Josh Lyman - I Won't Permit It

[@dcrab93]

6 seasons later when Leo died, Josh wasn’t mourning a friend, he was mourning a second father.

[@kevinscottbailey8335]

"I won't permit it" was low key one of the best lines in the entire show.

[@ThorsHammer1]

"take your legislative agenda, and shove it up your @ss." was another. Interesting that Josh got both of them, isn't it? :)

[@adamcoe]

i'm sorry was it low key or was it one of the best lines?

[@googoo-gjoob]

@@adamcoe, i think Kevins reply would be..... _yes_

[@saoirsevicteoiria2759]

Before he was the guy in the hole, Josh wasn't walking past anyone who was.

[@catsupchutney]

I liked "small fraction of a man"

[@ryanr1701]

The fiery determination in Josh’s voice sends chills down my spine. A son going to war for his father. Nothing short of the devil himself would stand in the way of someone like Josh Lyman.

[@Ladco77]

If the devil stood in Josh's way, Josh would burn him.

[@markh3684]

There is a better than decent chance Josh recruited the devil for assistance

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Yes, awesome.

[@HappyCatholicDane]

Nothing but God, and Josh would still try.

[@2Malachi]

Fuck the devil too.

[@BodaciousWench]

It’s nice when they touch on the fact that Leo has known Josh since he was a kid. ‘That’s what sons do for old friends of their fathers’

[@robbyu.672]

Wendy's World “what’s in Nashua?”

[@samsonguy10k]

It's a weird paradigm. Josh always felt like the little brother or son to everybody but he was the engine of that office. He motivated, he pushed, he fought the good fight with Toby being a very close second warrior-wise.

[@jkirton1964]

I LOVE the father-son relationship that Josh has with both Leo McGarry and Pres. Bartlet!!!

[@rgwak]

You're not going to be taken down by this. Not by this small fraction of a man. I won't permit it. Josh Lyman, the friend we all need in our lives.

[@tadtranclere3729]

Ro G “you won’t be taken down by this small person.” Isn’t this exactly what Leo said to Hoynes?

[@fooman2108]

Then we elected 'this small fraction of a man' presididn't!!

[@samsonguy10k]

I always hate people that judge someone for actions they made in the past while dismissing their actions in the present. Drug addiction, alcohol, petty theft, we all have experienced it one time in our lives. But it's what we do to rise above it that should count more. Lillianfield didn't give a shit that Leo had quit the pills and was a recovering alcoholic now. He just wanted to stain the current administration with acts of the past.

[@dspf68]

If you remember, it get's better. Sam actually becomes Josh's lawyer and owns this guy!

[@JusticeFrogs]

@@fooman2108 glad we voted him out in 2020

[@johngregory4801]

The casting for this show was SO perfect!!!

[@JavaoftheLava]

I really like the part where Josh touches Leo’s shoulder. Leo is still processing it and Josh immediately tries to comfort him in his own way.

[@l_Live_In_Oregon]

One of my favorite scenes. A man with a troubled past, a father like figure to Josh. Loyalty. Pure loyalty.

[@BuzzLightyear9999]

It’s interesting… I was just watching the clip where Bartlett chides Josh for not wanting to “be the guy. You want to be the guy the guy counts on…” and I pondered Josh’s relationship with both Leo and Bartlett. I kinda came to the conclusion that whilst they are both father figures to him, Leo is far more of a political and professional mentor to Josh whereas Bartlett is far more of an emotional father replacement figure as evidenced by appearing at the airport and offering to go with Josh when he found out his father had died… I think Josh is emotionally dependent on both to one degree or another, but Leo is more of an uncle compared to Bartlett’s more fatherly relationship… it’s all academic in any sense since we are talking about an imaginary fantasy world ultimately…😉

[@shannongeier63]

I love that violent grab at the jacket followed by the gentle smoothing of the jacket.

[@michaelwarren6467]

Violent? More like a passionate compassionate grab.

[@sisenor4091]

First thing I noticed.

[@gabrielabagala]

There are a lot of little details that you can find in "Studio 60" that are so similar to TWW. This thing with the jacket, I saw that too... among a lot other small talk, small movements... love it.

[@Wherethehellarewegoing]

The thing i love most about Josh is hes fun loving, he's quite romantic. He is, at times...a bit of a berk. But when you unleash him, piss him off or catch his wrong side, your gonna find hell on earth hidden deep within

[@blutobutt9169]

Josh is not a wolf, or a sheep. He's a guard dog.

