He wasn't actually that good Palmer was better. All the ADMINISTRATIONS good ideas (peace deal, soc security funding fix, college tax write off etc) came from his staff and he poi pood them at first He picked an awful VP and could b an asshole at times embodying what outsiders hate in liberals
Fictional leaders are always better than the real ones. Martin Sheen said that he, Martin Sheen could never run the country as well as Josiah Bartlett.
Two things I love about this video: 1. I love the way they find Josh in the beginning. My EMT instructor talked about mass casualty incidents, and talked about how often, the people who are screaming the loudest aren't necessarily the most in need of help. It's the people who are unconscious or, in Josh's case, quietly bleeding out in the corner that need to be found and helped ASAP. 2. It's a brief moment but at 1:01 Leo demands to know what is happening and the surgeon just responds "I don't have time." This is arguably the second or third most powerful man in the country, but in a trauma room, he's not the one in charge.
In college I volunteered for a bunch of MCI/Active Shooter trainings with local emergency services. And we were told the same thing. Don't find the screamers, find the quiet ones. They're the ones who need help the most. After all the stuff I did, fighting wildfires and being with my local SAR teams, that lesson still hits me hard.
Know that one well. Watched my kid take over a room in a medical emergency. Family standing around, not knowing what to do, and watched my child, a gifted physician, if I do say so myself, just assume control, and do what was necessary, and had us either assisting or staying out of the way.
The takeaway I always have from Leo asking what happened is that it isn't the President's Chief of Staff asking; it's a father asking what happened to his son. If that doctor said he needed something, Leo would have had it there before the words were out of his mouth.
Toby wasn't completely out of his depth. When Josh started collapsing, Toby still had the awareness to catch Josh's head before it hit the ground. That was a nice little touch, thought I suppose that Josh's actor was glad that his head didn't have to bounce off the ground.
Toby is a Vietnam veteran in the show. I think it's a little less out of his depth and more "holy shit not again I can't lose another friend like this"
@@SomethingWittyRW I don't think Toby was ever a veteran. He helped a homeless veteran once, but that and getting shot at is as close as Toby has ever gotten to war.
Telling Dona is just perfect acting. The looks around the room as they realise they will have to tell her about Josh, her slowly working the information she's been given. It's just perfect.
@@timothyfavasoli7224 Yes, he had. When they were wheeling him into the hospital, one of the response team calls out, "Entry, left fifth intercostal space." This means bullet entry on the left side between the 5th and 6th rib, or about halfway down the rib cage. This is a point just above the abdomen, which falls in line where Josh's hands were when he was found by Toby.
@@toddjh Toby wasn't going to lie to Donna. She needed to know that they could lose Josh. He's on the operating table - they won't know if he'll live for another several hours. Josh is in medical limbo.
In the DVD commentary, Janel Moloney said that she insisted she not wear makeup for this scene to show that Donna had been at home and rushed to the hospital as soon as she heard.
Sam assuring Josh that they went to New Hampshire always gets me choked up. Obviously Josh is hallucinating and Sam knows that, but he also knows his friend could very well be dying in that moment, and so he does what he can to try and bring him any semblance of relief or ease.
I like the subtle touch of the secret service agent keeping the door open a moment longer than he had to so that he could hear about Bartlet's condition, and the look of relief on his face.
And yet another reason why this show is at the absolute top of my list of favorite TV shows. These subtle moments are in virtually every episode, sometimes many times. And why all these years later, I can still see something I don't think I saw at the first showing on TV. So much was going on all the time - this show required you to be present in the moment to keep up.
When they're rushing Josh into surgery and you can here Sam shout "Josh, I'm here!" always gets me. It's so moving the way he tried to comfort him and then again when he reassures Josh that he went to New Hampshire when most people wouldn't have known what Josh was talking about, it's so powerful because it highlights their friendship in a moment when it might be about to end❤️
She really was the den mom. I remember the first time I saw "18th &Potomac" (the episode where we find out about her death)--I was 11 and I cried so hard. She was one of my favorites, and I was so mad and sad that they killed her off.
It's a small thing, but when they're wheeling Josh into the emergency room, Sam impotently shouting "Josh, I'm here!" from the back is a great way to establish the depth of his and Josh's relationship. "I don't know what I can do but you're my best friend so I'm here! Stay with us buddy!"
This is one of Rob Lowe's best performances of his entire career - his panic at his best friend's shooting, his desire to comfort him. Every line drips the fact that this is, to him, a nightmare.
Perfect realistic response, They say, Josh was shot, He was shot in the chest. He is in surgery, Donna says, I don’t understand.” I don’t understand.” I burst into tears
This episode really sets up one of the greatest monologs in television history inside the church after Mrs. Landingham's funeral. I still get chills hearing it because we've all been there.
There's never been ( and may never again ) be such a good series, with such a very talented and wonderful group of actors. This won so many awards, just an amazing series!
