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Season 5 – The West Wing

Play trailer Poster for Season 5 – The West Wing Sep 2003 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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65% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 85% 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 5

The West Wing — Season 5

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Critics Consensus

John Wells admirably tries to maintain the spirit of Aaron Sorkin's vision after succeeding him, but The West Wing's fifth season is a decidedly rocky changing of the guard.

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Critics Reviews

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Robert Philpot Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com 07/07/2023
The storyline continues with a morose season premiere that lacks the snap this drama is known for. So immediately, the loss of "Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin is noticeable. Go to Full Review Neal Justin Minneapolis Star Tribune 07/07/2023
3/4
In the past, West Wing staffers would fight, but quickly make up over quips and cognac. These days, grudges linger, and White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer) hasn't cracked a smile all season. Go to Full Review Karen Heller Philadelphia Inquirer 07/07/2023
The West Wing is, sadly, losing its appeal. It's jowly, saggy and darker -- literally, as if it were lit with 40-watt bulbs. Go to Full Review Rick Kushman Sacramento Bee 07/07/2023
In its best seasons, The West Wing was nearly a national hour of healing... Now? It's just another TV show, a show that relies on formula and cheap emotion, on TV conventions that ring as familiar as they do false. Go to Full Review Alan Pergament Buffalo News 07/07/2023
3.5/4
There may still be lingering doubts that Wells and his top-notch writing staff will make anyone forget that Sorkin's voice is gone. But the emotional, operatic opener gives one hope that this presidency -- and this series -- will survive. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mick O. @Greenguy33 Dec 29 Series drops a bit this season See more William D @Williams0604 12/18/2023 This is the greatest show ever made. See more 12/21/2019 The season of transition, so to speak. With Sorkin and co jumping ship after S4 the noticeable shift in writing styles is all too apparent for season 5. From a foundation of solid drama and subtle wit from earlier season, we now find a confused season 5 where all the lead characters seem to have grown massive chips on their shoulders, bickering and arguing with everyone; while also watering down the tight drama into a wishy-washy melodrama fit only for a second rate TV soap. That said, there are a handful of stellar episodes in "The Supremes", "Separation of Powers" , "Slow News Day" and "The Warfare of Genghis Khan". It is just a shame these are in the minority compared to the relative poor offerings from the remaining episodes. See more 06/15/2017 What pervades the airs of the West Wing is greater distrust in each other, for accomplishing whatever is on the agenda. Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) and Donna Moss (Janel Moloney) bicker more frequently, Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) and Will Bailey (Joshua Molina) are each other's red alert, Abby Bartlet (Stockard Channing) gives close to zero shits about what the public thinks of her, and, generally, no one character seems to be able to find joy, even when the resources are right in front of them. And this is most true for President Bartlet (Martin Sheen), who is far less compromising with his staff, Congress, his family, his constituents, in the wake of a family tragedy. Not on the issues you might expect, though. Individual episodes still resound, be it for phenomenal performances by this now all-star cast, compelling topical discussions, or appreciable storytelling techniques. Still a great show, continuing to grow subtler in its development. See more Grant S @grantss 08/28/2014 The season when the writers jumped the shark. Started well enough but it gets quite silly and overly preachy (again) towards the end. Plus, they killed off one of the best and most likable characters in the series, Admiral Fitzwallace. If they had killed off Toby and Will Bailey instead, it would have been a great season. See more Read all reviews
The West Wing — Season 5