[@jychilly]

It's moments like this that made Josh my favourite character on the show.

[@ChristaCrow]

“You’re Leo McGarry.” God damn right he is.

[@dirdib69]

Leo had an authenticity that inspired fierce loyalty. There were very different characters, but he actually reminded me of Lennie Briscoe from Law & Order.

[@doctaflo]

another recovering alcoholic

[@Sunny105121]

@dirdib69 Your observation is right on. And it explains why I am watching this just after having seen a few KZbin videos featuring Lennie Briscoe from Law & Order.

[@robertschmidt7879]

GREAT Observation!

[@UNIT294]

John Spencer was in the pilot episode!

[@lingeriedeparis7274]

Interesting observation, both very likeable characters and you understand that they have great ethics with their histories and their actions

[@heisdeadjim]

"I won't permit it". There, right there, he passed his job interview for Santos' Chief of Staff. No one knew it yet, not even Josh.

[@AjeethRajesh]

I mean, Josh didn't need to pass an interview, he literally got Santos to run

[@ADF-1458]

A small fraction of a man. What amazing writing.

[@DT-hp8de]

Another one of the nice father/son-like bonds on the show.

[@cynthiaennis3107]

David Tingwald Yes! Loved this show...a all-time favorite!

[@djshotty]

Like when Bartlet's in the church and says, "What was Josh Lyman? That was my son!"

[@robbyu.672]

Like when Leo is telling Josh the story about the man who fell into the hole.

[@CodaMission]

Bartlet is everyone's metaphorical father. Leo is the uncle

[@paulcrawford5437]

One of the best scenes to show the loyalty ALL the staff had for Leo.

[@googoo-gjoob]

the *GREATEST* show in the _HISTORY_ of television

[@richarddarlington1139]

This is just one of the countless reasons why "The West Wing" was so good.

[@aceharris1463]

There’s a certain amount of retrospective smugness that can come with Sorkin’s work. It’s very easy to seem highly idealistic when you have the benefit of hindsight and a swelling score. But it’s these moments of raw humanity that I’ve always enjoyed best.

[@thomasstengel7356]

The relationship between Josh and Leo was the heart of this show for me. Just incredibly acted throughout. John Spencer and Brad Whitford must've really loved one another. Otherwise, the acting is otherworldly.

[@noahbrown6970]

That look of sheer horror on Leo's face still freaks me out to this day. Its like someones found the seam line for the fabric of his life and has just ripped it out with a flick knife

[@robbkinnin1988]

It’s nearly the same face he had on when Leo had to tell the President that his daughter was missing.

[@theyrecousins]

I know everyone's commented (for good reason) the latter lines in the scene. But I really like how Josh delivers the "he's got em" line. There's a deflated resignation to it that's very realistic.

[@donaldcampbell3043]

Josh IS my favorite character on the show

[@AndreAFirenze]

Josh is wonderful, simply wonderful. The kind of friend everybody wants and needs in his/her life.

[@alanmetea9865]

You can say that again. You don't find that type of loyalty often, if ever.

[@rgwak]

Josh gave up his spot in the bunker because he couldn't bear knowing his friends wouldn't be in there. As CJ said, he really is sweet sometimes.

[@philipwhiuk]

It's because a man falls in a hole.

[@selftrue670]

In case you aren't sure what first class acting looks like: You've just seen it.

[@AndreAFirenze]

long live the west wing, josh lyman and leo mcgarry.

[@ghtsw11]

I have seen all of the series and it is quite amazing how each clip on KZbin brings back so many wonderful moments in virtually every episode. "In Excelsis Deo" has been my all-time favourite episode, but it really is the best amongst so many. What a phenomenal cast! Still the greatest series ever transmitted.

[@Elthenar]

Leo was such a great character. Even the Bartlett was the Nobel Prize winning decendent of the founding fathers type of One Above All on the show, Leo was still every bit as complex a characters. One of the great political figures of his day who could never run on his own because of his past demons. Imagine the West Wing universe if Leo McGarry had been able to kick the booze and pills at 21 and stay off them for good. Bartlett might have been his VP.

[@lostchild2003]

The back lighting starting at @1:50 is perfectly thought out.

[@aqu1r3]

"Well you've always been industrious"

[@Kresnov]

Quality TV short and simple.

