S1e12- He Shall, from Time to Time... (I'm proud to report our country's stranger than it was a year ago.)

There is a lot going on in this episode, to say the least.  The State of the Union is approaching (Gail's fishbowl features a podium in its honor), Leo's time at the Sierra-Tuscon Rehabilitation Facility for alcohol and valium addiction becomes public, India and Pakistan are getting ready to go to war as soon as the cease-fire ends, and the Celtics have lost.  Plus, Lord John Marbury is still running around offering medical advice (take whatever you want, but make sure to add a shot of whiskey) and CJ manages to conquer exceptional awkwardness to kiss Danny in her office (including knocking on her own door before entering, and trying to take the fishbowl with her upon her exit after the kiss- silly CJ).

There are also some policy discussions over the content of the State of the Union; one conversation in particular is important to share, regarding using the line "The era of Big Government is over":

TOBY- ... the government can be a place where people come together and where no one gets left behind. No one gets left behind, an instrument of good.  I have no trouble understanding why the line tested well, Josh, but I don’t think that means we should say it. I think that means we should change it.

One much larger plot line that is introduced in this episode is the President's health; specifically, that he has a relapsing-remitting form of Multiple Sclerosis.  How did Aaron Sorkin come up with this idea?

"I think it all started because I wanted the president to be in bed watching soap operas. I wanted him, for the first time, to be experiencing daytime dramas, ...And I had to figure out how he got there. And I didn't want it to just be the flu. Oh! I also wanted us to discover that Stockard Channing's character (the first lady) is a doctor and so things just started happening." - Aaron Sorkin

Um, excuse me?  I imagine Aaron Sorkin writing this show with multiple chalkboards, diagrams, maps and Latin dictionaries handy.  Surely my favorite show couldn't be written this haphazardly?!  You wanted to see him joke about NBC's Passions and Jerry Springer, so you gave him MS?! Well, here you go, Aaron.  Hope you're happy.

Sorry.  Just had to get that off my chest.  Back to the episode.

This is huge news, obviously- made more so in light of the fact that Leo clearly didn't know about this; in fact, no one knew except Mrs. Bartlet.

All of this leads us to the first of two touching moments that serve as an endearing testament to the strength of the friendship between Leo and Jed:

The second is a conversation Leo overhears between the President and Roger Tribby, the Secretary of Agriculture.  Bartlet is telling him what do do in case something happens during the State of the Union (Sec. Tribby has been chosen to stay behind to preserve the line of succession).

BARTLET- You have a best friend?
ROGER- Yes, sir.
BARTLET- Is he smarter than you?
ROGER- Yes, sir.
BARTLET- Would you trust him with your life?
ROGER- Yes, sir.
BARTLET- That’s your chief of staff.

And just like that, the President is off to deliver the State of the Union, having gazed into the 321st Century (not a typo).  He is proud to report that the country is stranger and stronger than it was a year ago, and the same could be said for the characters on the West Wing over the course of these first twelve episodes.  The identities of each member of the administration have become more clear, while at the same time their individual complications are coming more into focus.  All of this suggests a depth we have yet to explore, and each additional piece of information we learn always seems to open more doors than it closes.  It's part of what makes this show so wonderful, and I feel honored to document it's hal#lowed journey.

What's Next?  S1e13- Take Out The Trash Day

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