Favorite Episodes? Anybody? Mine is the second season finale "Two Cathedrals"... at Mrs.Landingham's funeral, when Barlet gets angry with God and starts speaking in Latin.

Hi, new here. I have just been reading posts. My fav is the one where the president gave Charlie the knife at Thanksgiving. I always get a little teary eyed with that one.

My favorite episode is "Bartlett's Third State Of The Union". It has my favorite scene, where Ainsley is in her office, in a robe (because she sat on the bench with the "Wet Paint" sign), dancing around with a cocktail, Sam walks in, she wants him to dance with her, and, in the midst of it all, the President walks in. She throws her drink and screams.. Just funny stuff..

Of the serious ones, I enjoyed, "Noel" and "Two Cathedrals"..

In the shadow of two gunmen, maybe,20 hours in america, proportional response

Me, too. The gift of the knife showed a special side of Bartlet and how he had come to value Charlie, not only as an employee but as a person. The gift of the knife set was one that had been passed down from father to son...now to Charlie. I got a little misty as well.

Is Noel the episode when Josh gets counceling because he has PTSD after the shooting. If it is, that's a great episode. Yo Yo Ma playing Prelude No. 1 at the end while Josh recounts how he cut his hand. Genius.

My favourite episodes are:
season 2 "Two Cathedrals": I love Bartlet's speech after Mrs Landingham funeral and the final moments, with Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms".
"Shibboleth": When the chinese understands why the President is asking those questions, when the President forgives the turkey and when the President gives Charlie the knife.

In my humble opinion, the best hour ever produced for TV was the episode, "In Excelsis Deo." The whole scene where the boys choir is singing "I have no gift to bring," from "Little Drummer Boy" while the meager funeral party is laying the homeless vet's body into the ground at Arlington.
Not to mention Mrs Laningham's most memorable line in the entire series, "Toby, I'd like to come with you." Instant tears!

And when the president says to Toby that all homeless vets will come out of the woodwork for presidental permission to be buried at Arlington, Toby's response is, "We can only hope."

The best episode ever!!!!

Can someone tell me in which season and episode is when Pres Bartlet walks to Congress during a government shut down? In Puerto Rico we are going through something very similar!!!! Thanks

I believe it is season 4 and the episode is "Shutdown"..

You are right about the title being "Shutdown," but it was season 5.

Its hard to pick a favorite episode because I love them all. However favorite scenes are easier to pick.

When CJ is announced as new COS in the press room.

When Jed gives Charlie the knife.

When The Secret Service rushes in for Hoynes after Jed is shot.

When they sing the Texas song after Santos wins Texas.

Santos and Vinick at the fireplace talking Kazahkstan.

Ok so scenes wasnt any easier

crackpots and these women is also v good, it's the first big block of cheese day which is v funny (fluie the wolf being a personal fav moment) but what makes this episode particularly good is josh's plot. he gets his "in the event of a nuclear attack" card, we find out about his sister and the way he reacts is heart breaking (listening to the ava maria in his office, c.j asking him if he'd been upset by the card - "you can be very sweet sometimes") and the last past when he gives the card back - love josh, jed and leo looking at all the white house women and discussing them.

"Bartlet for America"

Leo's testimony before Congress.

Leo explaining the last time he got drunk.

The napkin with "Bartlet for America" on it.

President framing the napkin and giving to Leo.

I loved that episode so much before John Spencer passed away, and now that final scene brings me to tears every time.

Usually, i'm most impressed and enjoy the witty banter and clever dialog. no other show comes close. (like the Simpsons too, but it's not QUITE as deep).

but one of the most moving moments that i can remember is when CJ's love interest and agent Simon Donovan (Mark Harmon) gets shot and killed. it ripped me up. i don't like knowing what's coming up, and that one totally caught me off guard. Really powerful.

Another is after Mrs. Landingham dies, when Jed is interviewing for a new secretary. i think he hires the 'whack job' at the end of the show. i loved Lily tomlin's role as Debbie Fiderer.

I love "The Sepremes" of Season 5 for two reasons. First because it showes that Liberals and Conservatives on the bench can come to the same conclusions but from different angles (Fictner and Close.) And secondly because a simple story of Donna's solved a hugh political problem. Too many times I think that simple people could solve the problems our politicians turn into stalemates.

Easy- Season Ender for Season 2- "Two Cathedrals". Viewed as a cliff-hanger for anybody who wasn't actually paying attention, it was a unique piece of character introspection. The time shifts are exceptionally subtle and well done. When I visited the National Cathedral last year, I was so tempted to stamp out a cigarette on the floor. Bartlet's angst is overly apparent and is an excellent piece of character sketching by one of the great writers of our time- Sorkin.

#1. Two Cathedrals - The whole episode is powerful and the last 5 minutes, the music, the march of the President and the staff to the press conference, it's been building up all throughout the episode and is so moving.
#2. Shibboleth when he gives Charlie the knife. The first time I saw it and every time I've seen it since, I've had goose bumps.
#3. More recently, Transition with Rob Lowe returning, it was a very well written episode. The banter between Josh and Sam is like he hadn't been gone for 4 years, plus it reverted Josh to how he was in the first couple seasons - high strung, but funny. After season 3, he was just high strung.

Two Catherdrals is the best by far.