S1e3- A Proportional Response (It doesn't go away.)

Three days have passed since the events of the previous episode, and if the weather is any indication, there are some dark, foreboding clouds hanging over the White House.  Every time we see a door or window, there's rain- people come in with wet overcoats and umbrellas.  Why the bad mood and foul weather?

• The President is missing his glasses.
• The President is upset that there hasn't been a response to Morris Tolliver's plane being shot down.
• The President is dissatisfied with the idea of a Proportional Response.
• The President gets put in his place by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
• The President gets put in his place by his Chief of Staff.
• The President is still missing his glasses.

Also, I should mention that:

• CJ knows about Sam and his plan to remain friends with the call-girl, Laurie.  
• CJ is upset with Sam, Josh, or Toby for not telling them (thankfully, Josh gives her an opportunity to unload on him, and she calls him an "elitist, Harvard, fascist, missed-the-dean's-list-two-semesters-in-a-row Yankee jackass."  It's fantastic.).
• CJ has to deal with a reporter who knows about Sam and Laurie.

Now, that's a big list (which is why we also occasionally hear thunder in addition to the rain), but thankfully, there are some highlights in this episode, including the introduction of three new characters:

1. Admiral Percy Fitzwallace- unafraid to tell it like it is, but clearly has a sense of humor.  Also is curious about the new coffee in the Situation Room.
2. Danny Concannon- White House Press corps member for 7 years and wants CJ to understand what would happen if the person who knew about Sam and the call girl wasn't a good guy like he is.
3. Charles Young- prefers to be called Charlie, but deserves more than just a short blurb of introduction.

Charlie and Josh get the last line of dialogue of the episode before we hear the start of the President's televised address to the nation.  It's a terrific moment, and I think it also sums up how all of us West Wing fanatics feel whenever we watch the show-

Charlie: "I've never felt like this before."
Josh: "It doesn't go away."

What is that feeling, Charlie?  You had quite the introduction to the West Wing... applying for a job as a messenger, you've got a drivers license and your own bike, calling everyone sir, always standing up when you're told to sit down, encouraged to sue the White House by Sam, and barked at by the President- after you figured out where his glasses have been hiding all episode!  So why are you so full of the feels?

Well, thanks an attitude adjustment by Leo (it's clearly the Chief of Staff's job to tell the President to order flowers for his wife, put him in his place and make him laugh when he's in a foul mood), Pres. Bartlet re-introduces himself.  Charlie needs this job to take care of his sister; it's just the two of them after their mother, a DC cop was shot and killed in the line of duty 5 months prior.  A quick call to the Director of the FBI gives President Bartlet the details of the shooting, and he tells Charlie that "we have not had a whole lot of success yet in banning that weapon and those bullets off the streets, but we're planning on taking a big whack at it when Congress comes back from recess.  So what do you say?  Wanna come help us out?"

Charlie replies "yes, sir" and I can feel the tears starting to form for the second time this episode (the first being the pained way the President tells Leo that Morris had a 10-day old baby).  I might have actually said "yes, sir" out loud at the same time along with Charlie the first time I watched the episode, but that's a secret only my couch and I know, and my couch isn't telling.

While I cannot confirm or deny whether or not I still recite this line along with Charlie, this is the point where this show moves beyond just an entertaining way for me to spend 43 minutes.  Deep down, the reason so many of us love (and obsessively quote) this show is that we wish we could get a personal invitation from President Bartlet to roll up our sleeves, join their team and make this country a better place.  We want to help CJ get the President ready to address the nation, and then help Toby and Sam write the speech.  If Josh doesn't have anything to do, maybe we can find something for him to do.  We would love to be the ones who figured out where the President's glasses are.   Pretty impressive for only the first three episodes; and Josh is right...

"It doesn't go away."

What's Next? S1e4- Five Votes Down

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