The rapid procession of events from CJ hearing Toby yelling, back to Toby, and then CJ and Sam immediately turning and knowing something is very wrong then to Josh falling over is what always does me in. These weren't just people on a show together, these were friends that knew one of their own was in need
Toby is a smart and capable man, who knows enough... To know that he doesn't have the first idea what to do in this situation. Plus the comparative calm of the opening, Toby probably thought, just as we the audience did, that the worst was over, that everyone was still alive, CJ took a bump on the head and that was it... Then he finds Josh trying to hold his insides in.
from the imdb trivia page: In the DVD commentary it is mentioned that when shooting the scene in which Donna learns about Josh's serious injury, Richard Schiff, instead of using the line in the script, told Janel Moloney, playing Donna, that "Bradley Whitford died", prompting her absolutely devastated expression in the scene.
IMNSHO, Janel Moloney did a great job. Profound relief that Bartlett is out of danger, followed by stunned disbelief ("What do you mean, Josh was hit? Hit with what? I don't understand") when she is told Josh is critically injured, all conveyed (mostly) by facial expressions.
The look of horror that crept over her face as she heard the awful news, right on the heels of her relief on hearing the President wasn't badly hurt, was astonishing good acting
“I shouldn’t be at this meeting” is exactly what I’ll say when death comes knocking. It’s a good line. Sadly I have a feeling it won’t work so well for me.
Donna's reaction ufff....the te it takes to comprehend...Every beat in the scene...so well choreographed... this collective of actors every scene creating magic. Season 1-4 just awesome
Supposedly, Richard Schiff (Toby) was told to tell Janel Moloney (Donna) that "Brad was hit" (referring to Bradley Whitford, the actor who played Josh), to illicit a more "real" reaction from her. Still an impressive scene (and series overall)
I think Donna immediately went into shock. The way she so innocently said hit with what?? Her brain was not with her mouth at that moment. Then she said I don’t understand, twice. She was trying to comprehend what Toby said but could not. I completely understood Donna’s reaction. My late husband collapsed in the mall with a massive heart attack. When the ER Drs came out & said they did everything they could to try to save him my reaction was what does that mean, even though they were very clear & deliberate.
Thank you so much for posting this. I hadn't seen a full clip of anything past when Toby initially finds him and when Donna is told. Still makes me tear up.
Your comment regarding Donna - Same here! Of all the folk to break *that* kind of news, no one could say it like Toby. Yet, Kudos to Janel Moloney conveying that range of emotion/disbelief/confusion at what she is hearing but unable to process. 🧅🧅🧅 Drat! Onions! Stay Safe! 👍
Donna walking in and sounding rellieved for the President to be ok was so genuine. Seeing the camera panning around as she's talking and you can tell that no one wanted to say what happened to Josh to her as they almost didn't know how to tell her he was hit and is fighting for his life. When Toby finally told her her facial expression was of utter disbelief. This level of acting from such a great cast is almost unheard of nowadays.
I watched this series when it aired. I've watched multiple repeats on tv. I watched the series at least twice on Netflix. I own the DVDs. And still this had me tearing up. This is the Gold Standard of television and of storytelling.
These are probably my two favorite episodes from the show. I can't imagine ending on that cliffhanger when the show was on TV. I was too young to have any interest in the show, only first watching it almost a decade after it ended.
My parents and I had taped it for some reason, and I remember us rewinding it several times to figure out where everyone was and who was most likely to have been shot. Since Josh was over by himself we put him know the safe list. I've talked to my parents about this in the last couple of years and neither of them remember, but it was a huge deal for me.
Proof that this show was so well-made in all respects. This is only the first episode of the second season and, by this point, all the characters feel connected, to each other and to the audience, after just one season. The reaction I still to this day get from re-watching this episode...hell, this whole season, shows how potent it still is. I know what's going to happen and still it gets my heart racing and my eyes tearing up at moments, the power of these scenes never diminished. From "who's been hit?" to "brothers in arms", this season is the best of the series.
You have to love the scene in West Virginia when the skin head leaves the bar so full of himself that they succeeded, and then the sky lights up when half the world of law enforcement descends on the kids. Very exciting.
You have to love the scene in West Virginia when the skin head leaves the bar so full of himself that they succeeded, and then the sky lights up when half the world of law enforcement descends on the kids. Very exciting.
Perhaps for this generation. Back in the 70's Mash and Dallas were the two most popular well written shows on TV. JR was shot at the end of one season and the whole world had to wait until next season to find out "Who shot JR." Who Shot JR made the cover of Time Magazine. The evening of the next opening season (in the fall) people left football, baseball stadiums, basketball arenas, movie theaters, any and all entertainment houses to go home and watch the opening episode to find out Who Shot JR. Mash lasted 11 seasons where West Wing lasted 7. It was as well written as West Wing. Mash reruns are still being watched today. That's 50 years after it started. Dallas hasn't had that kind of popularity. West Wing was taken off of Netflix after being there for years. Let's just say West Wing has had a good 20 year run. I don't know if it's still being watched anywhere else. Yes indeed, West Wing, Dallas, and Mash are the three greatest shows in TV history. If one HAD To narrow it down to one show/first place, the award would go to Mash. I forgot to mention All In the Family. But that is for another comment. Needles to say the two chairs and table from that set are in the Smithsonian Institute. I don't recall any item from West Wing to receive that honor. A bit of disclosure: I love the series West Wing. I've probably watched the whole thing 10 times. I wish Netflix carried it forever. It would've been a nice distraction during this whole pandemic no fun lock down.
