Toby: "You’re a woman with a lot of options. You’re acting like the world’s backing you into a corner." From The West Wing, Season 7, Episode 21, Institutional Memory
In most TV shows, the characters never change who they are as a person. But with CJ, you can see the struggle she goes through to come to grips with who she has become over the course of 8 years - really good at the hardest job in the world, sacrificing personal relationships, wondering if she missed out despite all the good that she has done for the world. That makes her one of the more intriguing characters on the show. And that's really saying something.
This scene and the one after with Danny IS so epic. Toby speaks so softly so real so convincing in this scene those of us who watched this over and over countless times know the value of this scene..Without question one of my favorites.
i feel like cj and toby are soulmates. not necessarily as a couple, as colleagues, best friends, partners. they understand each other on a much deeper level than anyone else in the show does. they’ve confided in each other more and more over the years. they have a history. and they always seem to be there with each other at a life-altering moment.
@@LuisMartinez-rw2lj That was one of the things about this show - they were all very much a family. One of the great choices that was made was to not have the characters getting romantically entangled with one another except for - well, I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen the series yet.
Obviously they knew each other before the Barlet presidency as they depicted in some of the flashback sequences in Season 2. The one where she fell in the pool at her apartment complex in California kind of showed they were friends well before the worked in the West Wing.
"you think I came here to take advantage of you before they cart you off to the big house" is one of my favorite deliveries in the whole show. They did Richard/Toby a great disservice with this insulting leak plot but every scene with Alison and Richard is so good that they sell the crap story.
I always flash back to the moment Toby told CJ that he was responsible for the leak. The expression on her face of betrayal and incredulity. She didn't have to say a word. Alison is a top tier, criminally underused actress who's been on set and gone toe to toe with the best.
What a fabulous scene! I think this the last we see of toby and what a way to finish it. And poetic justice to how they show how they met - toby waiting for her at her house after she had just gotten fired and offering her the job of press secretary of the bartlet campaign
Always great to see these actors go one and one together. Although the tension as to whether Toby was going to be pardoned was non existent as he was in the flash forward scene at the start of the season, where it was obvious he never went to prison
Not necessarily, he was never going to serve a long sentence nor would he have seved it in a high security prison, it would be plausible that he had done his stretch, been released on good behaviour and was now teaching at a nice mid tier college somewhere.
This scene was so unbelievably sublime in how much subtext there was in the body language and eyes. That subtle tug at the belt when Toby approaches CJ after they stand up. It was sexual in the most unobvious way that I at first missed it.
SPOILERS!!!!! I know Richard Schriff didnt like the way the producers handled his character at the end but I thought this scene was brilliantly written, produced and acted. It was a very human moment. the only thing I wished they would have done was showed Toby finding out about his pardon and breaking down and crying with relief. Maybe showing this after the final scene showing AF1 flying off towards tomorrow.
It's what we wanted to see, some time, some how. But it was better having to imagine it. Plus, showing it after AF1 flying off towards tomorrow? ... why you (and I) weren't writers for this show.
I don't see Toby as the type to break down and crying. I could see him sitting down and taking a deep breath likes he's finally relieved but crying isn't in his nature.
Yes, he's always maintained that it didn't make sense for Toby to do what he did, and Schiff's only personal "canon" was that Toby was covering for someone - I figured it would be Andy.
@@dirdib69 Andy leaked information about a secret military shuttle? Unless she was on the House Armed Services committee there was very little chance of her leaking anything because she probably didn’t know of it’s existence.
Me 2. It was so out of character. Aaron Sorkin would never have written those story arcs. The show was still good but the scripts never hit the same lofty heights once Aaron left.
They were on the bang train years ago, this scene to me confirms it....but their friendship is so epic too as much as I ship them the anticipation and never ever is just as good 😅
My point is if Toby wanted to betray the president he should have done that in season 2... He didn't.... I didn't like how he would have written him off
Honestly, the chemistry between these characters has been on point since day one. Why the writers didn't pair them up is beyond me. The show had its different fun relationships. Josh and Donna was the chaotic funny one, Will and Kate was the adorable one, and Toby and CJ would have been the serious one.
This show was perfect... Then they lost Sorkin and Lowe and completely FORGOT about Schiff. I never really clicked with the Will character and can't even remember the blonde's name (not Ainsley, the other one).
Sloppy narrative. The single most perishable commodity in DC is secrets. In a year, or a month, or a week, the existence of the secret shuttle would leak from somewhere. A WH staffer, a Pentagon paper pusher, a disgruntled USAF senior sergeant or a janitor in some comm center. Once out, Bartlett's legacy implodes to 3 words, "Three Dead Astronauts." That could never be an acceptable outcome.
Eh. The original cast was kind of screwed by season 6. Season 7 only really butchered Toby. So much so that I don't think he even appeared in the final episode.
