Should I get into West Wing?

[Falcon123]

As some of you who helped me out earlier may remember, I am on a quest to catch up on the best television shows from the past decade. So far, the recommendations have been a great success (I don't remember exactly who recommended what, but my thanks go to those of you who threw out Arrested Development, The Sopranos (which I was going to watch anyway, but still), and The Inbetweeners. These shows were overwhelmingly awesome), and I was hoping my fellow escapees could debate a further topic about one of the more controversial shows recommended: West Wing.

Now let me make this clear: I am always willing to be more than tolerant of anyone's political beliefs, but I don't enjoy spending my free time listening to extremists on either side (I'm very neutral, with a slight right lean, for what it's worth). The criticism I have heard most about the show is that it leans very heavily to the left, but that's just the wiki page, and I would rather trust those of you who have watched the show.

So I turn to you, my fellow escapees, with a few questions for discussion. First, do those of you who have watched West Wing believe it is a show about politics, or is it a show about people who happen to be politicians? Second, would you still recommend the show to someone who is not politically slanted left, or is it less important compared to other aspects of the show (i.e., how slanted is it really)? Finally, to those of you who have not watched it (and those who have; just felt like including people who haven't seen the show), how much does a show's perceived political slant affect your desire to watch or not watch it?

 

[Scorpid]

I would absolutely recommend West Wing. It's not going to seem like a lecture on why Liberal ideas are just plain superior to conservative ones if that's your worry. It's the story of a democrat president (Who's played absolutely perfectly). As the writer himself Aaron Sorkin is a hardcore democrat and the president is a democrat you shouldn't be shocked that you'll see a liberal answer when confronted with a problem. But that isn't the go to standard response either, it's a great show and you'll at the very least enjoy Sorkins writing.

If i had to have any complaint about it though i would say that it oversimplifies issues and the entire Washington process. But again not surprising it was a show written for NBC and their audience. (Not saying NBC audiences are dumb just that you can't expect every person that watches it to have ever completed a political science course.)

 

[OldGus]

I have seen a little, and I can say this...
Do you like politics? I mean, genuinely like politics. As in enjoy learning more about it, wanting to learn more about the system, etc. Furthermore, do you enjoy the human side of politics? I.E.: What being President actually does to the person chosen (hint, a lot of them age almost twice as fast as they would normally.) What things people in politics can or can't, do or don't, simply because they are supposed to be paragons of society, rather than the representation of the average of society.

If your answer to either is yes, yeah, I think you'd enjoy West Wing. Or possibly be interested in the premise. I've not seen it for a while, so I can't tell you much as far as the writing goes, for example.

 

[octafish]

You want to tempt the wrath of whatever from high atop the thing? No? The go out turn around three times and watch The West Wing.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

I've never seen The West Wing, but that is a criticism I've heard quite a bit as well. Most of David Simon's work (The Wire, Generation Kill, Treme) could be adjudged to be heavily left of centre and that fits right at home with my own views, while on the other side of the scale I can enjoy films and directors that uphold more Conservative views. I've no problem with it, if it's appropriate to the setting; you can't honestly expect people growing up in the Baltimore projects to advocate the Republicans and I would highly doubt middle-upper class white Christian families who've been raised under specific strict moral codes and principles would grow fond of Liberals. Basically I can handle a bias to either side, so long as the presentation of the argument is good and in regard to the West Wing I'd say perhaps you should sample the first couple of episodes and see what it does for you, judge the thing for yourself.

 

[Falcon123]

So far it seems like people are very pro west wing. Good enough for me. Thanks for the help