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Season 2 – The West Wing

Play trailer Poster for Season 2 – The West Wing 2000 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 99% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Cutthroat presidential advisers get their personal lives hopelessly tangled up with professional duties as they try to conduct the business of running a country. Fictional Democratic President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet suffers no fools, and that policy alienates many. He and his dedicated staffers struggle to balance the needs of the country with the political realities of Washington, D.C., working through two presidential terms that include countless scandals, threats and political scuffles, as well as the race to succeed Bartlet as the leader of the free world.
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The West Wing — Season 2

The West Wing — Season 2

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Critics Consensus

The West Wing's approval rating remains high and the state of its union strong in a sophomore season that puts President Bartlet to the test and brings out the very best in Martin Sheen's performance.

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Critics Reviews

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Bill Goodykoontz Arizona Republic The West Wing is, of course, one big sound bite, often so idealistic it would be embarrassing if it weren't so well done. Jul 7, 2023 Full Review Noel Holston Minneapolis Star Tribune Writer Aaron Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme pulled it off with grace, humor and some knuckle-chewing tension. Jul 7, 2023 Full Review Diane Werts Newsday Other series might touch more emotional chords, but The West Wing is broader-society smart -- just smart enough to make us feel smart for watching it. Jul 7, 2023 Full Review Walt Belcher Tampa Tribune It was overly wrought with melodrama. Even so, the worst West Wing is still more interesting than 100 episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger. Jul 7, 2023 Full Review Bruce Dancis Sacramento Bee Sorkin's gifted writing, as well as the contributions of Schlamme and the rest of the talented cast and crew, make this second season of The West Wing one to remember. Rated: 4/4 Jul 7, 2023 Full Review Rob Owen Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The feeling that Sorkin has painted the series into a self-destructive corner lingers, but the conclusion also offers hope that the idealistic spirit of [the show] will return in the fall. In the meantime, savor the show's finely crafted downbeat drama. Jul 7, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (9) audience reviews
William D This is the greatest show ever made. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/18/23 Full Review Mikael F Phenomenal! Especially the final episode. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/17/21 Full Review Audience Member The West Wing reaches even loftier heights in the second season, from the fantastic use of flashbacks (season premiere and season finale especially), to the character archs. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member My favorite season of the series. The acting is top-notch. Especially, Bradley Whitford's performance in the episode "Noel" which garnered him an Emmy award. Aaron Sorkin's sharp writing is at its finest. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Aaron Sorkin is awesome Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member What I wish for humans. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The West Wing — Season 2

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Cast & Crew

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Rob Lowe

Sam Seaborn

Martin Sheen

President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet

Bradley Whitford

Dep. Chief of Staff Josh Lyman

John Spencer

Chief of Staff Leo McGarry

Richard Schiff

Communications Dir. Toby Ziegler

Allison Janney

Press Secretary Claudia Jean "C.J." Cregg

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Oct 4, 2000 In the Shadow of Two Gunmen An assassination attempt on President Bartlet leaves some of his team fighting for their lives; a crisis in Iraq requires immediate action. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 4, 2000 In the Shadow of Two Gunmen An assassination attempt on President Bartlet leaves some of his team fighting for their lives; a crisis in Iraq requires immediate action. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 18, 2000 The Midterms The White House staff focuses on midterm congressional elections while coping with the aftermath of attempted assassination. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 25, 2000 In This White House President Bartlet offers a Republican adviser an assistant position after she one-ups Sam during a televised debate program. Details Episode 5 Aired Nov 1, 2000 And It's Surely to Their Credit The new associate White House counsel has a rough first day when her fellow staffers give her the cold shoulder; Sam tries to convince Josh to sue the men who shot him. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 8, 2000 The Lame Duck Congress President Bartlet considers recalling the Senate from a winter holiday in hopes of ratifying a nuclear test-ban treaty. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 15, 2000 The Portland Trip While President Bartlet travels to an education speech, Leo stays behind to monitor a precarious situation in the Persian Gulf. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 22, 2000 Shibboleth President Bartlet and his staff argue over granting asylum to a boatload of Chinese evangelical Christians. Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 29, 2000 Galileo Problems plague President Bartlet as he prepares to address thousands of schoolchildren, including a fire in a Russian nuclear missile silo and lost communication with a Mars spacecraft. Details Episode 10 Aired Dec 20, 2000 Noel Leo orders Josh to seek counseling; the president insists on signing all of his Christmas cards; Sam is at odds with a representative who publicly supports the use of oil reserves. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 10, 2001 The Leadership Breakfast A bipartisan breakfast with members of Congress promises to be divisive; Josh and Sam start a fire in the Mural Room. Details Episode 12 Aired Jan 24, 2001 The Drop-In Leo tries to convince President Bartlet to approve a pricey missile defense system; C.J. attempts to dissuade a comic from performing at an annual dinner. Details Episode 13 Aired Feb 7, 2001 Bartlet's Third State of the Union The crisis of U.S. hostages taken in Colombia looms, as the president delivers the State of the Union. Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 14, 2001 The War at Home Complications arise in a rescue effort to save federal drug agents taken hostage by Colombian terrorists; a senator threatens to run for president. Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 21, 2001 Ellie The surgeon general (Mary Kay Place) hints that marijuana should be decriminalized; Bartlet is angry when his daughter publicly states he would never fire the woman. Details Episode 16 Aired Feb 28, 2001 Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail Toby must meet with unruly protesters; Donna asks Sam to front an executive pardon for a convicted spy. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 14, 2001 The Stackhouse Filibuster An elderly senator attempts to thwart Bartlet's Family Wellness Act; Toby questions the vice president's motives for supporting a fuel-emission standards bill. Details Episode 18 Aired Apr 4, 2001 17 People The president ponders a response to a possible terrorist plot; Toby learns of the president's battle with multiple sclerosis. Details Episode 19 Aired Apr 25, 2001 Bad Moon Rising President Bartlet consults the chief counsel (Oliver Platt) on the legal ramifications of not divulging his multiple sclerosis. Details Episode 20 Aired May 2, 2001 The Fall's Gonna Kill You White House counsel Babish (Oliver Platt) interrogates staff members on their awareness of the president's multiple sclerosis. Details Episode 21 Aired May 9, 2001 18th and Potomac The president prepares to break the news of his medical condition to the public; a military uprising in Haiti forces the country's newly elected president to seek sanctuary at the U.S. embassy. Details Episode 22 Aired May 16, 2001 Two Cathedrals The Haitian army besieges the U.S. Embassy; Bartlet campaigns to fund the Justice Department's case against a tobacco industry. Details

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The West Wing — Season 2

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Season Info

Director
Thomas Schlamme, Christopher Misiano, Alex Graves, Michael Engler, Jeremy Kagan, Ken Olin, Lou Antonio, Bill Johnson, Laura Innes, Robert Berlinger, Scott Winant, Jessica Yu
Executive Producer
Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, John Wells
Screenwriter
Aaron Sorkin, Kevin Falls, Paul Redford
Network
NBC
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Oct 4, 2000