing which will play in Canada. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME!!Could someone possibly notify me when this becomes possible? I would be forever grateful. Sincerely,(Mrs.) Salli Walker

I believe West Wing was a awesome television showI recommend watching all seasonsHas comedy drama suspense

I was quite happy to see the price of this set combined with all the seasons was about 60% of the complete series set price, now for the bad part, they are double sided disks for season 1-3 making it near impossible to store in a cd wallet or load into a dvd changer, the case they come in did not handle the shipping as most of the disks for all seasons were knocked loose, some of them even looked like they had been stepped on there were so many creases on the spine. I am going to say without putting them in my dvd player that some of them are too damaged from bouncing around against the hard plastic leaving scratches on the disk. seasons 4 and 5 had great packaging like a book and were not double sided disks, season 6 and 7 also not single sided and the case loads 2 disks per leaf of the insert.

Excellent series! I watched it when it aired on T.V. back in the 2000's, loved it then, and wanted to take a trip down memory lane! I also bought seasons 6 and 7, looking forward to those as well!

Personally this season its not one of my favorite, probably because cute "Sam Seaborne" - Rob Lowe isn't in the show anymore, not that that is the only reason to watch the show...The story lines are getting so what the same, and the president is getting older and he's MS is now taking it's toll on he's body and his ability it work.Still I love this show, and love the acting and the drama of it. It's very fast pace.