West Wingers: What Do You Make of This?

So it seems that the first episode after hiatus, and after the cancellation of this series was announced, was at least partially filmed before the death of John Spencer. It shows in that context how important he was to The West Wing, and how important his character was going to remain.

So in seeing the episode and sensing what was originally planned (partly through the previews as well), I'm now wondering how much is really going to be changed in the story, after the cancellation and this sad and untimely death.

At first I thought the "reunion" of series regulars and semi-regulars not seen recently was in response to the show ending forever with the next five episodes, but then it was already a given that this would be Martin Sheen's last year, or at least the last year of the Bartlett presidency. So such a reunion might have been in the works anyway.

I also wonder whether Leo is going to die in the next five shows, or if somehow they are simply going to write around him, and find shots they can include where necessary in the final show. Somehow having Leo live on, especially as vice president, would be a fine memorial to John Spencer.

Anyway, this episode threw a dose of reality into the forward momentum of the "who will win" storylines. Now that President Bartlett has been forced to deploy American troops, possibly for years (in a more reasonable and justifiable combination of Kosovo and Iraq), both candidates see their plans for their presidencies evaporating, just as Bartlett sees his own eight years defined by this one decision, and the outcome. Shades of the next president indeed, who will have to deal with the incredible damage Bush is leaving.