Thank you for making this, I haven't seen a full compilation of all the little clips when Josh was shot. And haven't seen the full clip of Toby telling Donna, still brings a tear to my eye.
Love the writing and detail in the first scene, it's not overly dramatic or foreboding like other shows try and spin it, but Toby goes looking for Josh, falsely presuming he's fine since CJ and Leo are good and well, Toby goes up mildly annoyed at Josh's lack of response when calling for him, making a comment about how "You didn't hear me yelling", then the scene hits you at Toby realizes (As another user commented) he's completely out of cards here. His initial plea for help is stunted by his own shock at his colleague bleeding out in front of him and physically slips as the ramifications hit him. West Wing is one of a few shows that actually put everything into it's writing and that's why almost 2 decades later we still come back for rewatches.
Such a masterclass in acting from every character. Toby's panic and stutter make it so real. Josh's delusion is very realistic for someone flirting with consciousness. Donna's face subtly changing as she learns about Josh. The half second shot of Mrs Landingham sitting in silence, holding Donna's hand is heartbreaking and the perfect representation of a mother being there for her children. Finally Jed's steely, determined eyes at the end as he watches his surrogate son clinging to life. This was such a unique and amazing show.
this show is the gold standard for writing and acting. Janel in this scene deserves all the awards, from the wash of relief for hearing the good news to being devastated at Josh's news. Sheer excellence.
I'm sure I have said this elsewhere But Janel Maloney playing this without makeup (or made up to look same) and i think she was thrown in with only half the script or she is just so Fing good to play this scene that makes it look that way. Some of the best acting i have ever seen
I'm sure somebody else has already said it, but in order to get Donna's look at 2:38, Schiff said "Brad was hit", instead of "Josh was hit". Janel Maloney's confusion was 100% real.
One of like five moments in all of television where I was screaming at the TV. Josh is one of my all time favorite characters on WW and I was legit worried he was going to die.
This show, was no is the best every role played so perfectly, every line delivered, it is just the best show, I tell people to watch it that haven't seen it before but they don't, it is always about the latest must-see box set, I wish my friends would listen to me about this.
In a series of amazing acting and attention to detail, this scene is outstanding. A little extra touch...the President is unshaven as he looks at Josh.
Gos its been I don't know how long since the west wing was on and 30 seconds in I'm already in tears about Josh.... Such a great show with a lasting effect...
Toby did very well - he didn't sugar coat anything, told Donna the whole truth. You always learn that in med school - truth, even if it hurts badly, is always better than lies told in the best interests of the person
Stunning acting throughout… by everybody, it’s just amazing… sometimes you wish there were group awards, they would deserve one for just this one scene !!
Season one had the best ending of any season of the show. I don't know quite how Sorkin was able to make me care so much about all the characters in 20 episodes but he did. And the opening two parts of season 2 is also probably the season opening the show had as well
After telling Donna that Josh was shot, no one, not CJ or even Charlie tried to comfort her in any way. No hug, no kind words, nothing. Until Mrs. Landingham arrived there wasn't the slightest show of compassion for Donna.
Oh god that little head shake from Donna is awful. Immediate denial, complete disbelief. She didn’t even think Josh could ever be in danger. Her entire focus was on the President, as of course Josh, her Josh, couldn’t be hurt.
Thanks for this. I sometimes hop around this episode for the good parts (the flashbacks are a little boring compared to the medical drama that's going on in the present).
seems so natural and great writing and acting when they tell Donna. That Josh got hit, and her reply is "hit with what". Even though that with all context it should be obvious. A lesser writer/actress would've gone full drama immediatly "OMG JOSH!" and cry inconsolably (as part of the will they / wont they couple of the show). I think this was more a down to earth take, first the denial then donna's numbness and/or silent grief over a dear coworker not a full fledged love interest. I'd watch anything Sorkin writes.
It's what actually happens when you get that kind of news. At least it was in my experience. It just doesn't compute. "We lost C." "What do you mean lost?" And then when it finally does compute, it's like all the breath has been knocked out of you.
This is when TV was good. I disagreed wholeheartedly with a great deal of the politics of this show, but I've still watched every episode at least 3 times. Because the stories they were telling were about people, and they treated the audience with respect. They assumed their audience was intelligent and could make up their own minds about a subject, instead of force feeding you a message. Modern Hollywood needs to go back and watch this show, The Office, The jeffersons, ER, and Star Trek TNG/DS9. Tell strong stories with strong, intelligent characters. Show, more tell less. Less is more.
