The West Wing

10 Best Episodes of The West Wing

The West Wing provides a glimpse into presidential politics in the nation's capital as it tells the stories of the members of a fictional presidential administration. These interesting characters have humor and dedication that touches the heart while the politics that they discuss touch on everyday life.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 02, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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The West Wing - S4E6

#15 - Game On (Season 4 - Episode 6)

Bartlet, Leo, Josh, Sam and C.J. pull a practical joke on Toby; Sam's mission to end the Wilde campaign leads him to make a career-altering decision; Jordan backs up Leo as he deals with the Qumari; Toby continues to press his case with a resistant Andrea; and Bartlet cleans Ritchie's clock in their debate.

The episode was rated 8.23 from 288 votes.

The West Wing - S7E18

#14 - Requiem (Season 7 - Episode 18)

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Former series regulars, including Marlee Matlin, Mary-Louise Parker, Tim Matheson, Anna Deavere Smith and Gary Cole, make guest appearances as Bartlet, Santos and their staff members attend a funeral for one of their own. Also, Josh cautions Santos about getting involved in the vote for Speaker of the House.

The episode was rated 8.23 from 232 votes.

The West Wing - S4E2

#13 - 20 Hours in America (2) (Season 4 - Episode 2)

Donna teaches Toby and Josh an important lesson as their trek homeward continues; Sam staffs the President in Josh's absence and welcomes an old friend home; Bartlet hires a secretary and C.J. finds a Big Brother for Anthony; the situation in Qumar continues to escalate; Bartlet gets spooked by a photo op as the Dow continues its dive; and a pipe bomb kills 44 students at a Midwest university swim meet.

The episode was rated 8.26 from 274 votes.

The West Wing - S2E10

#12 - Noël (Season 2 - Episode 10)

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Josh investigates the suicide of a pilot with whom he has things in common; Donna tries to get an invitation to the Congressional Christmas party to hear Yo-Yo Ma perform; Jed insists on signing a mountain of Christmas cards himself; after a White House visitor has a strange reaction to a painting, C.J. sets out to discover its provenance; following weeks of volatile behavior and an outburst in the Oval Office, Josh meets with representatives from the America Trauma Victims Association and finally deals with the trauma from his shooting.

The episode was rated 8.27 from 363 votes.

The West Wing - S4E15

#11 - Inauguration (2): Over There (Season 4 - Episode 15)

Toby discovers that Will's frankness, stubbornness, and commitment to ideals is much like his own; Charlie remains on the hunt for an inaugural Bible; Bartlet and the staff continue to debate over sending American troops into Kundu to stop a genocidal war until Laurel and Hardy provide some needed inspiration; Bartlet appoints Will Deputy Communications Director; Donna takes one for Jack when a comment he thinks he is making off the record is included in a "Post" article by Danny's editor.

The episode was rated 8.32 from 273 votes.

The West Wing - S6E22

#10 - 2162 Votes (Season 6 - Episode 22)

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At the Democratic National Convention, Russell, Santos and Baker jockey for the 2162 votes that will give one of them the nomination for President, and the opportunity to lose to the apparently unstoppable Vinick in November. Meanwhile, the President must make a decision before it's too late on whether to deploy a secret rescue mission to the space station, and the FBI is asked to determine who leaked the existence of the military shuttle to the press.

The episode was rated 8.35 from 242 votes.

The West Wing - S2E1

#9 - In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (1) (Season 2 - Episode 1)

While the staff awaits news regarding the injuries to Jed and Josh, they recall how Josh, Sam, and Toby became involved in the campaign three years earlier; Leo, Toby, and C.J. deal with inquiries on Secret Service protection policies, as well as the absence of executive authority while Jed was in surgery.

The episode was rated 8.35 from 399 votes.

The West Wing - S2E2

#8 - In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (2) (Season 2 - Episode 2)

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With the accomplice in custody, it's revealed that the intended target was Charlie, not Bartlet. The staff still awaits news about Josh, and recalls how C.J. and Donna came to join the Bartlet campaign.

The episode was rated 8.41 from 374 votes.

The West Wing - S4E22

#7 - Commencement (Season 4 - Episode 22)

Bartlet finally tells the staff the truth about the death of Shareef; Danny agrees to hold off on the story after five alleged terrorists go missing; Andy goes into labor after once again refusing Toby's marriage proposal; Zoey is kidnapped from a nightclub on the night of her college graduation.

The episode was rated 8.42 from 268 votes.

The West Wing - S7E17

#6 - Election Day (2) (Season 7 - Episode 17)

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Abbey is in New Hamphire with Liz Bartlet-Westin and they are awaiting the results of Doug Westin's campaign for a seat in Congress. Members of both the Santos campaign and the Vinick campaign must decide how to handle a tragedy, as the voters around the country continue to cast their votes for the next President of the United States.

The episode was rated 8.43 from 214 votes.

The West Wing - S5E17

#5 - The Supremes (Season 5 - Episode 17)

Jed and the staff vet potential Supreme Court appointees; Toby and Andy don't see eye-to-eye on her fact-finding trip to the Middle East; Donna's parents are the unlikely inspiration for the resolution to the problems arising from the judicial confirmation process.

The episode was rated 8.44 from 268 votes.

The West Wing - S4E23

#4 - Twenty Five (Season 4 - Episode 23)

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When Bartlet learns that Zoey's kidnapping is the work of Qumari terrorists, he invokes the 25th amendment to diminish their leverage and eliminate any conflict of interest; since there's no Vice President, the power of the Presidency passes to Bartlet's chief political rival and the most powerful Republican in the country, the Speaker of the House, who immediately takes a very hard line; now that twins Huck and Molly have arrived, Toby wonders if he's capable of loving them enough.

The episode was rated 8.45 from 266 votes.

The West Wing - S1E22

#3 - What Kind of Day Has It Been (Season 1 - Episode 22)

The staff deals with the crisis of an American pilot who was shot down in Iraq; Toby's brother is in danger on a space shuttle whose doors won't close; Bartlet and the senior staff walk into trouble as they leave a town meeting.

The episode was rated 8.47 from 381 votes.

The West Wing - S7E22

#2 - Tomorrow (Season 7 - Episode 22)

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After seven seasons of the Award-winning drama series, the Bartlet Administration prepares to leave the White House and The West Wing. While Santos and his winning camp are nervously gearing up for the presidential inauguration, current President Bartlet (Martin Sheen), CJ (Allison Janney) and the others fondly look back as they prepare to leave the White House forever.

The episode was rated 8.69 from 244 votes.

The West Wing - S2E22

#1 - Two Cathedrals (Season 2 - Episode 22)

On the day of Mrs. Landingham's funeral, the staff deals with a Haitian presidential crisis and the law suit against the big tobacco companies, and Bartlet must decide about running for reelection.

The episode was rated 8.74 from 345 votes.

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