S1e17- The White House Pro-Am (This - right here - this is why you have a reputation as a pain in the ass.)

I'm not going to lie- there are some wonderful moments in this episode.  Some terrific quotes, memorable moments and interesting developments in relationships.  That being said, nothing of importance actually happens in this show- it's a lot of situational drama and comedy.  So what am I going to talk about?

This entire episode centers around how the First Lady is "handled" by the staffers of the West Wing and the President when she is involved politically.  Needless to say, it isn't a flattering picture of FLOTUS.  Here are a few quotes:

SAM (to FLOTUS' Chief of Staff- Your guy's married to our guy and our guy won an election. That's something you people are gonna have to get used to.

JOSH (to CJ, about the President)- Did he say he didn't want you to 'handle the First lady cause he didn't want you to' or did he say it like 'handle the First Lady but I'm not the one who told you to?'

SAM (to FLOTUS)- I think you're prone to amateur mistakes.

ABBEY- Jed, we share a bed. Why didn't you just come to me? 

BARTLET- I staffed it out to C.J.. [argument ensues]

Now, my big problem is this.  One of the strengths of "The West Wing" is what I perceive as a willingness to present both sides of the story.  In this particular episode,  this main conflict has several scenes that relate to FLOTUS, most of them negative, and in none of them is she referred to as Dr. Bartlet.  Same makes brief mention that she went to medical school, but it's used to prove a point that she should listen to him.  Now, I understand that conflict is a necessary element in drama, and as I said at the outset- this episode has some wonderful moments.   To further the dramatic cause by lowering the stature of one of the characters feels cheap, and contributes to Sorkin's reputation for not presenting fair portrayals of female characters.  

Why am I making such a big deal about this?   As I said, nearly every hot-button issue that has formed the dramatic center of an episode has been fairly shown from all sides- the death penalty, census, tax policy, even ethanol subsidies.  The last time we saw this particular character, she was taking care of her husband in a medical capacity and ordering around a doctor from the navy named Admiral Hackett (and no; Admiral isn't a nickname, it's a rank).   Now, in this episode, the only information to balance out the presentation of the President's wife as an amateur (as opposed to the President and his staff as the professionals, as indicated by the episode's title) is made in jest.  

So, to Aaron Sorkin, in this particular episode, I cry fowl.  It might make for excellent drama, but it is cheaply won.   You should have saved this line for yourself, not Dr. Bartlet.

What's next?  S1e18- Six Meetings Before Lunch

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