The shift on President Bartlet’s face at 3:35 is heartbreaking. It’s that moment when he realizes that Harold and the rest of his crew are going to die. He may be the most powerful person in the world, but even he is powerless in the face of nature.
To those that don't know much about the ocean, green water over the bow is bad. 80 foot seas are fairly self explanatory I would think. It's called green water is when water comes over the bow unabated. It's not the normal ocean spray you see when ships hit the wave, it's when the water is so much higher than the bow that the ship digs in and the actual wave carries straight over the bow and hits the superstructure as a solid wall of water. It's a lot like diving from somewhere high and belly flopping. The water has mass and surprisingly little give to it. It can rip and tear the metal the top of the ship is made of.
When Bartlet vents at God during Mrs Landingham's funeral, he mentions that the storm sank this ship. That means they stayed on the radio with him until he died when they ship went under. I remember when that episode aired, my jaw dropped. THAT is the power of good writing
speaking as a (ex)catholic who has ranted at god (so basically any catholic beyond tradcaths), you focus on the most prominent things on your mind, what troubles you the most, what keeps you up at night. what that implies is that, despite everything he went through, all the fucked up shit he saw as president, one of the things that kept jed bartlett up late at night most was this small, strategically unimportant ship going down. jed bartlett is someone who genuinely cares so much about the people he talks to, that talking to this kid more than anything else, keeps him up at night. for such a larger than life character, it grounds him so much it blows me away
Oof, yes. I remember the first time I watched the episode, I chuckled a bit when Harold didn't answer after Pres. Bartlett introduced himself. I thought it was shock that he was speaking to the President. Then, "I hit my head on..." and the laughter was gone. No, he's literally in shock. And to this day, listening to him talk about the conditions and how, even as someone who knows little about ships, they were minutes at most from sinking... I still tear up listening to it, and seeing the dawning anguish on their faces. Then the upbeat credits theme smacks you with mood whiplash.
Well, getting off to a running start is a skill good actors must have. And she had a couple of decades acting on Broadway before getting this part, so I'd say a lot of it was just sheer talent. Plus, you know, Martin's no slouch himself.
Not to make it even more depressing, but judging by the end of this scene, he probably listened to the poor kid die as well. Or at the very least was the last conversation the kid had
This was one continuous take with a slow roll-up, starting at 1:30 through the end of scene, a full 2min, 50sec. That's an eternity for a static shot. Not as impressive as the dinner gala walk-through to the motorcade, and all the moving parts from that scene, but impressive nonetheless. The periodic lightning strikes perpetuate the build up to the final reveal that the President is talking to a dead man walking, and will likely be the last voice he hears in his life. Incredibly well acted, obviously. The direction to pace the dialog against the music overdub that the actors can't even hear during the build-up is as pro as it gets. Just brilliant at every turn.
The first appearance by the First Lady, Dr. Abigail Bartlet MD. I fell in love with her the moment I saw this scene and understood instantly why Jed married her. Man, what a president SHE would make. On the front of reality, Martin Sheen's and Stockard Channing's chemistry is so tangible it leaps off the screen. And their acting! Flawless. All the more astounding when one recalls that the two first met just the day before shooting this scene.
Watched a clip about the 1st Lady selection, someone said "Do you think we could get Stockard Channing? so they asked and she said yes, she arrived on the set a couple of hours before shooting and she said they "poured me into the dress" right from the 1st scene it was obvious it was an inspired choice, Stockard Channing was magnificent
there are so many little details in the end of this scene that make it so emotional: josh wrapping his arms around mandy, sam and josh looking at each other and just knowing, jed kneeling down and joking with the boy :(((
This was the scene that really hooked me on the series. I enjoyed the shows up until then. This one made me want to follow the series through to the end. Thanks for posting it.
Got to be one of the greatest scenes of television, my dad a gunner in an LST in WW2, battle of the Philippines, Kamikaze warfare, he never talked about it much but this scene makes me relate to what I did hear ..
