The West Wing - We Saw A Lynching

Couldn't believe this wasn't on KZbin! One of my favorite moments between Bartlet and Toby and one of the few moments that Toby is truly vulnerable in front of someone else. Powerful delivery by Martin Sheen as usual.

[@tyro244]

Suddenly I'm thinking of Ahmaud Arbery.

[@jcbear1028]

Let justice be done.

[@knivez786]

@@jcbear1028 Justice has been served for Ahmaud

[@tyro244]

@@knivez786 Or to put it another way: The lynchers were pinched.

[@viking956]

@@knivez786 Not just yet. When those three animals are rotting in a Georgia state prison, with daily sessions of having their pants around their ankles as the predominantly black general population turns them into sexual slaves.....then maybe, just maybe justice will be served.

[@cjgibbsey]

@@viking956 I'm glad the idea of people being raped brings you joy

[@martythetickler]

"There are some good things in this world... not from New England, sir". "Toby, don't ever let me hear you say that again".

[@jcolinmizia9161]

As a proud New England resident, born and raised, I endorse this sentiment.

[@jbreezy101]

I love how we go from humor to serious conversation in this show.

[@Truenorth1000]

@@jbreezy101

[@woozy7405]

One of the richest and most powerful writing of a show in history, I wish we could still have shows like this.

[@thatdrewrivers]

Although not quite on par with the West Wing as that is something truly special, have you watched The Newsroom? Also created by Aaron Sorkin and worth a look if you haven't :)

[@woozy7405]

@@thatdrewrivers I've heard of that actually, haven't seen it yet.

[@liman42]

@@thatdrewrivers I liked that show too and really don't know why it didn't last. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was good too and the same thing, it got cut.

[@thatdrewrivers]

@@liman42 At least unlike many-a-show, it had an ending. Too many times they'll cancel a show, leave you hanging and you're left with that feeling of... "Oi... I was watching that!!"

[@petersearls4443]

@@thatdrewriversoutstanding series. I binge it every year or two.

[@thomasthorson4120]

Every time, every single time I see West Wing clips here, the same thought keeps coming: Damn, this is a good show!

[@ZATennisFan]

Possibly the finest show ever put on TV ever. Especially if you consider the consider the consistent quality over 7 seasons...The most powerful episode for me was the one where the bury the homeless Marine in Arlington.. That was actually a genuine USMC burial detail. When they heard about the episode they refused to have it done by actors....That is very very special....

[@theolamp5312]

@ZATennisFan - Truth & sincerity has a power that us mere mortals have trouble to comprehend. Great info, thanks.

[@ZATennisFan]

@@theolamp5312 There is an episode of NCIS where something similar happened and once again the Marines refused to allow actors to do the burial routine. To them that job is sacred. Find the KZbin video on the Burial detail Marines. And watch a movie called “Taking Chance”. Both are about a sacred duty done right.

[@liman42]

In Excelsis Deo. My favorite too. The Little Drummer Boy was perfect.

[@arizonajoe1608]

Shut up you Liberal traitor puke!

[@crazyredhare]

That episode at Arlington was titled "The Little Drummer Boy", I believe. Brought tears to my eyes. I was born in '62. I had friends who had brothers killed in Viet Nam. Bad memories. Never forgotten.

[@stephenconway2468]

The reason we miss the series is not because of the acting, which was excellent. It is not because of the personalities, which were deep and real. It was because we hoped this was or is the way our lives are being directed by the powers elected....even if we did not agree with their views. Intelligence and thoughtful based on information and not fear should be what guides us.

[@titus2120]

Because it reminds us to aspire. Always aspire.

[@majadebij]

That acting.. that g'damn acting.. Here i am, browsing youtube, and all of a sudden WW pops up in the great algorythm KZbin has. 2 minutes, 41 seconds. And i am in awe (again) by the quality of the writing, the actors, the tone of voice and the message it sends. 'I know my West Wing from cover to cover' but it got me again. I have never seen this quality in any show - ever. Think i'll do another 7 series run bingewatch.. It has been to long :)

[@justinbergmans36]

Martin sheen is an incredible actor. His voice, alone, really enriched Apocalypse Now. How he didn’t get more love from the Academy is beyond me.

[@johnglenn30csardas]

When he first mentions a lynching, it’s spoken like a line from the Apocalypse Now voice over. Haunting.

[@anthonyburke5656]

If the US can find people with the humanity and intelligence to make programs like this, why can’t they find Presidential Candidates of like quality?

