Let Bartlet Be Bartlet
- Episode aired Apr 26, 2000
- TV-14
- 44m
The West Wing staff are feeling malaise as it seems they never get anything accomplished. Meanwhile, a leaked memo is a land mine that could embarrass the administration.The West Wing staff are feeling malaise as it seems they never get anything accomplished. Meanwhile, a leaked memo is a land mine that could embarrass the administration.The West Wing staff are feeling malaise as it seems they never get anything accomplished. Meanwhile, a leaked memo is a land mine that could embarrass the administration.
Photos
- Nancy
- (as Renee Estevez)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe book Josh Lyman carries with him during the first half of the episode is "A Necessary Evil: A History of American Distrust of Government" (1999), by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, journalist, and historian Garry Wills.
- GoofsSam refers to 1st Lieutenant Emily Lowenbrau of the U.S. Coast Guard. Sam would not have referred to a Coast Guard officer as "1st Lieutenant" because there is no such rank in the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard follows the Navy's rank designations. Emily Lowenbrau may have been a Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG), equivalent to a 1st Lieutenant in the Army, or a Lieutenant (LT), equivalent to a Captain in the Army. In either case, Sam would have referred to her simply as "Lieutenant".
- Quotes
Major Tate: Sir, we're not prejudiced toward homosexuals.
Admiral Percy Fitzwallace: You just don't want to see them serving in the Armed Forces?
Major Tate: No sir, I don't.
Admiral Percy Fitzwallace: 'Cause they impose a threat to unit discipline and cohesion.
Major Tate: Yes, sir.
Admiral Percy Fitzwallace: That's what I think, too. I also think the military wasn't designed to be an instrument of social change.
Major Tate: Yes, sir.
Admiral Percy Fitzwallace: The problem with that is that's what they were saying about me 50 years ago - blacks shouldn't serve with whites. It would disrupt the unit. You know what? It did disrupt the unit. The unit got over it. The unit changed. I'm an admiral in the U.S. Navy and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff... Beat that with a stick.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 52nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2000)
It's true that this administration has had a few victories throughout the season. The Mendoza confirmation comes up in this episode, but it's a small victory for a crew who has constantly been undermined by other people because of their reluctance to do anything that would sink their chances of reelection. It's time to reorganize and try different tactics, which is why this episode is so monumental to the rest of the show. Whether this was conceived because Sorkin had those issues with the show himself or because they wanted something new is irrelevant, as long as it actually happened.
But it also has to go back to Bartlet, who I have criticized for being too loose of a canon this season. He seems to be throwing around his personality everywhere he goes, which can be charming to a certain extent, but will alienate some people. It seems like members of his staff have felt that too and are finally confronting him about it. That was the right way to go, and it puts a new focus on the relationship Bartlet has with the staff. It's more of an even playing field now and that really raises the stakes going forward.
I have joined the voices of a lot of "West Wing" superfans in my displeasure for the character of Mandy. She seems to be getting the short end of the stick in every episode, a clear indication that Sorkin has no idea what to do with her. In this episode, her stupidity reaches new heights as she's literally the reason why this might all go south. However, this episode does give us a look into her as a player in the game instead of a boring character. That felt good, even though she's still missing for most of the episode.
I've also learned that Sorkin will do anything to seem patriotic in this show. And hey, it's a show about American politics, so why not seem a little patriotic. There's a moment at the end that would be cheesy in any other episode, but actually works here because of the overly patriotic feel it has. Sorkin seems like the kind of guy who loves himself a little too much, but he lowkey makes fun of himself in this moment, and that brought a smile to my face. It's those moments that I like more than anything else on display.
"Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" asks some important questions and gives satisfying answers that promises a change in the questions that we may ask going forward. It's a powerful episode with a lot of good themes being thrown around, but it works because of its ending moments which is better than much else in this show.
- lassegalsgaard
- Jun 13, 2022