For all of the amazing characters in the West Wing I think Stockard Channing's Abigail Bartlett might have the best first impression of any of the characters other than Jed. We've heard little bits about her from dialogue in earlier episodes about what kind of woman she was, but we haven't met her yet until this episode, and she immediately lets you know what kind of woman she is. Every bit the foil to her husband you can see immediately why he would be so happy with her. What a powerful team they make.
We know the depth of his compassion, remember that hurricane that hit Puerto Rico? What did drumpf do? Man a mobile kitchen station and give words of comfort? Talk to a field hospital patients? Nope!! Like an ancient Roman emperor he threw rolls of toilet paper at the despairing crowd so he could show how much power he had. Dude should have thrown golden coins at least. God Watching that made my blood boil. I would have seriously yeeted one back at him.
This scene breaks me every time. Anyone that has served in the military or in police department or fire department knows the helpless you feel when you are on the radio with someone that isn't going to make it. It will gut you to the core.
My father's and grandfather's names are Harold. My grandfather served on the Essex. This scene still cuts like glass, more than 20 years after I first watched it.
Never did like the politics of the show, but the dialog, the humanity, character development, writing and direction were some of the best in TV. Doubt we'll see all the above and more in quite some time.
@@faolan1686 - A midshipman is what students (officer candidates) are called while attending the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD. Upon graduating, they become an ensign, a commissioned officer in the US Navy. The sailor in the scene was a third class petty officer, which is a non-commissioned officer, or in short, someone who enlisted in the service and then went to basic training. Now, a petty officer COULD go to Annapolis and become a midshipman, but in that case, they'd be in class at Annapolis, not out to sea in a hurricane.
It’s a heart wrenching scene….but I couldn’t help laughing when President Bartlett said “Well I don’t know man sounds pretty bad” cause it just reminded me of the debate scene where he dresses down his opposition for saying “Crime well I don’t know” 😅
>In one day, an FBI diplomat was shot and 12,000 naval marines were all killed from one of the worst and tragic wastes of life in human history That is Designated Survivor levels of horrific metaphorical outcomes.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 82 วันนี้!! คู่เอก | ยอดไอคิว vs อับดัลลาห์](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hSsyTl_9bqs/mqdefault.jpg)
The shift on President Bartlet’s face at 3:35 is heartbreaking. It’s that moment when he realizes that Harold and the rest of his crew are going to die. He may be the most powerful person in the world, but even he is powerless in the face of nature.
To those that don't know much about the ocean, green water over the bow is bad. 80 foot seas are fairly self explanatory I would think. It's called green water is when water comes over the bow unabated. It's not the normal ocean spray you see when ships hit the wave, it's when the water is so much higher than the bow that the ship digs in and the actual wave carries straight over the bow and hits the superstructure as a solid wall of water. It's a lot like diving from somewhere high and belly flopping. The water has mass and surprisingly little give to it. It can rip and tear the metal the top of the ship is made of.
Thanks for the info. I was in the USAF and, therefore, know very little about the USN and the operation of the fleet. I appreciate the knowledge.
When Bartlet vents at God during Mrs Landingham's funeral, he mentions that the storm sank this ship. That means they stayed on the radio with him until he died when they ship went under. I remember when that episode aired, my jaw dropped. THAT is the power of good writing
speaking as a (ex)catholic who has ranted at god (so basically any catholic beyond tradcaths), you focus on the most prominent things on your mind, what troubles you the most, what keeps you up at night. what that implies is that, despite everything he went through, all the fucked up shit he saw as president, one of the things that kept jed bartlett up late at night most was this small, strategically unimportant ship going down. jed bartlett is someone who genuinely cares so much about the people he talks to, that talking to this kid more than anything else, keeps him up at night. for such a larger than life character, it grounds him so much it blows me away
Oh wow...
This is my favorite episode, in no small part because of his conversation with the sailor.
I love how Abby's "Jed, talk to the boy" puts the audience in a lighter mood which makes the reality hit that much harder
Oof, yes. I remember the first time I watched the episode, I chuckled a bit when Harold didn't answer after Pres. Bartlett introduced himself. I thought it was shock that he was speaking to the President.
