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The West Wing

Institutional Memory

Season 7, Episode 21, Aired May 07, 2006

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9.3

EPISODE RATING: Superb

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The White House senior staff are figuring out what they will do after they leave the White House. Kate and Will's relationship is on shaky ground. C.J. and Danny are trying to figure out what kind of relationship they want to have. Andy comes to C.J. and asks for the President to give Toby a pardon so that Toby won't have to spend five years in jail.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Matt Malloy

Herb
GUEST STAR
Scott Klace

DCCC
GUEST STAR
Xander Berkeley

Franklin Hollis

Allison Janney

Claudia Jean "C.J." Cregg
Richard Schiff

Toby Ziegler
Jimmy Smits

Matthew Santos (Episodes 114-)
Martin Sheen

President Jed Bartlet
Kristin Chenoweth

Annabeth Schott (Episodes 133 -, recurring previously)
Janel Moloney

Donna Moss (Episodes 23-, recurring previously)

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Fan Episode Reviews (7)

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In my opinion, this is one of the best episodes of the last two seasons of "The West Wing". A fine example of how important are the relationships between the different characters and how well developped these people are.moreless

10

"Perfect"

By acmb, Oct 11, 2008

Allison Janney demosntrated once again the good actress she is having all the weight of this episode. We se how the work affects her relationship with Danny (aren't they a great couple?) and what she could do in the future after leaving the White House. What is the most important is the ending, where after a long time, CJ and Toby meet again and they have one of their conversations.

Particulary, I love the conversations between these two characters. They were friends before getting into the White House and although CJ was angry with what Toby did, she goes to see him and to ask him if he wanted to be forgiven by the President. The proud Toby says he doesn't want but they have one of their ironic and inteligent conversations.moreless
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CJ struggles to find the balance between her future career choice and a relationship with Danny

9.0

"Superb"

By DHPLover, Jul 31, 2006

I loved this episode because once again it was an extremely personal piece of drama with the focus being solely on CJ, which is always a joy. By focusing all the narrative on CJ it showed exactly the same thing that Will, Charlie and even the President are experiencing but by focusing on a single character it went into more detail, made it much more personal and I thought more emotional. Although I missed seeing some of the major characters in the penultimate episode (such as The President, and especially Josh) by focusing on a single character it created more of a story.

It was also an incredibly moving episode because of the behind the scenes stuff you don't normally think about when another administration takes over the White House. It made me wonder yet again how these people are not dragged away from the building kicking and screaming. How can anything that you do in your life possibly compare to working in that building? As gut wrenching as this episode was I imagine the finale is going to be even worse.

It was wonderful to see the more vulnerable side to CJ as well. The last scene between her and Danny was brilliant. She can hold intelligent conversations with world leaders, advises the President in the Situation Room but she was petrified to have to try and work on a relationship with Danny.

I also enjoyed the scene between CJ and Toby. It showed an interesting balance, wanting to help someone even though you're still mad at them. Here's hoping he gets pardoned.

Another truly brilliant episode and why I watch and am going to desperately miss this showmoreless
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a fine example on how a series shoul end

9.6

"Superb"

By raimondo, Jun 04, 2006

this series has always been one of my favorites, in this seasoon i was very sad when i leard that the producer decided to pull the plug and the death of one of their main caracters. Even with this tragedy we saw how the writers deliver to us great episodes like this one where we can see how dificult is to run a country and finish the transition to a new goverment. The hope that this cast will continue with the sants administration is a hope that in the future we could see a west wing saga with new peoplemoreless
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Not with a bang but a . . . not exactly a whimper, but what now?

8.2

"Great"

By texasyank, May 11, 2006

I was a late convert to \"The West Wing.\" I spent the first four seasons--the Sorkin seasons--catching the show every third or fourth episode and thinking, Well, that\'s nice. I saw the agenda (Clinton + Kennedy * Galbraith - any whiff of sexual scandal) and was put off; it seemed that the left wing had created a robot president for its own purposes. It was not until BRAVO, until way ast 9/11, that I began to realize the majesterial quality of the writing and acting, the way the show rewarded a viewer\'s attention.

It is with almost a sense of grief that I ponder over the last few episodes. The run-up to the election, the debate, the nuclear accident, Election Days I and II--all of these shows brought back the marvelous tension of November, 2004, and the sight of Michael Barone flipping through county-by-county polling data in Ohio. Since then? We\'ve buried Leo, in an episode I suppose could go no other way. We\'ve seen Josh melt down for the fiftieth time, and then go on vacation--for two episodes. Sam Seaborn has appeared, then disappeared, for the same two episodes--NBC or the production company didn\'t even think to shell out the bucks for a C.J.-Sam reunion this past Sunday. Could we just have had Sam in the bullpen, minding the store in Josh\'s absence? Would a thirty-second hello have killed anyone?

One must let a great TV show, like a Brett Favre, go out on its own terms. \"St. Elsewhere\" had its autism, \"Newhart\" its dream sequence, \"Cheers\" its life-goes-on-tomorrow. Perhaps only \"Hill Street Blues\" hit precisely the right chord, with blameless Norm Buntz thrown off the force at the end of an otherwise (in the words of Joyce Davenport) \"better than break-even day.\" \"The West Wing\" has decided to go the soft route, wrap a few details up, put C.J. with Danny, make Charlie C.J.\'s assistant, put Josh with Donna, Sam with Josh, Vinick in Foggy Bottom, Santos\'s kids in public school and Bartlet back in New Hampshire. Fair enogh, but is there anything else? Who will be Vice President? Not Vinick, not C.J., so does anyone care?

One other note. NBC\'s decision not to film a \"West Wing\" retrospective (and instead simply replay the show\'s first episode) is shabbiness of high order. \"The West Wing\" is one of the best ten TV dramas in history--it deserves better.

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We're nearing the end...

8.7

"Great"

By ferociouswalrus, May 08, 2006

This episode centered around CJ Cregg and the other members of the White House staff in their final weeks on the job. At times I was reminded of the old glory days of the show; there was a couple of those quirky runs I am so fond of, about typos in the Constitution and just how famous the billionaire in the Roosevelt Room is. I'm glad that CJ's going to go fix the world with 10 billion dollars and not just keep working in the White House. The final scene between her and Danny Concannon was very touching. I am still wondering what is going to happen with Toby: are they really going to end the series by sending him to jail? While the newer characters are okay, I guess, I'm glad they spent this episode focusing on our old favorites CJ and Toby. "West Wing" had its ups and downs, but it looks like they're going to go out in style.moreless
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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (1)
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- Danny: I want you to do what you want to do. Take the job at the White House. I just want you to talk to me about it. I want us to talk about what it will mean and we'll make it work. I want us to talk like we're gonna figure it out together. I want us to talk...because I like the sound of your voice. I just want to talk.
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- Although credited, Kristin Chenoweth, Janel Moloney, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford & Martin Sheen do not appear in this episode. Stockard Channing is also absent and therefore uncredited.
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