10 Best Episodes Of The West Wing

The best episodes of The West Wing showcase why Aaron Sorkin’s political drama is still considered one of the highest quality TV shows to ever be broadcast. Running across 7 seasons from 1999 to 2006 on NBC, The West Wing focused on the presidency of Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and the staff supporting him. It remains a hugely influential show, with many still citing it as one of the best written dramas of the last few decades. In fact, it was so well written that some real world governments such as Myanmar used it to study democracy (via NY Magazine).

Given the consistent quality of the show, competition for the best episode of The West Wing is fierce. When it comes to accolades, The West Wing was nominated for a staggering 289 awards across its run, winning 100. This includes 20 Golden Globe nominations and 2 wins, as well as 27 Emmys from an astounding 98 nominations. The best episodes of The West Wing perfectly demonstrate why the show was so acclaimed, with each being a stand out example of the character development, political intrigue, and emotional depth that made the series so popular.

10 Twenty Five

The West Wing Season 4, Episode 23

If there’s one thing the creative team of The West Wing knew how to do incredibly well, it was the start and end of a new season. When it comes to the best episodes of The West Wing, there are a few season finales that particularly stand out - such as the final episode of season 4, “Twenty Five”. “Twenty Five” was an episode of The West Wing that was as emotional as it was full of drama. There was a key reason for the somber tone too - President Bartlet invokes the 25th Amendment and steps down.

Jed Bartlet in The West Wing is one of the most popular fictional presidents of all time. Watching his considered yet decisive approach to leadership was one of the best things about the show, so viewers found it incredibly impactful when he stepped aside to ensure the safety of his kidnapped daughter. “Twenty Five” is by no means slow-paced either, especially when John Goodman’s Glen Allen Walken - in many ways Bartlet’s opposite - assumes the presidency.

9 In Excelcis Deo

The West Wing Season 1, Episode 10

Alongside Martin Sheen’s Jed Bartlet, one of the most popular The West Wing characters is Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff), the president’s speech-writer and communications director. He’s an incredibly complex presence on the show, even being fired at one point for leaking state secrets, so it’s unsurprising that The West Wing Episodes that focus on Toby make for some of the best. Among them is season 1’s “In Excelcis Duo”, which gave fans one of their first glimpses at just how morally conflicted Toby could be.

“In Excelcis Deo”, the 10th episode of the first season of The West Wing, focuses on Toby as he works through his anger at the treatment of veterans under the Bartlet government. It also showed just how endearing Toby was as a character, as it’s impossible not to root for him as he uses his position to get a funeral for a struggling veteran. Plenty of other characters have touching moments too, especially when Kathryn Joosten’s Mrs. Landringham joins Toby for the funeral of the veteran he was fighting on behalf of.

8 Dead Irish Writers

The West Wing Season 3, Episode 15

Among the dozens of awards won by The West Wing is a Primetime Emmy win for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama series for Stockard Channing in 2002 - and it was the episode “Dead Irish Writers” and Abbey Bartlet’s story that she received it for. The episode focuses almost entirely of The First Lady, and “Dead Irish Writers” showcases just how strenuous life in The White House is for Jed Bartlet’s wife.

This isn’t just shown through her domestic duties such as planning parties and events, either. Abbey finds herself losing her medical license when she’s up in front of the N.H. medical board. Treating her husband’s MS is the reason why, and knowing that she destroyed her career for the sake of Jed’s presidency cemented Abbey as one of the characters in The West Wing viewers respected most .

7 Bartlet For America

The West Wing Season 3, Episode 9

Season 3’s “Bartlet For America” was one of the tensest in the history of The West Wing, as it saw Leo up in front of Congress (specifically the United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform) to testify over his knowledge of the President’s MS cover up. It was one of the best performances in The West Wing from John Spencer as Leo, as “Bartlet For America” showed just how loyal Bartlet’s Chief of Staff truly was.

Like many episodes centering around Bartlet’s MS, “Bartlet For America” also showed just how conflicting belief in Bartlet’s vision could be for those around him. Like Abbey in “Dead Irish Writers”, Leo in “Bartlet For America” is shown to have put his own convictions aside when it comes to hiding the President’s illness. This The West Wing episode is also notable for its incredible use of flashbacks, which show various highs and lows of Leo’s time with Bartlet from the moment they first met.

6 17 People

The West Wing Season 2, Episode 18

The West Wing season 2’s “17 People” is another great Toby installment, and one of several of the best episodes of the show that stood out thanks to the storyline surrounding Bartlet’s MS. Specifically, “17 People” is the episode in which Toby figures out the cause of the President’s symptoms. While season 3’s “Dead Irish Writers” and “Bartlet For America” deal with the career fallout for those who kept Bartlet’s MS secret, it’s “17 People” where the seriousness of the situation is first outlined.

Much of the focus of “17 People” is the discussion between Bartlet, Leo, and Toby as they try to figure out a course of action. This includes how to protect the titular 17 people who know about Bartlet’s illness - all of whom could be facing potential jail time. It’s a dramatic episode of The West Wing to say the least, and it’s also a key moment that proves just how important Toby’s counsel is to President Bartlet.