When I saw this episode the 1st time it was intense. The acting was top notch. I was on the edge of my seat hoping Bartlet and Josh would be okay. I didn't think Josh was going to make it. I'm glad I was wrong.
1:46 - Secret Service agent holding the door just a bit longer to hear that the President is going to be fine is a nice detail, his subtle relaxed smile in the end is too
I’m English but I do get so emotional seeing the American levels of pride and loyalty. Love this show, such a shame it’s still not going. Could they bring it back maybe 👍👍
I STILL Want President Bartlett in the White House! with this crew.
Frankly, he's the best President the US never had.
He wasn't actually that good
Palmer was better.
All the ADMINISTRATIONS good ideas (peace deal, soc security funding fix, college tax write off etc) came from his staff and he poi pood them at first
He picked an awful VP and could b an asshole at times embodying what outsiders hate in liberals
Fictional leaders are always better than the real ones. Martin Sheen said that he, Martin Sheen could never run the country as well as Josiah Bartlett.
It should change off between president Palmer and president Bartlett
@@dansmodacct And when they're term-limited out, Tom Kirkman from Designated Survivor.
Two things I love about this video:
1. I love the way they find Josh in the beginning. My EMT instructor talked about mass casualty incidents, and talked about how often, the people who are screaming the loudest aren't necessarily the most in need of help. It's the people who are unconscious or, in Josh's case, quietly bleeding out in the corner that need to be found and helped ASAP.
2. It's a brief moment but at 1:01 Leo demands to know what is happening and the surgeon just responds "I don't have time." This is arguably the second or third most powerful man in the country, but in a trauma room, he's not the one in charge.
In college I volunteered for a bunch of MCI/Active Shooter trainings with local emergency services. And we were told the same thing. Don't find the screamers, find the quiet ones. They're the ones who need help the most.
After all the stuff I did, fighting wildfires and being with my local SAR teams, that lesson still hits me hard.
Know that one well. Watched my kid take over a room in a medical emergency. Family standing around, not knowing what to do, and watched my child, a gifted physician, if I do say so myself, just assume control, and do what was necessary, and had us either assisting or staying out of the way.
The takeaway I always have from Leo asking what happened is that it isn't the President's Chief of Staff asking; it's a father asking what happened to his son. If that doctor said he needed something, Leo would have had it there before the words were out of his mouth.
Toby’s initial shock is so well done. You can tell this is a very competent man who is suddenly aware he’s out of his depth.
Toby wasn't completely out of his depth. When Josh started collapsing, Toby still had the awareness to catch Josh's head before it hit the ground. That was a nice little touch, thought I suppose that Josh's actor was glad that his head didn't have to bounce off the ground.
It's not just that he's out of his depth. This is his friend, his brother, and the man is DYING and there's nothing he can do about it.
In the show hes a Vietnam vet so i doubt this is new to his character.
Toby is a Vietnam veteran in the show. I think it's a little less out of his depth and more "holy shit not again I can't lose another friend like this"
@@SomethingWittyRW I don't think Toby was ever a veteran. He helped a homeless veteran once, but that and getting shot at is as close as Toby has ever gotten to war.
Janel really deserved an Emmy for Donna. Underrated actress and not enough praise for that performance.
She's probably my favourite character
She’s my least favourite character. I found her so annoying all the way through.
Perfect blend of pretty and smart. Donna getting with Josh restored my faith in humanity. Thanks Aaron.
And that scoundrel (Josh) treated her like poop.
She's great the whole series. It's fun to watch her develop and eventually get the respect she's earned.
Telling Dona is just perfect acting. The looks around the room as they realise they will have to tell her about Josh, her slowly working the information she's been given. It's just perfect.
Except Toby said Josh had been shot in the chest when he hadn't.
@@timothyfavasoli7224 Yes, he had. When they were wheeling him into the hospital, one of the response team calls out, "Entry, left fifth intercostal space." This means bullet entry on the left side between the 5th and 6th rib, or about halfway down the rib cage. This is a point just above the abdomen, which falls in line where Josh's hands were when he was found by Toby.
I mean it would've been nice if Toby had led with the fact that he's still alive.
@@toddjh Toby wasn't going to lie to Donna. She needed to know that they could lose Josh. He's on the operating table - they won't know if he'll live for another several hours. Josh is in medical limbo.
In the DVD commentary, Janel Moloney said that she insisted she not wear makeup for this scene to show that Donna had been at home and rushed to the hospital as soon as she heard.
Sam assuring Josh that they went to New Hampshire always gets me choked up. Obviously Josh is hallucinating and Sam knows that, but he also knows his friend could very well be dying in that moment, and so he does what he can to try and bring him any semblance of relief or ease.
"Josh, I'm here!" gets me every time.
I like the subtle touch of the secret service agent keeping the door open a moment longer than he had to so that he could hear about Bartlet's condition, and the look of relief on his face.
Never noticed that!