[@JnEricsonx]

Because they don't want the job, or they get killed.

[@anthonyburke5656]

@@JnEricsonx I hear you, way back when Barack Obama nominated, my friend became part of his election team, I commented to them that they shouldn’t become too attached, because odds were he would be assassinated. My friend cynically said he wouldn’t be assassinated because Presidents no longer have any power, it’s the money that has the power.

[@JnEricsonx]

@@anthonyburke5656 Money isn't always the problem. It's the mind and intent behind it. But usually the big spenders are the psychos.

[@crucisnh]

Because candidates have to RUN for president. Good statesmen/women don't magically get nominated and elected. They have to go through the brutal election process to get the job. Furthermore, it may sound unfeeling, but I don't want a president who governs with his feelings. I want presidents who govern with cold, hard logic. Presidents who do things that will work, rather than doubling down on failed policies of the past because they're letting their feelings get in the way of doing what actually works.

[@dangerfindertreasureseeker8905]

There are many excellent leaders in our country but many of them are just too humble to step up and take the reigns.

[@Mekratrig]

Aftar all this time, these West Wing excerpt vijeos still have the emotjonal equivalant of an sledgehammar. Missing this show, me.

[@iandhr1]

This is one of the greatest moments in TV. You see how the characters really struggle with what happened. You feel the impact of Sheena's words 'it was a lynching." And that is why everyone was reacting the way that they did. For those of you who aren't as familiar with the show, when Toby said "I've seen shootings before" his father was in Murder Inc (The Jewish mob).

[@titus2120]

So many little things in this show resonated deep within me. So many things. I’m black, 73 and have been a viracious reader all my life. We lived in some old houses and I found so many old books. When I was a very young teen I would go to my uncles home to pick up at his yard on week ends. He had no kids. He had an awesome library in one room. After doing my Saturday clean up work, I would be given lunch, be paid nd be allowed to pick/borrow three books from his home library. I read a couple of histories of the gangs of Chicago, New York and Boston. Stuff they did’t teach is school. The lines about Murder Inc and Jewish Mob hit me hard. It gave me another facet of the American experience that was more important than I had realized up until that until them.

[@jessemarcus]

This whole series was powerful in so so many ways.

[@stevechance150]

I assume you've seen Sorkin's other series. HBO's "The Newsroom". That opening scene still floors me.

[@vintagebrew1057]

My brother in the UK kept raving about this show and now I'm hooked!

[@blackspider1405]

And here we are in 2024.... and it's... worse.. But this is still my favorite show...

[@mnfrench7603]

It gives us something to aspire too

[@imcallingjapan2178]

Time to get up off the mat, *and vote blue.*

[@shanescholtz1608]

Seriously, I’ve watched this entire show twice. Think I’ll start my third tonight. I almost wish I never saw any episodes so I could start it all over again!!!

[@lisarice4402]

I agree, Dex. I have never seen this one before - this one was, and is still, very powerful.

[@chewy739]

Toby has never been vulnerable or shown weakness. But when it came to this shooting. He broke down and became so emotionally weak and vulnerable. It was rough to watch.

[@jbreezy101]

Incredible writing by Aaron Sorkin and acting by Richard Schiff

[@philledwith8307]

The writing for this scene was just incredible.

[@PerthScienceClinic]

Just think how close we came to not having Martin Sheen be a regular cast member.

[@dirdib69]

Just for a moment, it seems like Bartlett is poo-pooing Toby's reaction. He isn't, though. "What was Josh Lyman, a warning shot? That was my SON ... " They were all his sons, including Charlie and Toby.

[@Tjorvia]

good LORD I love the quality of this writing, it makes you Care!

[@horatiobeaker]

This is so prescient, and it’s almost 20 years later.

[@DrownedInExile]

Right? Two years after a violent mob of right-wing lunatics attacked the US capitol, and the ringleaders are still at large. "Well I'm waiting for the director of the FBI to behave like the director of the FBI. I'm waiting for the justice dept, I'm waiting for Congress, I'm WAITING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE TO BEHAVE THAT WAY!" - Toby

[@catherinewilliams9680]

Only Aaron Sorkin can convince Alan Alda to portray a Republican Senator. Granted, he's an old school western state Republican. But still. If you've watched any of the post Larry Linville MASH episodes, then you know just how 'liberal, left wing, Democrat Alan Alda is/was in his politics.

