In the Shadow of Two Gunmen: Part 1

Season 2, Episode 1, Aired
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Episode Summary

While the staff awaits news regarding the injuries to Jed and Josh, they recall how Josh, Sam, and Toby became involved in the campaign three years earlier; Leo, Toby, and C.J. deal with inquiries on Secret Service protection policies, as well as the absence of executive authority while Bartlet was in surgery.moreless
9.6
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Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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  • The West Wing should be heralded as one of the greatest televsion shows of all time, and this episode is a perfect example of why.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By MuteTroubadouR, Aug 06, 2010 Report Abuse
    The West Wing should be heralded as one of the greatest televsion shows of all time, and this episode is a perfect example of why.

    Throughout their seven flawless seasons, The West Wing writers and directors utilised and perfected the 'flashback' in a way that has succeeded any other television show before or since. Though not their first endeavour into using the flashback, it is in In The Shadow of Two Gunmen parts one and two that we can truly see the power behind each character's story.

    The Senior Staff deal with the aftermath of a shooting at Rosslyn and remember how they each came to work for Bartlet during the campaign. Whilst a critically injured Josh undergoes sugery.moreless

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  • Nightmares and memories.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By kickdoor, May 20, 2010 Report Abuse
    When Toby found Josh, I just about lost it. Even knowing he was going to be on the show for the duration(I had seen his episode count before I started the series), it was still very upsetting. I was tearing up on my second watchthrough when he was yelling in the hospital about needing to get to New Hampshire. As if getting shot in the chest wasn't enough, in his mind he's somehow being prevented from getting to Bartlet. And Sam's line to him was pretty moving, once I understood what it meant.

    Sam: You went to New Hampshire. We both did. You came and got me.

    Donna finding out was rough, I just assumed she would have known for some reason. Seeing CJ so shaken was disturbing as well. I imagine having to give a press conference after something so traumatic, while not knowing if Josh was gonna make it, was, to put it mildly, not an easy thing to do. Bartlet being more upset about Zoey and Butterfield was the kind of thing I hope I could do in that situation.

    Bartlet: I swear to God, if I don't speak to my daughter in the next five minutes I'm going to attack something.
    Butterfield: She's on her way.
    Bartlet: This guy's got about seven broken bones in his hand by the way, if someone wants to give him an aspirin or something.

    As well I hope I can stay in as good humor as he was.

    Nurse: Do you have any medical conditions?
    Bartlet: Well...I've been shot.

    While the scenes happening in the present were incredibly well done, the flashbacks to the early days of the Bartlet campaign were my favorite parts. It was interesting to see the moment Josh realized Bartlet was "the real thing."

    Bartlet: If fidelity to freedom and democracy is the code of our civic religion, then surely, the code of our humanity is faithful service to that unwritten commandment that says 'We shall give our children better than we ourselves received.' Let me put it this way; I voted against the bill 'cause I didn't want it to be harder for people to buy milk. I stopped some money from flowing into your pocket. If that angers you, if you resent me, I completely respect that. But if you expect anything different from the President of the United States, you should vote for someone else.

    Sorry for all the quotes by the way, I've just never been able to write reviews without including them, and its even harder with TWW which has so many good ones. Sam working for the oil companies was pretty mind blowing, though I guess it explains why he works so hard for Bartlet now, trying to make up for that time. I liked how he and Josh had to point out to each other that they didn't like who they were working for, for both of them to realize they should do something about it.

    Leo's talk with Bartlet, near the end of the episode, was probably my favorite part, summed up my feelings about the presidency quite well.

    Leo: Because I'm tired of it. Year, after year, after year, after year. Having to choose between the lesser of 'Who Cares?'. Of trying to get myself excited about a candidate who can speak in complete sentences. Of setting the bar so low I can hardly look at it. They say a good man can't get elected president. I don't believe that. Do you?

    This was simply an amazing episode, not just for TWW, but television as a whole.moreless

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  • The aftermath of shooting

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Parricida, Nov 22, 2007 Report Abuse
    This has been so far the most exciting story with much of action - the special agents on the scene, the drive in night city and the scene in the hospital when the medical worker answers the phone - they do not have so much dynamic in any episode so far.