And yet another reason why this show is at the absolute top of my list of favorite TV shows. These subtle moments are in virtually every episode, sometimes many times. And why all these years later, I can still see something I don't think I saw at the first showing on TV. So much was going on all the time - this show required you to be present in the moment to keep up.
Thank you for posting that!
That's funny, I was thinking that, too!
When they're rushing Josh into surgery and you can here Sam shout "Josh, I'm here!" always gets me. It's so moving the way he tried to comfort him and then again when he reassures Josh that he went to New Hampshire when most people wouldn't have known what Josh was talking about, it's so powerful because it highlights their friendship in a moment when it might be about to end❤️
"I've gotta get to New Hampshire!" When Sam knows what Josh's seemingly rambling chaos means cuz he was there, that tears me up every time.
Oh gosh yes. I start bawling every time I see this scene. It's so powerful.
Sam jumping up and down right before that so Josh sees him and yelling that he's there. Their friendship was so great.
That was a sign of confusion
The shot of Mrs. Landingham sitting with Donna was very moving. She was den mother to the entire west wing
especially having lost two sons to gunfire in Vietnam...
That 4 seconds is the most emotional moment of the entire episode
It moves almost to tears every time I see this scene, when the camera shows Donna, then moves to show Mrs. Landingham holding her hand.
Not to mention her long history with the Bartlett family. She’s known Jed most of his life.
She really was the den mom. I remember the first time I saw "18th &Potomac" (the episode where we find out about her death)--I was 11 and I cried so hard. She was one of my favorites, and I was so mad and sad that they killed her off.
"What was Josh Lyman, a warning shot? That was MY son. What did I ever do to yours but praise his glory and praise his name?"
The pain in their eyes knowing they have to tell the Donna what has happened is phenomenal acting
But it's always bothered me that none of them stood up with her to support her when she was being told.
It's a small thing, but when they're wheeling Josh into the emergency room, Sam impotently shouting "Josh, I'm here!" from the back is a great way to establish the depth of his and Josh's relationship. "I don't know what I can do but you're my best friend so I'm here! Stay with us buddy!"
This is one of Rob Lowe's best performances of his entire career - his panic at his best friend's shooting, his desire to comfort him. Every line drips the fact that this is, to him, a nightmare.
the relationship between Toby and Josh at a glance, he freaks for a second, then yells for help, that look was so well acted
Janel Moloney just puts on an absolute master class as Donna. Just absolute PERFECTION in that moment.
Perfect realistic response, They say, Josh was shot, He was shot in the chest. He is in surgery, Donna says, I don’t understand.” I don’t understand.” I burst into tears
Donna breaks my heart in this episode. Janel's acting is understated, underrated, and phenomenal.
This episode really sets up one of the greatest monologs in television history inside the church after Mrs. Landingham's funeral. I still get chills hearing it because we've all been there.
There's never been ( and may never again ) be such a good series, with such a very talented and wonderful group of actors. This won so many awards, just an amazing series!
Amen to that!
The rapid procession of events from CJ hearing Toby yelling, back to Toby, and then CJ and Sam immediately turning and knowing something is very wrong then to Josh falling over is what always does me in. These weren't just people on a show together, these were friends that knew one of their own was in need
@0:24 is one of the best acted moments in the series. Just the look of panic on Toby’s face is so well-done
He looked like he was going to pass out from shock, fantastic acting
Toby is a smart and capable man, who knows enough... To know that he doesn't have the first idea what to do in this situation.
Plus the comparative calm of the opening, Toby probably thought, just as we the audience did, that the worst was over, that everyone was still alive, CJ took a bump on the head and that was it... Then he finds Josh trying to hold his insides in.
The moment when toby see Josh is perfect ,his reaction and his facial expression is very real and deep .
I keep repeating it .
These actors are still incredible to watch after all these years. No gimmicks. Just great story telling with captivating dialogue and character arcs.
Nice touch having Mrs. Landingham holding Donna’s hand while they’re waiting together.
Sam talking to Josh before he goes into surgery is always heart wrenching
Janel Maloney when she is told Josh was shot - that is works class acting. Totally in the moment.
from the imdb trivia page: In the DVD commentary it is mentioned that when shooting the scene in which Donna learns about Josh's serious injury, Richard Schiff, instead of using the line in the script, told Janel Moloney, playing Donna, that "Bradley Whitford died", prompting her absolutely devastated expression in the scene.
IMNSHO, Janel Moloney did a great job. Profound relief that Bartlett is out of danger, followed by stunned disbelief ("What do you mean, Josh was hit? Hit with what? I don't understand") when she is told Josh is critically injured, all conveyed (mostly) by facial expressions.
You know how they got that? They couldn’t get a good enough reaction so Richard Schiff told Janel that “ Brad was hit.” instead.
I also like how everyone went silent when she arrived; they knew she hadn't heard the news. Toby stepped up to be the one to tell her.
