The West Wing: The Complete First Season

It may just be the finest primetime drama ever to grace the airwaves. The smart, snappy zingers of office politics meet the Gordian knots of global politics behind the scenes at the White House of the Bartlet administration, which is full of intelligent, compassionate people you can't help but wish were more than the stuff of civic fantasy. The highly honored debut season of The West Wing, which won every award from the Emmy (the most ever for a freshman series) to the prestigious Peabody, is a gift to lovers of superlative television. Dating from 1999-2000, the first set of episodes eerily anticipates the challenges that the real Oval Office would face in the then-near future: a diplomatic showdown with Baghdad, fears of terrorism, nuclear saber-rattling between India and Pakistan, and problems in the space program. But it's on the smaller stages--negotiating with Congress, managing the press, dealing with personal secrets that threaten the administration--that the stellar cast, including Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Moira Kelly, and Stockard Channing, really shines, bickering and teasing one another affectionately while carrying the metaphoric weight of the world on their shoulders. Three double-sided discs contain the entire first season: 22 episodes, all with new digital transfers, some with commentaries by creator-writer Aaron Sorkin, director Thomas Schlamme, and others. A fourth disc is entirely devoted to “making of” documentaries, deleted scenes, and more bonus material. Highly recommended. (M. Johanson)