Amazon.co.uk Review
There is no letdown in talent or skill for the third season of this blue ribbon drama. One could say these 22 episodes play as a continuation of the second season; there are no major new characters or earth-shattering plots and the Emmys rewarded the series with its third straight award for Best Drama (and unlike season 4, no one argued about the laurels). The third year starts with a stand-alone episode "Isaac & Ishmael", a special show created, shot, and broadcast 22 days after the 9/11 events. Although the final results tend to be sermonic, the fact the show was able to drop everything and commit to a new season opener is evident not only of talent, but of a disciplined work force operating at the top of their game.
President Bartlet's (Martin Sheen) decision to run for reelection after the disclosure of suffering MS fuels the fire for the first half of the season. Depositions are filed against the staff, minor mistakes take on more significance, and the White House consul (Oliver Platt) has the run of the table warning of worst-case scenarios. The focus soon turns to the First Lady (Stockard Channing) as the potential "Lady Macbeth" of the scandal. Channing aces her role and turns her birthday celebration ("Dead Irish Writers") into one of the season's highlights. Assistant Donna (Janel Moloney), her boss Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford), and press secretary C.J. (Alison Janney) all have charismatic romances, but the ace supporting player this year is John Spencer as the relentlessly loyal Chief of Staff Leo McGarry. Whether delivering the hard truth, accepting the proverbial bullet for the President, or being our guide to how Bartlet ran in the first place (in another wonderful flashback episode, "Bartlet for America"), all roads lead to McGarry. Acting Emmys went to Channing, Spencer, and Janney, but the strength of this show is that the entire cast has glorious moments (Toby's taking on the President's mode of operation, Sam's belief in government, or the President's peculiarities of Thanksgiving are just a few). Recurring guest stars--the likes of Ron Silver, Tim Matheson, Mary Louise Parker, and Mark Harmon--deliver some of their career-best work. Crack writing, a breathless pace, plus you learn a bit about government. What else do you want from a TV drama? --Doug Thomas
Customer Reviews:
Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes.......2007-03-12
Starting out with a special episode made after September 11th 2001, this season has a lot going for it. For the third time in a row the series got an Emmy for outstanding drama series, and it is well-earned. Plot. Lines. Acting. It's all good. "Only" five Emmys this time, but in my opinion the third season ranks among the most entertaining, as the diversity between the episodes is high; the plot is hurled back and forth between issues foreign and domestic before you can blink. One minute you're watching a legislative battle on the hill, the next you find yourself in a very real war. The White House fights off MS accusations and launches a campaign for re-election while fighting both a hostile Congress and a world full of enemies. In a fight between the good guys and the bad guys in politics, some bad guys are worse than others, and some turn out not to be so bad after all...
Besides the story line running throughout, there are lots of separate side stories in this one, all stuffed with excellent acting - particularly from John Spencer as a blend between Chief of Staff, recovering alcoholic and Josiah Bartlet's best friend. The script is fantastic, and couldn't possibly have been better enacted. In one place it's drama, in another it's comedy, and there are usually only seconds between. The comedy bits are totally awesome. There are character developments, romantic interests in particular, and relationships developing otherwise as well.
If you buy season 3 though, you have to get number 4 as well; too much of this is about the re-election campaign, and you have to have the continuation to see how that goes. Also, the best part of the campaign is the last.
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc.......2006-11-14
I am unable to see what the problem with the packaging is - the box I got matched the other seasons', and the booklet inside didn't talk about any extras not included.
The criticisms of the lower quality of this season are sound however. It's not that it isn't good - it is, and it is still better than anything made for TV in the UK. It just doesn't match the (very high) quality of the first two series. The superlatives that can be applied to those can't be used in describing season three - the writing just doesn't match up. Several stories just drift - the BSE/CJD issue for example. The end of season episode also didn't leave much of a cliffhanger and I wonder whether it could really have come from the same pen as "Two Cathedrals" at the end of season 2. Still, I have already bought season 4. Let's hope they found that talent.
Simply Superb.......2005-10-03
In actual fact, there's not much simple about the West Wing. I don't pretend to understand half of what's said, but neither does Allison Janney (C.J. Cregg) so I'm in good company!
However, The West Wing is undeniably superb. The writing and acting on the show is second to none, but perhaps more important is the topics that the show addresses, and the way they are addressed. Not many shows could put together a response to the Terror attacks on the World Trade Centre in such short time - most didn't bother in any time - and I'd rather have the 'preachy' element of the show than the marked silence of others.
In The West Wing, we see many difficult issues facing America and the world discussed, and it is reassuring that they are discussed, we hear the other side of the story; we see people change their minds, and it gives me hope that although fictitious, people like Toby, Josh and even POTUS himself might be in the White House in some way, shape or form.
Not many shows are thought-provoking, dramatic and funny as The West Wing.
Bartlet for America!
must buy.......2005-03-22
i know some reviewers feel the third serious isn't as strong as the first two. i may agree to an extent, but this is still a 5 star series. it's an absolute must buy!
Quite simply awesome television!!.......2005-01-28
West Wing is fast, smart, very funny and quite simply one of the best things on television. Credible characters, great storylines and some really good writing- a must see.
Amazon.co.uk Review
This box set containing the complete first three series of The West Wing is available exclusively from Amazon.co.uk. Aaron Sorkin's American political drama The West Wing, set in the White House, has won innumerable awards--and rightly so. Its depiction of a well-meaning Democrat administration has warmed the hearts of countless Americans. However, The West Wing is more than mere feel-good viewing for sentimental patriots. It is among the best-written, sharpest, funniest and moving US TV series of all time. Martin Sheen leads a strong ensemble cast: his Jed Bartlet is such an impressively plausible fictional President that polls once expressed a preference for Bartlet over the genuine incumbent.
Handled incorrectly, The West Wing could have been turgid, didactic propaganda for The American Way. However, the writers are careful to show that, decent as this administration is, its achievements, though hard-won, are minimal. Moreover, the brisk, staccato-like, almost musical exchanges of dialogue, between Josh and his PA Donna, for instance, as they pace purposefully up and down the corridors are the show's abiding joy. --David Stubbs
Customer Reviews:
Trouble in the West Wing.......2004-04-28
The first three seasons of the best political drama..ever!
For anyonewho hasn't seen the West Wing, why not? The chaos and confusion of life inthe White House just gets better and better.
A perfect present forrecent convents to Aaron Sorkin's creation. If you already own the seasonsseparately it isn't worth splashing out.
UK DVD:
- The West Wing - Complete Season 4
- The West Wing: Complete Season 5 [2001]
- The West Wing : Complete Season 6 [2001]
- The World's Fastest Indian [2005]
- Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy : Complete BBC Series [1979]
- Titanic [1998]
- To Kill A Mockingbird (2 Disc Special Edition)
- Tru Calling - The Complete Series
- Truly, Madly, Deeply [1992]
- Walk the Line [2005]
UK DVD List
UK DVD
All Drama
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Drama
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Categories
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DVD
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Video
The West Wing - Complete Season 4
The West Wing : Complete Season 2
![The West Wing: Complete Season 5 [2001]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0007SMDU0.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
The West Wing: Complete Season 5 [2001]
![The West Wing : Complete Season 6 [2001]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000A3DBFI.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
The West Wing : Complete Season 6 [2001]
The West Wing - Complete Season 1
![The West Wing: The Complete Seasons 1-3 [2001] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21K0ZC712SL.jpg)