[@RomanCoronado]

I doubt Aaron Sorkin had anything to do with Alan Alda joining the cast because Sorkin was long gone from the show by the time they debuted Senator Vinick. If I remember correctly, Sorkin stated that apart from 1 or 2 episodes after the start of season 5, he didn't watch the show after he left.

[@threestrikesmarxman9095]

During the debates between Vinick and Santos, Vinick is seen smiling when Santos refutes his points about liberals being the ones making improvements to America. Some people have speculated that Vinick is embarrassed that his arguments were being refuted, but some people have also speculated that it's because Alda genuinely agrees with those statements.

[@ered203]

I think we should keep coming to work every day...LIKE CHARLIE DOES.

[@tehanu1782]

I've been thinking about this scene the whole weekend

[@larryhammerschmidt9016]

There are some wonderful people in this world. Unfortunately very few of them seem to be in politics today.

[@DummyYEEEAAHHHHH]

Well said, couldn't agree more... It's a shame there aren't more Republicans like another one of Aaron Sorkin's characters... Will McAvoy from the show Newsroom played by Jeff Daniels...amazing show, excellent writing and acting.

[@mikemcaulay9507]

I’m still in a combination of great writing and acting can stir our souls, reminding us that the fight is still worth finishing and winning. That despite the deluge of despair that forces bent on our destruction rain down upon us, we will continue to stand, to fight, to win. November is coming.

[@randyobenchain96]

As a Democrat, I'd we had a Republican president like Bartlet, I'd be proud to call him President

[@JnEricsonx]

Hell, I'd take Vinick if I had to take a Republican.

[@MichaelDarlingCo]

Not a problem at all ... 15 minutes.

[@iloveamerica11]

bartlet so upset about charlie he had to drink a chocolate soda

[@scottbaileys7893]

Saddest part of this entire series of episodes is that they keep referring to "West Virginia White Pride" and referencing Blacksburg and points in Virginia. I love this show but I wonder if they were referring to the western part of Virginia and not my home state of West Virginia. It is a common mistake but I would hope that they would have researched it a bit more before they filmed it.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Your experience of your region is not universal. You don't speak for anyone but you.

[@TobeWilsonNetwork]

“Chocolates syrup, cold milk, and Salsa”

[@bigbrowntau]

I always heard it as Seltzer

[@captmurdock]

@@bigbrowntau It is seltzer. I've never known why it's called an egg cream: there's no egg, and not even cream. Milk, yes, but SKIM milk. That's Brooklyn for you.

[@benlowe1701]

So not being American, not being familiar with American brands, I spent a solid 10 years thinking that he made that "Egg Cream" with Chololate Syrup, Cold Milk and *Salsa*.

[@julieenslow5915]

I thought I knew my WW - but I don't have the full series available to me I am doing it from memory from original runs. That said - what was happening when this happened? I do not remember this!

[@romeogolf4]

This was right after the assassination attempt at the end of season 1. Bartlett and Josh both got shot but the Secret Service found out Bartlett wasn't the target, Charlie was. The shooters were white supremacists angry that the president's daughter was dating a black man and tried to kill (lynch) him by shooting him. They missed but he was the target.

[@richarddarlington1139]

You might try your local library, if you still have a DVD player. I found the entire series there.

[@julieenslow5915]

@@richarddarlington1139 Thank you

[@richarddarlington1139]

@@julieenslow5915 You are most welcome.

[@julieenslow5915]

@@SanskarWagley Thank you.

[@amandastoudemire6563]

What episode is this?

[@carebear802]

Which episode was this?

[@DETROIT1948]

Excellent.

[@user-lc2su7md1i]

isint brooklyn in New England?

[@watsonsd1]

I don't remember what happened to Charlie. Can anybody recount?

[@mjspreacher]

The president was shot in the season 1 finale by white supremacists. It was revealed in the beginning of the second season that their target was actually Charlie, whom they wanted to kill because he was dating the president's daughter.

[@watsonsd1]

@@mjspreacher That was my first thought, but I saw the President, here, was unharmed, so I was trying to think what else it could have been.

[@mwlewis679]

@@watsonsd1 Bartlet was wounded in shooting. The timeline in this episode was when shooting was a couple months in the past.

[@TyraAJones]

That’s Martin Sheen, Charlie’s father.