Leaked the existence of a classified military space shuttle to the press in an effort to force the president to rescue some stranded astronauts using it.
@@johnparker2957 When talking with Andy, Toby was quite vehement about denying it was his brother David. So, either he was lying to his ex, or he had some other source of info.
@@punknhead23 It's crazy that Harmon's performance on The West Wing is probably what earned him the role of NCIS. NCIS is still on the air all these years later.
"C.J., you fell into the pool there." Toby, 1998
Eight years later, and this happens.
In most TV shows, the characters never change who they are as a person. But with CJ, you can see the struggle she goes through to come to grips with who she has become over the course of 8 years - really good at the hardest job in the world, sacrificing personal relationships, wondering if she missed out despite all the good that she has done for the world. That makes her one of the more intriguing characters on the show. And that's really saying something.
This scene and the one after with Danny IS so epic. Toby speaks so softly so real so convincing in this scene those of us who watched this over and over countless times know the value of this scene..Without question one of my favorites.
i feel like cj and toby are soulmates. not necessarily as a couple, as colleagues, best friends, partners. they understand each other on a much deeper level than anyone else in the show does. they’ve confided in each other more and more over the years. they have a history. and they always seem to be there with each other at a life-altering moment.
I always saw CJ and Toby as work siblings
@@LuisMartinez-rw2lj That was one of the things about this show - they were all very much a family. One of the great choices that was made was to not have the characters getting romantically entangled with one another except for - well, I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen the series yet.
They're part of each other's karass
Obviously they knew each other before the Barlet presidency as they depicted in some of the flashback sequences in Season 2. The one where she fell in the pool at her apartment complex in California kind of showed they were friends well before the worked in the West Wing.
Interchangeable Hero and Sidekick story!
I like Tobys "Wow, that might be the smartest thing." He sees he has been wrong about Santos.
I love how there was always a subtle humor in all conversations between Toby and C.J.
I so adore watching these 2 together;
"you think I came here to take advantage of you before they cart you off to the big house" is one of my favorite deliveries in the whole show. They did Richard/Toby a great disservice with this insulting leak plot but every scene with Alison and Richard is so good that they sell the crap story.
I always flash back to the moment Toby told CJ that he was responsible for the leak. The expression on her face of betrayal and incredulity. She didn't have to say a word. Alison is a top tier, criminally underused actress who's been on set and gone toe to toe with the best.
The show she's on now is revoltingly stupid.
This is maybe my favorite Richard Schiff acting moment. "I did it." And then the close up of his face. He's a great face actor.
West wing was one of my all time favorite shows
Their friendship is brilliant. Great performances and writing.
I always miss this show so much!! It was a great show!!
What a fabulous scene! I think this the last we see of toby and what a way to finish it. And poetic justice to how they show how they met - toby waiting for her at her house after she had just gotten fired and offering her the job of press secretary of the bartlet campaign
Always great to see these actors go one and one together. Although the tension as to whether Toby was going to be pardoned was non existent as he was in the flash forward scene at the start of the season, where it was obvious he never went to prison
Not necessarily, he was never going to serve a long sentence nor would he have seved it in a high security prison, it would be plausible that he had done his stretch, been released on good behaviour and was now teaching at a nice mid tier college somewhere.
Not sure why but I teared up big time after seeing this scene.
That's a good sign, my dude. It's means you're working correctly. This was a damn fine series.
Maybe one of the greatest questions you can ask anyone you care about - "what do you want"
Unless you're a Shadow. I'd rather be asked, 'Who are you?'
It’s also the hardest question to answer.
@@Sparky1701 I didn't ask for your name, I asked -- who are you?
@@Sparky1701 "a Shadow" - haha that's exactly what I thought.
Toby is still gorgeous
Such an honest conversation.
This scene was so unbelievably sublime in how much subtext there was in the body language and eyes. That subtle tug at the belt when Toby approaches CJ after they stand up. It was sexual in the most unobvious way that I at first missed it.
Yeah they were never sexual.
Damn this was an amazing show!
bookend this with the scene of Toby asking CJ to join the campaign
CJ's so exhausted here - I really think if she'd accepted Santos' offer it would have damaged her health or even killed her.
Just as Bartlett did with Leo. An interesting parallel.
There's a very good reason that Presidential Chiefs of Staff have such a high turnover.
What role was she offered?
SPOILERS!!!!!
I know Richard Schriff didnt like the way the producers handled his character at the end but I thought this scene was brilliantly written, produced and acted. It was a very human moment. the only thing I wished they would have done was showed Toby finding out about his pardon and breaking down and crying with relief. Maybe showing this after the final scene showing AF1 flying off towards tomorrow.