[@cynthiaennis3107]

One of my favorite scenes!

[@Bergen98]

"I won't permit" said Josh, ready to fight for his father figure with the devil himself is needed

[@Tigerman1138]

I was watching War Games. Long before Leo went into politics he was a missile solo officer. Later he moved to NH and became friends with Governor Bartlett.

[@fairwayfever2883]

Tigerman1138 you do this too!?!? I thought I was the only person convinced actors were actually playing the same person in different roles and you can line them all up 😂

[@glenndallas7171]

When does he become the slimy operator from The Rock? =)

[@baylinkdashyt]

@@fairwayfever2883 TVTropes calls this the Actor Allusion, I think. It's my favorite game too. See also "Tommy Westphal Universe"

[@seanwebb605]

His daughter died in a New York hospital after a mistake by a drunk doctor.

[@mkrny111]

And a young Michael madsen in the silo w him.. saying “turn your key sir”!!

[@elizabetholiviaclark]

I also clearly remember “As long as I have a job, you have a job.”

[@varianschirmer9375]

There was the scene where Josh was wrangling votes in Season 1 explaining to a congressman to vote with the president or watch as the president flies into your town, stands in a gazebo (which we'll build if we have to) & wrap his arm around a DA we like... and that's the day you're finished in politics. "Jed Bartlett is a good man, with a good heart. He doesn't hold grudges..." "...that's what he pays me for...!" That was season 1... when the vice president had to get the last vote. But I think the tone of Josh's conversation said it... he was the Bartlett administration "enforcer"... Bartlett was basically a Teddy Roosevelt... and Josh was the Big Stick.

[@AndreAFirenze]

"that small fraction of a man. I wan't permit it".

[@werewolvesdeathmetal]

One of the rarer moments where Josh is a genius instead of a buffoon. That ability to look at the inquiry and put 2 and 2 together, leading him to work out Leo was the target, compassionately question him, then make the final leap to understand they had his confidential paperwork....wow.

[@gabrielabagala]

not a "rare" moment, Josh is the most fast thinker of all of them

[@ninodino444]

You clearly have not seen the show…

[@fionam7768]

Well, not an entire episode anyway....😂😂 what an idiotic comment!!

[@McRocket]

Great scene. Thank you for posting it.

[@tomscott4438]

I always wondered how this show would have dealt with Trump. Vinick was an old-school conservative who leaned just enough to the middle to almost win. Episodes like this hint at the moral ambiguity and decay of the right, but nothing like our current political climate. This universe could never have imagined or conceived the radical perversion of MAGA, nor an electorate gullible and stupid enough to buy into it.

[@pkmatt3]

this is why I own all 7 seasons and if John Spencer (LEO) had not died in real I would be on season waiting for it mear 18 years plus Aaron Sorkin would still have the Newsroom with another long line of actors who would want to speak Aaron's words.

[@jerrybobteasdale]

_Judge Kavanaugh, they have your high school yearbook._ The writers (Sorkin, et al) were such perceptive storytellers of the gears and working of politics.

[@jodie4609]

The whole story line rocked Josh's other great line was "that's my job" then he puts on his shades and walks away He talking to a senator it was one of the first episodes

[@jasonkoch3182]

Representative, not a senator. It's in the gun control episode, Five Votes Down.

[@jodie4609]

@jasonkoch3182 Thank you

[@GamerKatz_1971]

Its been forever since i watched the show. Do they explain how this guy was able to get confidential medical records?

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Really nice..

[@jdb316]

If the records from these treatment facilities are confidential how did this person get them?

[@heyitswesty]

and he doesn't. Josh was the best.

[@emphatic1988]

He is Leo-goddamn-McGarry

[@JoefromNJ1]

trump and his administration lowered the bar so far that something like this wouldnt even be a threat to an advisor today.

[@seanwebb605]

The GOP is so morally and intellectually inconsistent that you can be certain that they would never allow a Democrat to pull the stuff they allowed Trump and his supporters to do.

[@ThatIanShane]

Boston Irish Catholic? And here I thought Leo was a man of Chicago.

[@cards0486]

He said he was from Chicago. I assumed he moved there in a job related thing. We know he described himself as a politician. I don’t remember him ever being described as holding an office. Maybe it was mentioned when he was being grilled by the Congressional committee. I haven’t been through all that since it ran on NBC. But when he went to see Bartlett and spoke of ‘running for president’ Bartlett thought he was talking about himself.

