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Season 6 – The West Wing

Play trailer Poster for Season 6 – The West Wing 2004 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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64% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 93% 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 6

The West Wing — Season 6

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Critics Consensus

The West Wing is firmly in its lame duck session, a little more cynical and rudderless than before, but the introduction of new presidential hopefuls brings a much-needed promise of fresh blood.

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Critics Reviews

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Maureen Ryan Chicago Tribune The show, like its characters, can tend to be glib, long-winded and awfully self-important. But still, it's one of the few prime-time network dramas to take on the Big Issue with both heart and intelligence. Jul 7, 2023 Full Review Mike Duffy Detroit Free Press The shrewd addition of Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda to the cast has worked wonders. Both actors are big-time TV stars who have flourished in their new political environment. Jul 7, 2023 Full Review Debi Enker The Age (Australia) Political strategy collides with principle and it's not pretty. But the battle between them is smartly paced and superbly written, offering a penetrating insight into campaign politics. Nov 6, 2018 Full Review Ellen Gray Philadelphia Daily News Even at its worst, The West Wing's remained an unusually intelligent hour of prime-time television, but the thrill's been gone for a while... [The season] finale, though, puts The West Wing back in the wish-fulfillment business. Jul 7, 2023 Full Review David Zurawik Baltimore Sun Seeing the flattened sense of pacing now in place, one can't help but wonder if even Wells, who was executive producer with Schlamme, understood what gave the series such an urgent heartbeat. Jul 7, 2023 Full Review Alan Pergament Buffalo News With the real presidential election inspiring more interest in politics and the reality show craze looking like it is losing some of its popularity, it is time to be hawkish again about a reinvigorated West Wing. Rated: 3.5/4 Jul 7, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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William D This is the greatest show ever made. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/18/23 Full Review Audience Member The critics are just plain wrong about Season 6, in which the show gets its groove back to become addictive viewing again for the first time since Bartlett's re-election win in Season 4, wherein the show began to drift into unevenness with filler episodes like the one about C.J.'s dad, Sam's clunky exit from the show, the over-the-topness in the 2-3 big narratives by that season's climax and beginning of the 5th season. The 5th season would have very good episodes like "The Supremes", "Full Disclosure", the shutdown narrative, and the last 3 episodes of S5 (where the show really starts to get back on track) but are mixed in with filler like "Access" and "Han" (Han feels more like leftovers from the cutting room floor of S1 or S2), and of course, the absolutely incredulous narrative of Bob Russell becoming VP. Season 6 just gets everything right (even when it cheats by moving things along by more than a year) from juggling all its old & new characters, watching how they evolve, to the terrific, snappy pacing & witty dialogue throughout where all those narrative strands hurtle forward with purpose, momentum, and without any filler. Season 6 really moves and I found it a refreshing return to form. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Very good season I like how each character was put into a different situation and was forced to work with what they had Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member After an awkward and uneven season 5, this season finally finds it feet again, albeit not straight away, and even when it does it still finds time to stumble here and there. The first few episodes were pure soap-opera, and about as true to West Wing norms as trying to make South Park into a serious political drama. Those early episodes were pretty awful in relative terms, probably because the writers from S5 still couldn't find the right Sorkin ingredients to return to the show to past glories. However, by mid season and a change of tack from the melodramas of Gaza and the Israel Palestine Question, to a more familiar trip towards the forthcoming presidential nominations, and the arrival of two fresh faces - Jimmy "Santos" Smits, and Alan "Vinick" Alda. The story arc for those two characters, along with the departure of Donna and Josh out of the White House and onto the campaign trail, was a breath of much needed air. Even the writing improved by a small margin, and it was also good to be outside, and seeing middle America rather than been stuck in dark rooms and corridors of the White House. The season still had some pretty bad episodes, the worst being "90 Miles Away". But by and large TWW had found its feet again, and come the final episodes I was begging for more! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member I was a fan of the West Wing during it's initial run. I've been re-watching it on Netflix after all these years. It's still one of the best shows ever and holds up well even with the passing of time. But Season 6 is in a league of it's own. The writing around the Jimmy Smits character and Josh and the campaign is phenomenal. Highly recommended. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member The consistency of this show is remarkable. What was anticipated in the previous season has come to full bloom in this season: characters sacrificing trust among friends for a great leap towards a better future. We see the familiar cast grasping the coming loss of time in the West Wing, acting in whatever ways to either prolong time there or act radically under the assumption that they have only a year left. We can see that the characters care about humanity as a whole, yet they so easily throw their closest friends to the curb. Come for the politics, stay for the drama. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The West Wing — Season 6