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Cast & Crew

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Martin Sheen

President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet

John Spencer

Chief of Staff Leo McGarry

Bradley Whitford

Dep. Chief of Staff Josh Lyman

Richard Schiff

Communications Dir. Toby Ziegler

Allison Janney

Press Secretary Claudia Jean "C.J." Cregg

Dulé Hill

Charlie Young

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 24, 2003 7A WF 83429 The search continues for the president's abducted daughter; the administration weighs launching a pre-emptive military strike; news breaks about Bartlet's approval for the assassination of a terrorist leader. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 1, 2003 The Dogs of War House Speaker Walken (John Goodman) presides over the bombardment of terrorist camps; Zoey's kidnappers deliver an ultimatum; Toby visits his newborn twins while drafting two presidential speeches that hinge on Zoey's fate. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 8, 2003 Jefferson Lives Bartlet endures the painful process of nominating an appropriate candidate for vice president; Amy champions the first lady's violence-prevention provisions for an upcoming bill. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 22, 2003 Han A North Korean pianist slips President Bartlet a message saying he wants to defect; a backdoor campaign seeks approval for the vice president (Gary Cole), but there is one holdout; Donna gives her aunt and uncle a tour. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 29, 2003 Constituency of One Josh skirmishes with a conservative senator (Tom Skerritt) over a backlog of military promotions; the new vice president (Gary Cole) makes a flattering offer to Will; CJ's unscripted statements anger Leo. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 5, 2003 Disaster Relief Bartlet flies to Oklahoma to lend support to tornado victims, while Leo contends with crises that need the president's immediate attention; Josh lands in the dog house after a miscalculation costs the Democrats dearly. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 12, 2003 Separation of Powers Toby dispatches former Supreme Court clerk Joe Quincy (Matthew Perry) to check on the condition of the stricken chief justice; the president focuses on a crucial national television interview. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 19, 2003 Shutdown The president engages in a war of wills with the House speaker (Steven Culp), resulting in a government shutdown; Bartlet seeks to end the fiscal crisis by challenging Republicans in the halls of the Capitol. Details Episode 9 Aired Dec 3, 2003 Abu El Banat News of relief workers jailed in northern Sudan oppresses the holiday spirit at the tree-lighting ceremony; the president welcomes his three daughters; Toby tries to keep the administration out of a debate over doctor-assisted suicide. Details Episode 10 Aired Jan 7, 2004 The Stormy Present En route to a funeral, Bartlet discusses the burdens of office with a former president (James Cromwell) and the House speaker (John Goodman); a congresswoman demands the return of her state's Bill of Rights, stolen by a Union soldier. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 14, 2004 The Benign Prerogative Bartlet ponders a lengthy list of prisoners eligible for a presidential pardon; Charlie shares insider tidbits with an attractive woman (Gabrielle Union); Toby joins a pollster (Marlee Matlin) on a tour of Middle America. Details Episode 12 Aired Feb 4, 2004 Slow News Day President Bartlet sanctions Toby's hush-hush mission to reform Social Security, then backpedals when details are leaked to the press; female staffers complain to Josh about a new co-worker. Details Episode 13 Aired Feb 11, 2004 The Warfare of Genghis Khan An unknown nation detonates a nuclear device over the Indian Ocean; Josh reconsiders the merit of space exploration; a talk-show host maligns C.J.; Will insinuates to the vice president that he is thought of as a buffoon. Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 18, 2004 An Khe The president dispatches a Navy SEAL team to retrieve five pilots shot down by North Korean planes, prompting Leo to remember his experience as a downed pilot; C.J. spars with a conservative talk-show host (Jay Mohr). Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 25, 2004 Full Disclosure Former Vice President Hoynes (Tim Matheson) plans to write a tell-all book about the Bartlet White House; Josh deals with school vouchers and the closing of a military base; Toby parleys with trade-union bosses. Details Episode 16 Aired Mar 3, 2004 Eppur Si Muove A rival congresswoman uses Bartlet's daughter (Nina Siemaszko) to suggest a conflict of interest with funding of a medical study; the first lady does a public service announcement with the Muppets from "Sesame Street." Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 24, 2004 The Supremes President Bartlet faces a political minefield when seeking to replace a deceased Supreme Court justice; Josh proffers a liberal judicial nominee (Glenn Close), while the president meets with a bright, conservative judge (William Fichtner). Details Episode 18 Aired Mar 31, 2004 Access A documentary film crew tags along with C.J. on a typical day in the life of a White House press secretary, then a crisis erupts involving a terrorist shootout with the FBI. Details Episode 19 Aired Apr 21, 2004 Talking Points On the eve of a trade summit, Josh learns the president will reverse himself on outsourcing American jobs; Kate Harper (Mary McCormack) steps in as the new deputy national security adviser. Details Episode 20 Aired Apr 28, 2004 No Exit The president and his staff must wait out a White House lockdown after a foreign substance is detected in the building. Details Episode 21 Aired May 12, 2004 Gaza The president considers military options when a congressional fact-finding team's vehicle is bombed during an investigation of the Palestinian and Israeli conflict. Details Episode 22 Aired May 19, 2004 Memorial Day Violence continues to escalate in the Gaza Strip, and the murder of high-ranking U.S. officials prompts President Bartlet to consider a military response. Details

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The West Wing — Season 5

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Season Info

Director
Laura Innes
Executive Producer
John Wells
Network
NBC
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 24, 2003
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