Jed and Abbey Bartlet 2x13 - "We had a deal!"

[@craigarthur7599]

This scene is an excellent example of being mad at someone you love.

[@McBasketball319]

This is why Abbey's character was so good. She had every right to be upset with Jed for thinking more of his political life than their marriage, but she never fails to understand the importance of his job and that the decisions he makes are bigger than either of them. They are at odds many times in the series because they are both strong-minded and hard-headed at times. But Abbey has always been as supportive as she can because she knows the man she married, even when there's times when he acts more like the President than her husband.

[@yao052]

exactly. The only time i was really mad at her was when she through her actions blamed Jed for Zoe's kidnapping.

[@nottoomuch87]

@@yao052 But it's also a callback to the very issue in this scene. She blames him because had he kept his promise, she never would have been kidnapped.

[@javiersp8272]

"You kicked off your re-election campaign and I'm sitting here eating a sandwich 'cos we had a DEAL!". Stockard is SUBLIME in this scene.

[@KrisEv01]

the love is so sweet between those two i actually feel like i get diabetes everytime i watch them interact with each other, she is one of the few people in the whole show that holds him accountable while still understanding the stress and pressure he is always under

[@wendysnelgrove5870]

Yeah, she looks like she's fighting not to cry.

[@nottoomuch87]

@@wendysnelgrove5870 Yeah she does at the end while she's watching him walk away.

[@RedForeman301]

She definitely channels her inner "Roz" from Grease at the end!!

[@jjt917]

She was sublime in every scene.

[@groovygirl23]

Those two were brilliant together and the writing is sublime

[@chang-kp9sp]

Abbey showed the reason that why she is first lady not just a any other wife. Excellent writing !

[@nottoomuch87]

One of my all-time favorite scenes of the show.

[@kalijasin]

Don’t ever cross the wife. It’s worse than going before the judge, having a heart attack, etc.

[@flyboy152]

The chemistry between these two is amazing. Even more so, since apparently they had never met before she appeared on the show in season one.

[@nottoomuch87]

Jed pisses me off so much in this episode and Manchester pt.1 and 2. Like he's so passive about breaking his promise and then has the nerve to get upset at her. Like, wtf?

[@maragathm]

He never explained himself to his wife on why he was ANGRY WITH HER, he turned the tables around and made it her fault. The worst bit is because of his ambitions Abbey lost credibility as a doctor, that is the worst crime you can do in a marriage when you demand your spouse sacrifice their integrity for you. Abby is the reason their marriage survives, the only time he was right is when Abbey left him after Zoe kidnapping that is the only time I felt she was hard on him without him deserving it.

[@nottoomuch87]

@@maragathm Thank you! And she's left to just accept it and move on. The only thing that irritates me about their relationship.

[@GeorgeP1066]

Late to the party but this is also what he does to Toby when Toby figures out the MS thing. Bartlett gets angry at the people he's let down, because he knows he's in the wrong and doesn't want to face up to it so he takes it out on them instead. Imo it's one the things that make him a more nuanced character but it's a shame he was never called out on it more in the show.

[@capnskiddies]

@@GeorgeP1066 He gets it from his father. Abs he gets annoyed that he gets it from his father

[@EvanMurphyCapstone]

Her support, love and encouragement ? UNWAVERING......but she also calls himout for his BS .....this? Is a couple you can believe are a couple and Stockard Channing? OWNS and MAKES it truth! Amazing actress

[@ursaltydog]

Her steadfast loyalty.. her trust.. her support.. all he had to do was... and yet.. she still supported him.. giving good face..

[@maragathm]

You are right Abby put her entire career on jeopardy to fulfill Jed's political ambitions, he always asked too much of her and gave little in return. Jed was an ass especially during the re-election when he couldn't bother to apologize or explain himself to his wife he took her for granted and broke his word. But I still love them as a couple because it is realistic in a successful marriage it sometimes requires one party whether the husband or wife to be the better person nothing is ever truly equal.

[@nottoomuch87]

@@maragathm Omg, nothing pissed me off more while watching this show than Jed's blatant disregard for his wife's sacrifice and her feelings. I still adore them tho.

[@Carlalvaro]

The original good wife..

[@JazzyUte]

You can see so much of The American President in West Wing (for obvious reasons) but this scene reminds me when Andrew Shepherd reneged on his deal with Sydney Ellen Wade. Great writing and acting in that movie, too.

[@GinaSanchez_]

Marriage and the presidency must be very very complicated. Oooof

[@leonkernan]

All those people whose orders got remade because the president couldn’t find somewhere else to talk.

[@raemills3089]

Relationship goals

[@theolamp5312]

The arguement and then I'll stay up with you. That's the epitome of conciliation and not going to bed mad.

[@franj1]

There are worst things I could doooo, than go with a boy or twooooooo

[@jackpowers5707]

Abbey should have been utilized more on show

[@TheNerdForAllSeasons]

Nah. She was perfect.

[@jonnnyren6245]

I just need a clarification here. So Abby was at first against Jed running for a second term am I correct?

[@KendallJX]

Jon Paradero yes. Because of his MS, they’d decided he’d be a one-term president, back in the campaign.

[@Paronine]

Originally, he didn't expect to make it that far. He assumed he'd lose the primary race against Hoynes, but got into it just to keep the party focused on the issues & to force Hoynes to run an honest campaign. When he won the primary, they made the deal: Jed would be a one-term president because of his MS, then he'd pass the reigns to his vice president, Hoynes. No one except Jed, Abbey, and Hoynes knew about this deal, which is why Leo & Toby had begun laying the groundwork for reelection.

[@jonnnyren6245]

Paronine by "not make that far" you mean he might've died in office due to MS?

[@Paronine]

Oh, no. I mean he didn't expect to win the Democratic primary. He though Hoynes would be the Democrats' choice for presidential candidate. Thanks to Josh Lyman's political ingenuity and his popularity with the electorate, Jed ended up winning the nomination. He figured Hoynes would win, but wanted to run in the primary anyway just to raise the level of discourse in his opponent's campaign.

[@jonnnyren6245]

Paronine And Hoynes tried to run again but he was in single digits in the 2006 election. I mean he hasn't had enough following his disgraceful downfall after his scandal? I've sort of liked Bob Russell as VP more than Hoynes.

[@robertwomack6015]

Yep sometimes politics is bs

[@LordOfNothingreally]

I always found it kind of strange the writing around Abby Bartlett. Sometimes, like in scenes like this, she seemed to have razor sharp political instincts and at other times she was written like an amateur who blunders into political gaffes. I get that they may not have always known what to do with the President's wife but I wish they at least would have made her consistent

[@gastonsanda8784]

I have been and watch all sides of story and history and points of view. im just missing yours. The best is kept always at last. If you accept me im pretending to stay with you as long and much as you let me.

[@seanwebb605]

Such an incredibly ridiculous situation. You spend two years and hundreds of millions of years to run for a two year term than pays less than half a million dollars a year. You could feed the poor and provide pretty good housing for what the U.S. spends to run for the office that chooses not to help Americans with their basic needs.

[@elliotkreisl1444]

Hey guys, this scene sucked. Her delivery is weird. I don’t know what you all are talking about.