The West Wing Season 7

Right now you can watch The West Wing Season 7 on and — and it holds up to as much attention as you give it. The 1-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Martin Sheen's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The West Wing Season 7 is worth clearing space for. The West Wing Season 7 takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. After nearly eight years, President Bartlet's time in the White House has come to an end, and two formidable men vie for the Presidency: Arnold Vinick, a Republican senator from California, and Matthew Santos, a three-term Houston Democratic congressman. After suffering a heart attack, former Advisor to the President Leo McGarry resolutely serves as Santos' vice presidential running mate, ably assisted by Annabeth Schott. Former Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman keeps his highly regarded political mind in overdrive as Santos' campaign manager. Martin Sheen and Allison Janney lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2005. The West Wing Season 7 resists tidy resolutions in a way that respects how messy real consequences actually are. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Viewers drawn to character-driven storytelling will find plenty to sit with in The West Wing Season 7. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Martin Sheen carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.