The look of horror that crept over her face as she heard the awful news, right on the heels of her relief on hearing the President wasn't badly hurt, was astonishing good acting
I read Janel chose to act without makeup to lend more realism to the moment.
@@donlapham1265 it’s not at all because they couldn’t get a good enough reaction, it was just a choice Richard Schiff made while filming.
“I shouldn’t be at this meeting” is exactly what I’ll say when death comes knocking. It’s a good line. Sadly I have a feeling it won’t work so well for me.
Donna's reaction ufff....the te it takes to comprehend...Every beat in the scene...so well choreographed... this collective of actors every scene creating magic. Season 1-4 just awesome
Supposedly, Richard Schiff (Toby) was told to tell Janel Moloney (Donna) that "Brad was hit" (referring to Bradley Whitford, the actor who played Josh), to illicit a more "real" reaction from her. Still an impressive scene (and series overall)
Agreed!
Seasons 1-4 were television perfection. It remained good, but the rest of the series just didn't have that magic.
I think Donna immediately went into shock. The way she so innocently said hit with what?? Her brain was not with her mouth at that moment. Then she said I don’t understand, twice. She was trying to comprehend what Toby said but could not.
I completely understood Donna’s reaction. My late husband collapsed in the mall with a massive heart attack. When the ER Drs came out & said they did everything they could to try to save him my reaction was what does that mean, even though they were very clear & deliberate.
Thank you so much for posting this. I hadn't seen a full clip of anything past when Toby initially finds him and when Donna is told. Still makes me tear up.
Your comment regarding Donna - Same here!
Of all the folk to break *that* kind of news, no one could say it like Toby.
Yet, Kudos to Janel Moloney conveying that range of emotion/disbelief/confusion at what she is hearing but unable to process.
🧅🧅🧅
Drat! Onions!
Stay Safe!
👍
even as a grown man, these scenes tears me up in so many levels. this President Bartlett's team is a family.
And as believable as Spiderman.
The entire chaotic crowd sequence was so well corriographed! Nice going everyone involved with setting this one scene up!!👍
Donna walking in and sounding rellieved for the President to be ok was so genuine. Seeing the camera panning around as she's talking and you can tell that no one wanted to say what happened to Josh to her as they almost didn't know how to tell her he was hit and is fighting for his life.
When Toby finally told her her facial expression was of utter disbelief.
This level of acting from such a great cast is almost unheard of nowadays.
Absolutely stunning program. I found it by accident and now it is a permanent part of my Amazon Watch list.
They are using the ER sets as well, smart save since its a hospital set they had access too.
I have the box set of DVDs and I binge watch it every couple of years....
@@ZATennisFan Same
Donna's initial response came from being in shock; "Donna, Josh was hit" "Hit with what?" that whole sequence was masterfully portrayed.
“If you were in trouble I wouldn’t stop for red lights.” Hits very different when you see Donna while Josh really is in trouble.
And also Josh going to Germany when she’s wounded.
Kinda glad she didn't know the situation while on the way
“Josh Gets Shot - Supercut” made me think this was going to a cut of Josh getting shot multiple times 😂
I watched this series when it aired. I've watched multiple repeats on tv. I watched the series at least twice on Netflix. I own the DVDs. And still this had me tearing up. This is the Gold Standard of television and of storytelling.
Every time I watch it I notice new things. Incredible writing and acting. It lost a lot when Sorkin left.
These are probably my two favorite episodes from the show. I can't imagine ending on that cliffhanger when the show was on TV. I was too young to have any interest in the show, only first watching it almost a decade after it ended.
As someone that watched it when it aired....IT WAS A CRAZY WAIT for the new season. The "Whose been hit? Whose been hit?" ending was haunting.
In Excelsis Deo is another moving episode
In Excelsis Deo is another moving episode
That was the longest summer of my life. Best show ever!
My parents and I had taped it for some reason, and I remember us rewinding it several times to figure out where everyone was and who was most likely to have been shot. Since Josh was over by himself we put him know the safe list. I've talked to my parents about this in the last couple of years and neither of them remember, but it was a huge deal for me.
Although it was only a quick passing shot toward the end of the clip, Mrs Laningham holding Donna’s hand said a lot.
Josh and Donne. Man, what a bond. That relationship was a powerful element of the whole series.
"Look what happened." Gets me every time.
Toby's moment of fighting the panic that threatens to overwhelm him was brilliantly acted.
💯😢
I remember watching these episodes for the first time as a kid and just feeling so much.
What was Josh Lyman? A warning shot? That was my son.
Like so many I love that whole speech, but that line, man... the emphasis Sheen places on "son"... the slight waver in his voice... makes one teary...
"What did I ever do to YOURS but PRAISE HIS NAME AND HIS GLORY?"
@@aussiejed1...he doesn't have an Oscar for his politics
See "The Way" for what I think is his best role, and a fine film.
In that scene Mrs. Landingham had just died as well.
best line in the series
I've always loved the acting job Moloney did in this scene -- you could see Donna age twenty years in two seconds flat.
