The only TV I actually intentionally sit down to watch every week is The West Wing. I find it riveting–well-paced, intellectually engaging and well-acted. Tonight’s episode was no exception, and on top of that, it was exceptionally directed. This episode presented a complex problem for the director, as he or she (Alex Graves) had to weave together plotlines that had diverged for much of the season.
The cinematography in the final scene was superb–it was carefully and lovingly paced to Paul Desmond’s ‘Take Ten’. In case you care to download the episode, here’s a torrent link.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
I wholeheartedly agree with you about the quality of this show and its directing. The West Wing is my favourite show on television these days, but I have class on Wednesday nights this semester.
My favourite episode, though, is from the first season. The one where CJ does The Jackal. There are no words for its wonderfulness.
The first three seasons are the only DVD TV Show I own and I am especially thankful, that they seem to come out earlier in UK than in the US – which means I get ‘my’ region code without tweaking the player.
Second it is a show which will never work in German television. First, they dub everything – which mean you would not only have to tranlate Sorkin’s text but also find good voices for it – wouldn’t work.
And I would like to have the show available to watch it the moment it airs. I have no chance to do this in any legal way and DVD production is so far behind.
Every clever made show which is cancelled because ratings are not high enough just means ‘not high enough in this set of watching people’. But it would probably mean also high enough ratings world wide – if they would just redistribute it. :o(
Okay, this is unfair. The google ads on your site just displayed ‘get west wing season 4 from amazon uk’
Nicole, tempted. Veeery tempted.
Agreed on last nights episode.
The ’roundabout’ shots were awesome.
Does anyone know if this is the last season? There seems to be some indication that is the case.
I hope not – they could keep this going – even with Alan Alda or (less likely) Jimmy Smits.
Jeff: I wondered about that, too. This FAQ entry provides a little info, but I imagine we won’t know until the off-season:
http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/faq.cgi?show=4&q=2175
Thanks for the link – yes it seems hush hush.
Hey any thoughts on what was going on w/Will Bailey and the security advisor woman? (cannot remember her name)