[@baylinkdashyt]

Yes, it is widely understood that Leo was 'a Boston Irish Catholic from Chicago.'

[@lacidy]

Back when the dialogue in GOT was still good!

[@NeilLewis77]

@UncleMikeNJ hes making a joke. The first seasons of the west wing were written by a genius. New writers come in and it wasnt as good. Same as GOT.

[@NeilLewis77]

@John James ye the last seasons of GOT and WW were the best

[@keyboarddancers7751]

Loyalty.

[@pauldockree9915]

Yes. Bottle Shock and Cabin In The Woods. But you permitted it? BabySitters and men mistaken for Thor? Followed Bradley Whitford in various roles sort of and yes Third lawyer behind - goodness I forget. Tommy Lee Jones. Anyway Susan Sarandon and The Client. Yes via Rocky Horror Picture Show and Atlantic City too. Lemon Juice and one of my favourite Burt Lancaster film's. Seen thru the eyes of a foreign director. Au revoir les enfants? Mid Knight In Paris Once Upon a Time in Paris? Lovely music. Oh. Yes. The other thing. Imagination? Thought Police is all you got now. Look at that USA crowd. Atlantic City USA. Oh and didn't Trump lose money casino owning? What favours are called in for Trump to be King?

[@srkh8966]

In this episode Leo’s Boston Irish Catholic, but when he and Jed meet Oliver Babish he says he’s from Chicago. Why?

[@JnEricsonx]

Maybe born there, moved to Chicago later?

[@srkh8966]

@@JnEricsonx then he’s not from Chicago

[@lpr5269]

I think possibly his grandparents were from Boston or something like that. He grew up in Chicago. They didn't really go into it during the show other than this scene about his family history.

[@seanwebb605]

He is from Chicago.

[@Zak6959]

In 2020, the question is who isn’t addicted to prescription drugs.

[@veralenora7368]

... and WHY do these doctors still have a medical license and are not in jail????

[@JnEricsonx]

Me. Heaviest thing I've ever done was codine for the mother and father of ear infections.

[@aniketkesarkar9967]

which episodes is this from

[@ThorsHammer1]

You don't an army to win a war. You need one good man with a good cause who will not quit. If you have that, the rest will take care of itself.

[@seanwebb605]

Well that makes no sense at all. You don't an army? A good drone bets a motivated soldier.

[@gastonsanda8784]

Why not? Didnt you want me to solve this in 5 years? As quikly as possible?

[@fyremanjef]

It’s a family thing.

[@xypaddy1]

Isn't Leo from Chicago ??

[@LeighMet]

Chicago born to transplants from Boston

[@srkh8966]

Paddy a break in the story line-just like when he claims to have been sober for 6 yrs in this season, but then in a later season he’s shown to have had a relapse right before Bartlet’s first term.

[@SpydeyDan]

@@srkh8966 That one can easily be retconned as a deliberate lie. His bender on the night of the debates was an embarrassing secret that he really needed to keep. He wasn't about to admit it to low-level staffer who was being fired.

[@srkh8966]

SpydeyDan A debatable glitch for the best TV show on earth!

[@seanwebb605]

Maybe stay a little longer and comfort him. He's pretty shaken up about it.

[@integral]

This small fraction of a man.

[@douglassauvageau7262]

Our humanity should not preclude our credentials for service. GAAHHH!

[@marcokite]

huh?

[@deboneighr4201]

Josh is just a bully…

[@mrsnarfy]

As actors representing the Dems, are we to believe that these fictional characters are NOT well-aware that all Intel has a price? 🤔🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

[@susandarling5617]

Ui

[@richarddarlington1139]

I saw your name and just had to pop in and say Hi. What does "Ui" mean?

[@RebeccaRatliff]

Every time I see this clip it just knocks me out that Leo realizes Josh is all grown up, a powerful man in his own right who can and will fight for him. Such great actors.

[@foolsihboi8127]

The abiding weeder regretfully flower because pheasant thirdly dream barring a hoc process. bright, awesome vulture

[@colinmerritt7645]

Throwing random words together does not make a sentence.

[@flyboy152]

This guy is taking drugs… all of them. 😂

[@LeaveChildrenAlone]

The sealed document that he said he had but didn't let Josh see is an interrogation tactic to get people to confess to embarrassing things. Make them show their hand. If they had it, they would have shown it. For all we know it could have been their lunch order for the week.