    On the balance to the big action and motion on main story, the have flashback with beautiful meaning how those people ever met.. how they become to work to Bartle. It opened a new view to most of the characters - show us how much Leo really did and how few fate and change the had but they made it.

    A really special episode and in the top of all episodes.moreless

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  • One of my favorites

    9.6
    "Superb"
    By wuzzaman, Sep 24, 2007 Report Abuse
    With the West Wing, every now and again an episode approached "perfection". What an opener to Season 2. The writing is superb, well paced, the flashback sequences fit into the story perfectly. Also they are revealing, telling us a lot about Leo and Jed's relationship, and showing us an insecure side to Toby.

    Bartlet's speech is a sign of things to come from him. Donna, shown in the opening credits for the first time has a great scene when her worry for the President turns to relief and joy only to be shot down by the news of Josh's condition. The scenes with the secret service agents, especially Ron, are all well-acted and dramatic.moreless

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  • I love, love loved this episode!!!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By cookaberry, Jun 17, 2006 Report Abuse
    I just watched Part 1 and 2, so I'll try to seperate them best I can.

    Just from the beginning I knew this would be a great episode, because, I don't know, it just had this very real feeling. It's no doubt the writing was amazing, but just everyone running around. When Josh was down, I started like crying! Donna's scene at the end was really great, and I liked how they showed mrs. landingham and Margaret finding out.

    I can't even remember the cliff hanger they left it on because as soon as I saw it I watched the next episode. This episode was so amazing! I LOVE WEST WING!!!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • This episode has the most guest stars out of any episode of The West Wing. Edit
    • There is a lot of discussion about the President not having signed a letter turning over power to the VP and so there was no one in charge. However the 25th Amendment provides for the VP and a majority of the principal officers of the executive branch (i.e. the Cabinet) to remove the power of the presidency from the President if he is unable to perform his duties. The VP would become the Acting President until the President submits a letter to Congress saying he is ready to reassume his duties. Edit

  • Notes

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    • Additional Credits:

      Special Assistance: National Park Service

      Special Assistance: National Capital Region

      Special Assistance: United States Park Police

      Washington D.C. Produciton Assistance by ThinkFilm, Inc

      Edit
    • Janel Moloney appears in the opening montage for the first time. Edit
    • Awards and Nominations: This episode in combination with the Part II won Emmys in 2001 for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Series. This episode in combination with Part II was a 2001 Emmy Award Nominee for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore). Nominated with the Part II for 2001 Banff Rockie Awards in the category of Continuing Series. Nominated with the Part II for 2001 CAS Awards in the category of Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Television Series. John Spencer was nominated for the 2001 Emmy in Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the episode along with "The Leadership Breakfast." Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Danny: The President's been under aesthetic for more than an hour. He's probably gonna be on a morphine drip. Without the 25th, who's in charge? CJ: The Vice President, the Secretary of State, the National Security Advisor, the Secretary of Defence, one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House Chief of Staff. Danny: You just listed six people! Who's in charge? CJ: The Canadians. Danny: C.J.... CJ: You understand I'm talking about the hockey team. Edit
    • Josh: Running for president of the United States and not putting Social Security front and center is like running for president of the Walt Disney Corporation by saying you're gonna fix the rides at EPCOT. Mark: We're gonna get to Social Security, Josh; it's a long campaign. For now, we focus on the tax cuts. Female Aide: It's what magicians call "misdirection." Josh: Really, 'cause it's what the rest of us call bullsh-- Edit
    • Nancy: It gets more complicated if you'd read section 202 the National Security Act of 1947. C.J.: Let's assume I haven't. Nancy: It says that the Secretary of Defense will be the principal assistant to the President on all matters relating to the national security. C.J.: What does "principal assistant" mean? Nancy: It doesn't specify. Toby: No, it wouldn't, 'cause that's an area of federal law where you'd want as much ambiguity as possible. Nancy: Yeah. Edit

  • Allusions

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    • Episode Title: "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen" The title seems to be inspired by Seán O'Casey's 1923 play "The Shadow of a Gunman." Edit

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