22 Episodes of The West Wing That Will Make You Feel Better About Politics

With this election, politics has come to feel overwhemingly negative and exhausting.

And while so many parts of our democracy are wonderful and amazing, it’s gotten hard to see past the vitriol.

But we’re here to help — a little, at least. Here are 22 episodes of The West Wing that are sure to lift your spirits and restore your faith in America.

1. “The Crackpots and These Women” (Season 1 Episode 5)

Big Block of Cheese day, or in Josh’s words “Total Crackpot Day” is an absolute treasure. From staff basketball games, to the President’s homemade chili, to CJ nearly being convinced of the necessity of a “wolves only highway,” this episode is sure to lift your spirits.

Josh brings the episode home by turning down the catastrophe card he’s offered by the secret service, saying he’d rather spend the end of the world with his friends.

2. “In Excelsis Deo” (Season 1 Episode 2)

Though not a cheerful episode, “In Excelsis Deo” shows us the heart of what it means to be an American. It shows us what it truly means to love and serve our country in a variety of ways.

3. “Celestial Navigation” (Season 1 Episode 15)

Two words: “Woot Canaw.” This episode is equal parts delightful wit and poignant social commentary. Josh’s ill advised attempt to fill in for CJ results in the press believing the President has a secret plan to fight inflation.

Meanwhile, the episode also takes a look at the injustices in racial profiling when Roberto Mendoza, the President’s nominee for the Supreme Court, is pulled over and arrested for “driving while Hispanic.”

4. “Let Bartlet Be Bartlet” (Season 1 Episode 19)

This is the episode where the Bartlet administration finally decides to stop trying to ride the party line and instead focus on doing their best to actually make a difference.

In a few words, they decide to do the most good while they have the opportunity.

5. “In The Shadow of Two Gunmen” (Season 2 Episodes 1 and 2)

Season 2 starts off with a bang, literally. When gunfire breaks out at a Presidential event where both Josh and President Bartlet are hit, the team bands together to work through the aftermath and come out stronger than before.

The best moment of the two part episode is without a doubt CJ’s speech about gun control at the end, and it’s still incredibly relevant today. 

6. “Midterms” (Season 2 Episode 3)

When the President takes a homophobic radio show host to church on picking and choosing which crimes from the Bible we should still punish, everyone who’s ever been forced to listen to one of those people in real life stands and cheers. And when the President stands, nobody sits. 

Josh Lyman: What do you say about a government that goes out of its way to protect even citizens that try to destroy it?

Toby Ziegler: God bless America.

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