[@Sh3nHu]

@@watsonsd1 Bartlet says that he has intended to call the Attorney General about it for 12 weeks so we can assume it has at least been 12 weeks since then. In the episode with the initial shooting, Bartlet isn't shot anywhere important. He likely would have been fine to work within a couple days after his surgery.

[@Pipsqueak341]

What season & episode is this from?

[@SanskarWagley]

Season 2 episode 3

[@jaein7779]

Blacksburg is located in Southwest Virginia…not West Virginia

[@imcallingjapan2178]

Well neo-Nazis aren't good at naming things.

[@scottwalsh8791]

Great show but they failed to check their geography. Blacksburg is in Virginia, not West Virginia. It is doubtful that some racist group called West Virginia White Pride would have their headquarters in a liberal college town in Virginia.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Doubtful to the ignorant. Read the FBI' groups list.

[@imcallingjapan2178]

Neo-Nazis aren't exactly bright.

[@dauferm]

Bravo! I wish current democrats would listen to this. For that matter, also the republicans.

[@heisdeadjim]

I had a thought. Those Keyhole photos.... Toby probably wasn't cleared to view Keyhole imagery. Jed held on to those photos forn12 weeks knowing Toby would come ri see him. It's the same as Santos offering SecState to Vinnick in Season 7, that classified sata wasn't just there, both knew it would be useful.

[@gregjenkinson7512]

While I agree the writing was awesome it was also very....heavy. Honestly I remember getting very lost in the dialogue first time I watched the series. It also makes the show feel kinda unrealistic.

[@Ratchet2431]

The series doesn't pretend to be realistic but idealistic.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Wow. That is some unself-aware posting there.

[@SpydeyDan]

All dialogue is unrealistic. Realistic conversation is messy, meandering, poorly paced. It doesn't have rhythm or meter. Dialogue needs to have all of these things, and it needs to communicate the point of the scene in an efficient but entertaining way. The brilliance of Sorkin's writing is that he's able to make these qualities seem more natural than they really are.

[@--s-0-]

Egg cream is fuckin terrible

[@MordiansBumole]

Charlie sheen looks well different in this

[@TyraAJones]

That’s Martin Sheen, Charlie’s father.

[@ohdang8515]

Yes, Charlie's attempted murder by those racists really was so terrible for Toby. Poor thing, I don't know how he coped with the bullet in Josh's lung or Bartlett's visible entry and exit wound. 🤡

[@MichaelRobertHart]

That’s part of what broke him up. Having all that power and not being able to stop his friends from being hurt.

[@roystonlodge]

Survivor's guilt is real.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Wow, how shallow can you get.

[@DrownedInExile]

What a stupid comment. Go back to watching reruns of Ow My Balls.

[@CMOT101]

How to knuckle type you missed the whole fking point without knuckle typing you missed the whole fking point 🤡

[@DAVADMDAVAD]

Did we not learn anything from history? There should have been gatling guns at the Capitol, screaming spinning and mowing them down. You want to send a message? Don't bring a knife to a gun fight.

[@colinmerritt7645]

Um...are you talking about 1/6/2021? First, we can do MUCH better than gatling guns. Second, what does that possibly have to do with this clip?

[@DrownedInExile]

It wouldn't have mattered if there were Tanks and BFVs at the Capitol. Who was the Commander & Chief on that dreadful day? The very man who was desperate to stay in power at any cost, and who fomented the violent mob. The order to fire would not have been given.

[@brucekaraus7330]

Brooklyn is in New York and New York is part of New England. Bartlett would have known that.

[@dexualhealing]

Actually being from Connecticut, I can tell you that New York is NOT part of New England. Comprised of six states, New England consists of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. A common misconception that New York is part of New England!

[@matthewoehms3209]

@@dexualhealing From an Australian viewpoint, we are led to understand that New York City at least is its own nation state!

[@brianmoriarty2674]

New York part of New England!? Are you kidding? Say that in New England you may not make it out.

[@samsonguy10k]

What comes from Brooklyn doesn't necessarily come from everywhere else around it. Also, regardless of whether or not NY is a part of New England, New Hampshire and New York are two very unique places.

[@kyeo77]

this is the most unhinged comment i've ever seen on youtube

[@chriss1911]

Toby was always a wishey washey bleeding heart.

[@colinmerritt7645]

Yes, but at least he HAD a heart....and soul.

[@DrownedInExile]

Better that than a right-wing blowhard.

[@imcallingjapan2178]

He literally wants revenge in this clip.

[@ShaSha-eu5hp]

What episode is this?