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Cast & Crew

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Martin Sheen

President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet

Stockard Channing

Abigail "Abbey" Bartlet

John Spencer

Chief of Staff Leo McGarry

Bradley Whitford

Dep. Chief of Staff Josh Lyman

Allison Janney

Press Secretary Claudia Jean "C.J." Cregg

Richard Schiff

Communications Dir. Toby Ziegler

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Oct 20, 2004 NSF Thurmont In the aftermath of the Gaza attack, Bartlet proposes peace talks instead of military action even as he enters into a risky negotiation to have the terrorist leader responsible for the attack delivered into U.S. custody. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 27, 2004 The Birnam Wood President Bartlet invites Israeli and Palestinian leaders to Camp David to negotiate peace, while Leo remains at the White House to give the OK to strike a terrorist training camp in Syria. Details Episode 3 Aired Nov 3, 2004 Third-Day Story C.J. works to get international support from the U.N. Security Council for President Bartlet's peace accord, while Toby and Josh seek congressional support. Details Episode 4 Aired Nov 10, 2004 Liftoff An emissary from the Republic of Georgia walks into the White House and offers weapons-grade plutonium; Josh tries to drum up support for the tax cut proposal and meets an enigmatic congressman from Texas (Jimmy Smits). Details Episode 5 Aired Nov 17, 2004 The Hubbert Peak Josh crashes into a hybrid vehicle while test-driving an SUV, resulting in bad publicity that the new press secretary, Annabeth (Kristin Chenoweth), must counter. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 24, 2004 The Dover Test The White House struggles to contain the story when American soldiers are killed in an attack on the U.S. peacekeeping compound; Congressman Santos attaches his Patients Bill of Rights to a piece of GOP legislation. Details Episode 7 Aired Dec 1, 2004 A Change Is Gonna Come The president accepts a flag representing the Taiwanese Independence Movement from the Taiwan delegation, prompting China to mobilize for military action. Details Episode 8 Aired Dec 8, 2004 In the Room Penn & Teller burn a U.S. flag in the White House at a Bartlet family birthday celebration, touching off a publicity nightmare; aboard Air Force One, the president has a debilitating episode caused by the MS. Details Episode 9 Aired Dec 15, 2004 Impact Winter As Bartlet and his staff arrive in Beijing for the summit, the president continues to feel the effects of his recent episode; Josh and Leo man the home front as an asteroid hurtles toward Earth. Details Episode 10 Aired Jan 5, 2005 Faith-Based Initiative The Internet press runs a story questioning C.J.'s sexual orientation; the effects of the president's MS become more pronounced; Santos announces his intent to run for president if Josh will manage the campaign. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 12, 2005 Opposition Research Josh goes to New Hampshire with Santos (Jimmy Smits) to set up campaign headquarters, where personal differences about the campaign goals are immediately apparent. Details Episode 12 Aired Jan 19, 2005 365 Days Leo starts his new job by watching tapes of old State of the Union addresses for inspiration; Kate, Toby and C.J. spend the day putting out fires regarding Bolivia, North Korea and Washington, D.C. Details Episode 13 Aired Jan 26, 2005 King Corn The Iowa Corn Grower's Expo becomes a staging ground for the Democratic candidates hoping to follow Bartlet, as Russell, Santos and Vinick give speeches at the event, making the differences between them very clear. Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 9, 2005 The Wake Up Call Bartlet confers with Lord John Marbury (Roger Rees) after an Iranian fighter jet shoots down a British passenger plane; Toby and a legal professor (Christopher Lloyd) try to hammer out a new democratic constitution with representatives of Belarus. Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 16, 2005 Freedonia Five days before the New Hampshire primary, Josh is desperate to get his candidate into the local newspaper's debate; Santos hires Josh's ex-girlfriend Amy Gardner as an adviser, leading Josh to clash with both of them over the listless campaign. Details Episode 16 Aired Feb 23, 2005 Drought Conditions When Sen. Rafferty (Mel Harris) gives an impassioned speech that captures the media's attention, she supplants Vice President Russell (Gary Cole) as the favorite candidate. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 2, 2005 A Good Day Santos masterminds a plot to get a stem-cell bill passed; a group of middle-school children seeks out Toby to discuss the voting age. Details Episode 18 Aired Mar 9, 2005 La Palabra While campaigning in California, the media pressures Santos (Jimmy Smits) to take a stand on an anti-immigration bill, while Russell (Gary Cole) and Hoynes (Tim Matheson) both dodge the issue. Details Episode 19 Aired Mar 16, 2005 Ninety Miles Away President Bartlet must decide whether to continue secret talks with Cuba's ailing dictator and lift an antiquated embargo or to yield to bipartisan political pressure and reaffirm the 40-year-old sanctions. Details Episode 20 Aired Mar 23, 2005 In God We Trust Vinick wins the nomination and seeks Bruno's counsel on possible vice presidential candidates and how to react to questions about his faith. Details Episode 21 Aired Mar 30, 2005 Things Fall Apart The president asks Leo to take charge of the Democratic convention when the organization of the GOP gathering starts to make his party look chaotic. Details Episode 22 Aired Apr 6, 2005 2162 Votes As the contest for the Democratic nomination for president narrows, Bartlet tries to devise a way to rescue astronauts trapped in the space station. Details

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The West Wing — Season 6

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Season Info

Executive Producer
John Wells
Network
NBC
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Oct 20, 2004