That’s an excellent way to describe her reaction
This show makes me cry like a child. Donna and Mrs. Laningham holding hands......
Mrs Landingham was such a presence! Whatever scene she is in is great.....
You know it's fiction and yet it still tears your heart out. Writing and acting at it's best.
Proof that this show was so well-made in all respects. This is only the first episode of the second season and, by this point, all the characters feel connected, to each other and to the audience, after just one season. The reaction I still to this day get from re-watching this episode...hell, this whole season, shows how potent it still is. I know what's going to happen and still it gets my heart racing and my eyes tearing up at moments, the power of these scenes never diminished. From "who's been hit?" to "brothers in arms", this season is the best of the series.
You have to love the scene in West Virginia when the skin head leaves the bar so full of himself that they succeeded, and then the sky lights up when half the world of law enforcement descends on the kids. Very exciting.
You have to love the scene in West Virginia when the skin head leaves the bar so full of himself that they succeeded, and then the sky lights up when half the world of law enforcement descends on the kids. Very exciting.
the *GREATEST* show in the _HISTORY_ of television
Perhaps for this generation. Back in the 70's Mash and Dallas were the two most popular well written shows on TV. JR was shot at the end of one season and the whole world had to wait until next season to find out "Who shot JR." Who Shot JR made the cover of Time Magazine. The evening of the next opening season (in the fall) people left football, baseball stadiums, basketball arenas, movie theaters, any and all entertainment houses to go home and watch the opening episode to find out Who Shot JR. Mash lasted 11 seasons where West Wing lasted 7. It was as well written as West Wing. Mash reruns are still being watched today. That's 50 years after it started. Dallas hasn't had that kind of popularity. West Wing was taken off of Netflix after being there for years. Let's just say West Wing has had a good 20 year run. I don't know if it's still being watched anywhere else. Yes indeed, West Wing, Dallas, and Mash are the three greatest shows in TV history. If one HAD To narrow it down to one show/first place, the award would go to Mash. I forgot to mention All In the Family. But that is for another comment. Needles to say the two chairs and table from that set are in the Smithsonian Institute. I don't recall any item from West Wing to receive that honor. A bit of disclosure: I love the series West Wing. I've probably watched the whole thing 10 times. I wish Netflix carried it forever. It would've been a nice distraction during this whole pandemic no fun lock down.
It is certainly up there with one of them, ER would be in my top three!
I MISS this show so much!!!
Thank you for making this, I haven't seen a full compilation of all the little clips when Josh was shot. And haven't seen the full clip of Toby telling Donna, still brings a tear to my eye.
Love the writing and detail in the first scene, it's not overly dramatic or foreboding like other shows try and spin it, but Toby goes looking for Josh, falsely presuming he's fine since CJ and Leo are good and well, Toby goes up mildly annoyed at Josh's lack of response when calling for him, making a comment about how "You didn't hear me yelling", then the scene hits you at Toby realizes (As another user commented) he's completely out of cards here. His initial plea for help is stunted by his own shock at his colleague bleeding out in front of him and physically slips as the ramifications hit him. West Wing is one of a few shows that actually put everything into it's writing and that's why almost 2 decades later we still come back for rewatches.
Side note: Stockard Channing was such a subtle, perfect force in this series.
Such a masterclass in acting from every character. Toby's panic and stutter make it so real. Josh's delusion is very realistic for someone flirting with consciousness. Donna's face subtly changing as she learns about Josh. The half second shot of Mrs Landingham sitting in silence, holding Donna's hand is heartbreaking and the perfect representation of a mother being there for her children. Finally Jed's steely, determined eyes at the end as he watches his surrogate son clinging to life. This was such a unique and amazing show.
💯
this show is the gold standard for writing and acting. Janel in this scene deserves all the awards, from the wash of relief for hearing the good news to being devastated at Josh's news. Sheer excellence.
The secret service agent smiling when the first lady says that the president is going to be fine! These little things add up!
The way this is titled it sounds like a supercut of all the different times over multiple seasons he gets shot 😂
I'm sure I have said this elsewhere But Janel Maloney playing this without makeup (or made up to look same) and i think she was thrown in with only half the script or she is just so Fing good to play this scene that makes it look that way. Some of the best acting i have ever seen
I'm sure somebody else has already said it, but in order to get Donna's look at 2:38, Schiff said "Brad was hit", instead of "Josh was hit".
Janel Maloney's confusion was 100% real.
One of like five moments in all of television where I was screaming at the TV. Josh is one of my all time favorite characters on WW and I was legit worried he was going to die.
Josh was hurt badly for sure, but not as bad as anyone trying to drag Donna out of the hospital before she saw him.
This show, was no is the best every role played so perfectly, every line delivered, it is just the best show, I tell people to watch it that haven't seen it before but they don't, it is always about the latest must-see box set, I wish my friends would listen to me about this.
When Toby said " Josh was hit" she knew what did it meant but he couldnt accept it. Janel were very good. She deserved an Emmy...