It's what we wanted to see, some time, some how. But it was better having to imagine it. Plus, showing it after AF1 flying off towards tomorrow? ... why you (and I) weren't writers for this show.
I don't see Toby as the type to break down and crying. I could see him sitting down and taking a deep breath likes he's finally relieved but crying isn't in his nature.
Thats why it would have worked.
Yes, he's always maintained that it didn't make sense for Toby to do what he did, and Schiff's only personal "canon" was that Toby was covering for someone - I figured it would be Andy.
@@dirdib69 Andy leaked information about a secret military shuttle? Unless she was on the House Armed Services committee there was very little chance of her leaking anything because she probably didn’t know of it’s existence.
what happened with Toby broke my heart but was actually pretty great. its in character.
Only 2 things bothered me in this show..Toby's betrayal and Jed turning on Leo.
Me 2. It was so out of character. Aaron Sorkin would never have written those story arcs. The show was still good but the scripts never hit the same lofty heights once Aaron left.
Jed didn't turn on Leo. Leo lost trust in Jed. I hated how they made Leo so hawkish during that brief period. Totally out of character.
Beautiful scene...
That was handy how there was a box for him to stand on right beside the door.
They were on the bang train years ago, this scene to me confirms it....but their friendship is so epic too as much as I ship them the anticipation and never ever is just as good 😅
Pals being buds
The writers did this character a horrific wrong. And everyone, but them, knew it...
You mean Toby? The "secret military shuttle" arc was probably the worst in the entire run of the series, if for no other reason than the bad science.
no Sorkin,it wasn't the same show.
Schiff hated it too.
Meh. People do crazy things for their family.
NAILED IT. This is what I bring up when people act like the show didn't miss Sorkin.
My point is if Toby wanted to betray the president he should have done that in season 2... He didn't.... I didn't like how he would have written him off
Honestly, the chemistry between these characters has been on point since day one. Why the writers didn't pair them up is beyond me. The show had its different fun relationships. Josh and Donna was the chaotic funny one, Will and Kate was the adorable one, and Toby and CJ would have been the serious one.
Because it's not Friends. Or Days of Our Lives. A bunch of staffers who are also lovers, working together for the President? Gag.
they’ve explored each others bodies
I wish they would continue with Matt santos as president
CJ is my dream girl
This show was perfect... Then they lost Sorkin and Lowe and completely FORGOT about Schiff. I never really clicked with the Will character and can't even remember the blonde's name (not Ainsley, the other one).
AnnaBeth was great.
@@sovak75 I think he means Kate Harper.... I agree AnnaBeth was great! Especially her reaction when Leo hacked her email to leak the debate prep!
Oh hell yeah. Absolutely yeah. But don't do it anyway
I've always thought CJ was the leak, and Toby took the blame for her.
Toby was the leak. I always thought the President told him. Just not to tell
Sloppy narrative. The single most perishable commodity in DC is secrets. In a year, or a month, or a week, the existence of the secret shuttle would leak from somewhere. A WH staffer, a Pentagon paper pusher, a disgruntled USAF senior sergeant or a janitor in some comm center. Once out, Bartlett's legacy implodes to 3 words, "Three Dead Astronauts." That could never be an acceptable outcome.
Is it me, or does this scene imply that they had a friends with benefits relationship in the past?
That’s what the actors agreed on.
Oh season 7, How you butchered my original cast.
Eh. The original cast was kind of screwed by season 6. Season 7 only really butchered Toby. So much so that I don't think he even appeared in the final episode.
@@MatsThyWit Just watched the show (for the first time), and you are correct. It was disappointing that only he was left out of the final episode.
Shubhika~ Yup. When I re-watch the series, I only go through Season 6.
What did Toby do? Was that pardon for him?
Leaked the existence of a classified military space shuttle to the press in an effort to force the president to rescue some stranded astronauts using it.
@@angusperson4222 thanks
Rather he took the blame for the leak to protect his dying brother who was an astronaut and who was the one who leaked the story.
@@johnparker2957 thank you
@@johnparker2957 When talking with Andy, Toby was quite vehement about denying it was his brother David. So, either he was lying to his ex, or he had some other source of info.
Reunite, not reunites.
The last two seasons of this show were so weak.
Hated CJ with Danny, he seems so little boyish. Not for her. Wish they hadn't killed of Simon Donovan.
punknhead23 imo mark harmon is best in ncis. so i can't complain eventhough i agree he's best for CJ.
Darlene would like to see Allison J. do a guest appearance in NCIS. Yes good Harmon got his own gig.
"The West Wing": CBS's great casting call.
maybe Danny has a cannon in his pants as well
@@punknhead23 It's crazy that Harmon's performance on The West Wing is probably what earned him the role of NCIS. NCIS is still on the air all these years later.
Why, in movies and TV shows is there ALWAYS a parking space directly in front of where the actor needs to go?