5 20 Hours In America Pt 1 & Pt 2

The West Wing Season 4, Episodes 1 & 2

Several of the best episodes of The West Wing are split into two parts, and a key reason is that the show was incredibly strong when it came to double-length stories to open new seasons. This is the case with “20 Hours In America”, the first two episodes of The West Wing season 4. However, “20 Hours In America” stands out among the greatest The West Wing episodes not because of its drama or emotional moments (though it has both), but because it was so funny.

As a political drama, The West Wing isn’t widely known for its lighthearted moments, even though it’s far from lacking in them. However, “20 Hours In America” is the exception to the rule. In the season 4 two-part premiere, Toby, Josh (Bradley Whitford), and Donna (Janel Moloney) are stranded in Indiana - and their attempts to find their way back to DC make for a laugh-out-loud comedy of errors. There’s also some emotional plot threads, such as CJ mourning Simon following his death, but “20 Hours In America” ranks among the best in the show entirely because of the unexpected road trip comedy storyline.

4 Let Bartlet Be Bartlet

The West Wing Season 1, Episode 19

President Jed Bartlet and his vision for America were truly inspiring, even if they were fictional. However, he wasn’t the head of such an effective government at the start of the show. In earlier seasons of The West Wing, the Bartlet presidency was, if anything, waning. This is what makes season 1’s “Let Bartlet Be Bartlet” one of the best episodes, as it marks the moment both the President and his staff find the spark that leads them to become the disruptive force for change they were by the time the show ends.

Specifically, it is a leaked memo that brands Bartlet himself as a soft touch that creates a wave of introspection within the White House. This culminates with Leo deciding the new mandate for the government would be “let Bartlet be Bartlet”. The President and his administration found the courage to strive for the change they wanted to see no matter how unorthodox it was, or how much it riled up the opposition. It’s the leadership style that made Jed Bartlet such a popular fictional president, and it began in “Let Bartlet Be Bartlet”.

3 Noel

The West Wing Season 2, Episode 10

Bradley Whitford’s Josh Lyman, Leo’s deputy Chief of Staff, is ranked with Toby and Bartlet as one of the most popular characters in The West Wing. He’s a key presence in several of the best episodes of the political drama, though season 2’s “Noel” is one of the strongest that focuses heavily on his character. “Noel” is a Christmas episode of The West Wing, though it’s far from an extravagant holiday special as seen in many other shows.

“Noel” is, instead, an incredibly somber and grounded installment of The West Wing. The focus is almost entirely on Josh’s struggles with his mental health. Through conversations with trauma psychologist Dr. Keyworth (Adam Arkin), Josh is forced to confront the fact that an assassination attempt has left him with severe PTSD. Watching the usually strong Josh allowing themselves to open up and show vulnerability is made all the more engaging by the performance of Bradley Whitford, and it’s one of the best examples of character development in the entirety of The West Wing .

2 In The Shadow Of Two Gunmen Pt 1 & Pt 2

The West Wing Season 2, Episodes 1 & 2

Much like “20 Hours In America”, “In The Shadow Of Two Gunmen” is one of the best episodes of The West Wing that’s a two-parter to open a season. In this case, it was season 2 - and since it followed the cliffhanger season 1 ending where an unrevealed character had been shot in an assassination attempt, it was always clear “In The Shadow Of Two Gunmen” was going to be a riveting story. However, while the aftermath of the shooting of both Bartlet and Josh makes for pulse-pounding viewing, this arc alone isn’t why “The Shadow Of Two Gunmen” is counted among the best The West Wing episodes.

“In The Shadow Of Two Gunmen” also stands out among the 154 episodes of The West Wing because it provided something of an origin story for almost all the characters. Flashbacks were utilized to great effect throughout both parts. The drama of the assassination attempt was juxtaposed with memories from the core members of Bartlet’s team, showing how each of them found their way to the President’s inner circle and came to believe in his vision for America.

1 Two Cathedrals

The West Wing Season 2, Episode 22

Across all 7 seasons of the show, few installments are as widely considered the best episode of The West Wing as “Two Cathedrals”, the finale of season 2. “Two Cathedrals” was the show at both its most dramatic and its most emotional, and few episodes before or since came close to matching it. On the emotional character-driven front, the entirety of Bartlet’s staff are still reeling from the sudden death of Mrs. Landringham (Kathryn Joosten), who was killed by a drunk driver. There’s also an incredible amount of tension for Bartlet as he grapples with the decision to go public with his MS diagnosis.

However, while both narrative threads would make for great episodes of The West Wing in their own right, “Two Cathedrals” also features the culmination of one of the greatest global crises of the Bartlet presidency. The U.S. embassy in Haiti is being seized by the Haitian army, which adds plenty of political intrigue to the already standout episode. Few episodes of any TV show have been as highly acclaimed as “Two Cathedrals”, and it remains considered by many critics as not only the best episode of The West Wing, but one of the best of any series.

In Aaron Sorkin's classic political procedural, the senior staff of President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen) face the daily challenge of helping to run the country from the West Wing of the White House. The series features an ensemble cast that also includes Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, and John Spencer.