Watching this again. 4:28 Mrs. Landingham holding Donna's hand.
I never watch West Wing, but this is a well done scene. Good writing and great acting. They really made you feel what was happening.
In a series of amazing acting and attention to detail, this scene is outstanding. A little extra touch...the President is unshaven as he looks at Josh.
Of course it was Toby who had the courage to tell Donna.
Donna's face says it all.... outstanding acting; ,,,and even better, no makeup, as you would expect.
Gos its been I don't know how long since the west wing was on and 30 seconds in I'm already in tears about Josh.... Such a great show with a lasting effect...
"What was Josh, a warning shot? That was my *son*."
Toby did very well - he didn't sugar coat anything, told Donna the whole truth. You always learn that in med school - truth, even if it hurts badly, is always better than lies told in the best interests of the person
Anyone else feel their guts being ripped out when Toby tells Donna Josh was shot?
This scene made me adore Donna Moss, you could sense she had feelings for Josh
Stunning acting throughout… by everybody, it’s just amazing… sometimes you wish there were group awards, they would deserve one for just this one scene !!
"I shouldn't be in this meeting." - One of the best lines in a show that's made of best lines.
Somebody give Donna a hug for cryin out loud!!!
Season one had the best ending of any season of the show. I don't know quite how Sorkin was able to make me care so much about all the characters in 20 episodes but he did. And the opening two parts of season 2 is also probably the season opening the show had as well
Well that's more hours than the entirety of the Star Wars Saga and people are far more attached to those characters.
We're also talking about a man who made most of us weep when Simon Donovan was shot after 4 episodes.
But a lot of credit goes to the actors as well.
@@aalikane Oh yeah, because everyone was crying over Shoop dying like an idiot.
what bartlet said: look what happened
what remained unspoken: to my boy
After telling Donna that Josh was shot, no one, not CJ or even Charlie tried to comfort her in any way. No hug, no kind words, nothing. Until Mrs. Landingham arrived there wasn't the slightest show of compassion for Donna.
Oh god that little head shake from Donna is awful. Immediate denial, complete disbelief. She didn’t even think Josh could ever be in danger. Her entire focus was on the President, as of course Josh, her Josh, couldn’t be hurt.
Thanks for this. I sometimes hop around this episode for the good parts (the flashbacks are a little boring compared to the medical drama that's going on in the present).
"Josh was shot, in the Chest.. hes in Surgergery!"
Donna: Is it Serious.. 💀
seems so natural and great writing and acting when they tell Donna. That Josh got hit, and her reply is "hit with what". Even though that with all context it should be obvious. A lesser writer/actress would've gone full drama immediatly "OMG JOSH!" and cry inconsolably (as part of the will they / wont they couple of the show). I think this was more a down to earth take, first the denial then donna's numbness and/or silent grief over a dear coworker not a full fledged love interest.
I'd watch anything Sorkin writes.
It's what actually happens when you get that kind of news. At least it was in my experience. It just doesn't compute. "We lost C." "What do you mean lost?" And then when it finally does compute, it's like all the breath has been knocked out of you.
Yes, I know this was television but why can’t we have presidential candidates who are even in some small way this presidential.
This is when TV was good. I disagreed wholeheartedly with a great deal of the politics of this show, but I've still watched every episode at least 3 times. Because the stories they were telling were about people, and they treated the audience with respect. They assumed their audience was intelligent and could make up their own minds about a subject, instead of force feeding you a message. Modern Hollywood needs to go back and watch this show, The Office, The jeffersons, ER, and Star Trek TNG/DS9.
Tell strong stories with strong, intelligent characters. Show, more tell less. Less is more.
I cry at this scene every time. This whole episode makes me cry every time
The part where Donna's told about Josh gets me every time.
It hits me in the pit of my stomach every time and I have watched it many, many times
When I saw this episode the 1st time it was intense. The acting was top notch. I was on the edge of my seat hoping Bartlet and Josh would be okay. I didn't think Josh was going to make it. I'm glad I was wrong.
1:46 - Secret Service agent holding the door just a bit longer to hear that the President is going to be fine is a nice detail, his subtle relaxed smile in the end is too
If you didn’t cry during this scene or the whole episode you don’t understand how powerful a series can be
"I shouldn't be at this meeting!"
Janel Molony, some of the best acting I've ever seen. wow.
Donna’s reaction gets me every time
Title makes it seem like he got shot so many times throughout the show we needed a supercut of it
When they’re wheeling Josh in you can hear someone (probably Leo, maybe Toby) shout “Josh, I’m here!”
I believe it's Sam.
For the record, I have no problem with a West Wing reboot with Josh and Donna as the current President and First lady.
I think I might kill for that
I’m English but I do get so emotional seeing the American levels of pride and loyalty. Love this show, such a shame it’s still not going. Could they bring it back maybe 👍👍
It's my political fantasy escapism show, for sure
i love how when they all realize donna doesn't know, they hesitate, then toby takes it on, he's the cassandra, the doomsayer