Then, "I hit my head on..." and the laughter was gone. No, he's literally in shock. And to this day, listening to him talk about the conditions and how, even as someone who knows little about ships, they were minutes at most from sinking... I still tear up listening to it, and seeing the dawning anguish on their faces.
Then the upbeat credits theme smacks you with mood whiplash.
2:35 when harlod comes back on the radio after sustaining a concussion is truly heartbreaking , and emoted perfectly by Harold. Such a good scene.
Channing landed the role the day before filming this and only met Sheen the day of shooting this scene. That is some damn good chemistry!!
I mean on the spot...That's great acting!
Well, getting off to a running start is a skill good actors must have. And she had a couple of decades acting on Broadway before getting this part, so I'd say a lot of it was just sheer talent. Plus, you know, Martin's no slouch himself.
Serai3 never doubted their talents. Just pointed out their chemistry. There both great actors.
Channing who? Harold Lewis was played by Jeff Williams.
@@tpl608 Stockard Channing, Abbey Bartlet.
You can see them all, but Bartlet especially, feeling so helpless. Incredible acting.
Later in the series, during the Two Cathedrals speech, Jed mentions the ship again. It sank. Probably all hands lost...
Not to make it even more depressing, but judging by the end of this scene, he probably listened to the poor kid die as well. Or at the very least was the last conversation the kid had
I completely missed that about the ship. Damn.
Yes he did
Im crying now
I was wondering about that. May Harold (even though fictional) rest in peace
Josh holding Mandy in his arms is such a touching detail.
Who?
I never noticed that before
At 75 years of age West Wing is still the best thing TV has ever produced.
I can barely remember what it's like to have a president that cares this much. What a great character Martin Sheen brought forth.
That look when Bartlet realized that ship wasn't coming home.
As soon as he said 80ft waves and 120 knots he knew
Tears. My eyes. Realisation.
This was one continuous take with a slow roll-up, starting at 1:30 through the end of scene, a full 2min, 50sec. That's an eternity for a static shot. Not as impressive as the dinner gala walk-through to the motorcade, and all the moving parts from that scene, but impressive nonetheless. The periodic lightning strikes perpetuate the build up to the final reveal that the President is talking to a dead man walking, and will likely be the last voice he hears in his life. Incredibly well acted, obviously. The direction to pace the dialog against the music overdub that the actors can't even hear during the build-up is as pro as it gets. Just brilliant at every turn.
For some of us, understanding the process only heightens appreciation for the result. Thanks for pointing out all these notes, out loud.
That last "hang on" always gets me.
The first appearance by the First Lady, Dr. Abigail Bartlet MD. I fell in love with her the moment I saw this scene and understood instantly why Jed married her. Man, what a president SHE would make.
On the front of reality, Martin Sheen's and Stockard Channing's chemistry is so tangible it leaps off the screen. And their acting! Flawless. All the more astounding when one recalls that the two first met just the day before shooting this scene.
Watched a clip about the 1st Lady selection, someone said "Do you think we could get Stockard Channing? so they asked and she said yes, she arrived on the set a couple of hours before shooting and she said they "poured me into the dress" right from the 1st scene it was obvious it was an inspired choice, Stockard Channing was magnificent
I was in college when this scene aired I was going to join the navy. I never cried during a television series until this scene.
They each know when to lead and when to follow, never needing to compromise themselves as individuals.
there are so many little details in the end of this scene that make it so emotional: josh wrapping his arms around mandy, sam and josh looking at each other and just knowing, jed kneeling down and joking with the boy :(((
This was the scene that really hooked me on the series. I enjoyed the shows up until then. This one made me want to follow the series through to the end. Thanks for posting it.
Got to be one of the greatest scenes of television, my dad a gunner in an LST in WW2, battle of the Philippines, Kamikaze warfare, he never talked about it much but this scene makes me relate to what I did hear ..
For all of the amazing characters in the West Wing I think Stockard Channing's Abigail Bartlett might have the best first impression of any of the characters other than Jed. We've heard little bits about her from dialogue in earlier episodes about what kind of woman she was, but we haven't met her yet until this episode, and she immediately lets you know what kind of woman she is. Every bit the foil to her husband you can see immediately why he would be so happy with her. What a powerful team they make.
The music is brilliant in this scene (as well as so many more in The West Wing).
Can you imagine Drumpf showing this type of compassion? Yeah, me either
He'd be trying to figure out a way to make it about him.
And make money off it.
We know the depth of his compassion, remember that hurricane that hit Puerto Rico? What did drumpf do? Man a mobile kitchen station and give words of comfort? Talk to a field hospital patients?
Nope!! Like an ancient Roman emperor he threw rolls of toilet paper at the despairing crowd so he could show how much power he had. Dude should have thrown golden coins at least. God Watching that made my blood boil. I would have seriously yeeted one back at him.
I solemnly believe that President Bartlet stayed on the line for as long as possible to comfort those souls before a final rest. Godspeed.
He did, he mentions it in the Two Cathedrals episode, the ship went down shortly after.
This scene breaks me every time. Anyone that has served in the military or in police department or fire department knows the helpless you feel when you are on the radio with someone that isn't going to make it. It will gut you to the core.
This episode did it for me. After watching it I was hooked. The watched all episodes.
My father's and grandfather's names are Harold. My grandfather served on the Essex. This scene still cuts like glass, more than 20 years after I first watched it.
Now THIS.........This is a real President.
Always makes me cry.
and to think Bartlet was never meant to be a main character. Sheen is incredible in this role.
"But I do like watching you try..."
My favorite scene of the entire series.
Never did like the politics of the show, but the dialog, the humanity, character development, writing and direction were some of the best in TV. Doubt we'll see all the above and more in quite some time.
This scene.. feels like you're there with the President!!
I'm not crying, you're crying.
one of the most emotional scenes
The moment He realizes what’s going to happen, his mood sombers and he sits down
I would say he kneels, which is pretty symbolic.
Yeah, before that he was just figuring he'd be providing a bit of support for some people in a tough time.
Dear Americans. When electing a president, if you can't imagine the candidate comforting a midshipman in a storm, don't vote for them.
A third class petty officer doesn't go to Annapolis, but your general point is spot on.
@@MotownGuitarJoe. Why wouldn't a petty officer go to Annapolis?
@@faolan1686 - A midshipman is what students (officer candidates) are called while attending the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD. Upon graduating, they become an ensign, a commissioned officer in the US Navy.
The sailor in the scene was a third class petty officer, which is a non-commissioned officer, or in short, someone who enlisted in the service and then went to basic training.
Now, a petty officer COULD go to Annapolis and become a midshipman, but in that case, they'd be in class at Annapolis, not out to sea in a hurricane.
It’s a heart wrenching scene….but I couldn’t help laughing when President Bartlett said “Well I don’t know man sounds pretty bad” cause it just reminded me of the debate scene where he dresses down his opposition for saying “Crime well I don’t know” 😅
Sailing 'into harm's way' sometimes means sailing right into its gaping maw.
"O god, thy sea is so great and my boat is so small ..."
My favorite line in this show is "Jed talk to the boy"
Actually a president who cares about the crew on a tender ship.
Abbey telling Jed to talk to the boy might have showed which of them has the most power in their relationship
Starting at 3:35, did anyone hear Kennedy’s accent from Bartlet’s voice?
Powerful scene.
If only we had a President like the character Bartlet.
They had just met for the first time just moments before filming this
Imagine a U.S. President actually doing this today.
Why is the whole staff around the table?
Yeah...I think earlier in the series they had more stagey shots like this where the whole cast just has to be in the big last scene together.
>In one day, an FBI diplomat was shot and 12,000 naval marines were all killed from one of the worst and tragic wastes of life in human history
That is Designated Survivor levels of horrific metaphorical outcomes.