In Defence Of Season 5

[so_bambiesque]

Yeah, I'm doing a thing right now. I intended to come on and basically freak out about the Brothers and Sisters finale, but in my world, this takes precedence. I was flisting and flisting my flist's flists (lol, yes stalker) and I saw at least 4 posts and comments in which people diss season 5. And I am so sick and tired of it. Apart from a couple

Comments

[skywaterblue]

It's true. Season Five is my favorite of the Wells seasons, even if the canon implosion of Leo's character totally makes it a massively close call. I mean, so much suckage in that, but compared to the wildly OOC who the fuck cares they all get separated and boring ass new characters of Season 6 & 7? Yeah.

[so_bambiesque]

But see, I don't think it was wildly OOC. Maybe they went too far with it, but Leo had a lot to deal with, so he would get darker and harder on the staff. When I was bumming around on random sites there was one quote that said that it gave him more credibility, because the fluffy father figure just wasn't realistic.

[skywaterblue]

There's a certain amount of truth to that, esp. as they set up the 'weak and flaily' Bartlet thing which continues all season until Bartlet gets proven right at Camp David. The part where it breaks down is that it doesn't jive with previous WW stories where when one of the staff is in personal trouble, someone pitches in to help rescue them.

That Blind Willie Johnson thing:

[skywaterblue]

Also, seperate thread:

Nope, it's the scene when Josh tells Donna about Blind Willie Johnson, and her, "That got me" at the end.

I actually think this is one of the more psychologically disturbing scenes in the series.

[mothergoddamn]

See, I didn't know who Sorkin was until S6 so I didn't notice all this stuff everyone else did! I think I had the advantage of not looking to be disappointed. That said I don't remember much of S5 which is why it usually scores low for me which is unfair so I really want to watch again.

"Nope, it's the scene when Josh tells Donna about Blind Willie Johnson, and her, "That got me" at the end."

THAT'S S5? I am so SOLD. I love that scene. I watched S1 to S5 in one fell swoop so a lot of it mingles in together with me going Sorky? Or Wellsey?

[so_bambiesque]

When I watched I was delightfully oblivious to everything that had gone on, and that Sorkin had left. I remember thinking that it wasn't as good as it had been, but I still loved it. It was season 6 when I began to worry, but I'm so glad I stuck with it, and now I love it way more.

LOL, YEP.

[mothergoddamn]

Also visual fun, and puffy hair Josh fans will kill me, but I love S5 and 6 short do! Then the puffy overtakes his head again S7.

[gingasaur]

Yes.

However, I do think a lot of liking this season would have to do with your bias, rofl. The end is obviously Josh and Donna heavy and sometimes that makes me bored? I don't know.

Anyway YESSSSSS. \m/

Anyway I didn't even talk about Leeeeoooooo. And how of course he would be acting the way he did under the circumstances, the end.

[so_bambiesque]

YEPPERS.

Ah well... Thank you for telling me. I can never tell when it's going too far. I tried to keep it to a minimum. WAIT. I get to keep my crown, right?

WELL OF COURSE HE WOULD.

♥

[gingasaur]

rofl, no, I wasn't saying you were going too faaaar. I was saying that you're probably right, it probably does have a lot to do with bias, and that's not really a BAD thing. I guess I just let it get ruined for me a lot of the time because it's like OH MY GOD ASDASDASD THE HOLY GRAIL OF... you know, your people. I mostly found myself underwhelmed, I think because I accidentally spoiled a lot of it for myself. :V

DUHHH, your crown is yours forever. ♥

Yes. It's kind of like what one of my friends said after she watched season 4: "That finale was way too dark for this series. No wonder they probably didn't have a clue what to do after it."

[so_bambiesque]

you know, your people.
Christine, ILU, but if you refer to them as "my people" again... ;) I get what you mean though.

*Wears crown with pride*

YES. That is so it. Sorkin didn't exactly leave them the easiest finale in the world.

[trotskysnowball]

I'd agree, and I can't really understand the hate-on people have for it. I liked the Will development; someone had to try and make sure there was a Democrat in the White House after Bartlet. And it does a better job of dealing with a White House in crisis in that Season Three did. But the trouble is, with the exception of the Constituency of One-Shutdown story, and the last two episodes, it just doesn't excite me. It's good, but a litle bland.

And I don't think Leo's character is that drastically changed. His job is to steer the ship, and that gets a lot harder in S5. It's no different from CJ becoming far more versed in realpolitik as COS in Seasons Six and Seven. I wish we could have seen Josh in that job. :-(

[so_bambiesque]

I liked the Will development
I really like that Will went to work for the Vice President, I just don't like that they took away his.. Will-ness. He got it back with Kate in season 7, but he stopped being the guy who started a rainstorm when we went to work for Russell.

I'm glad you don't get the hate though!

[unspooling]

YAY lots and lots of comments!

No, it's not S1-S4, but there are some really great gems in here. One of my favorite episodes of the show, you know, EVER, is "Slow News Day." URGH RICHARD SCHIFF. It was just soooo moving. I cried so hard.

But I really think most people feel S5 was so bad because it came on the heels of the stellar S4. The season that brought us 20 Hours in America. Debate Camp. Game On. Evidence of Things Not Seen. 25. Life on Mars. S4 was just SOOO good and the beginning of S5 with how they screwed up the Zoey story line got people up in arms, I guess. But I think if they just give S5 a chance... man, that was not that bad at all. Compared to S6 and S7 when Toby turns into the guy who goes against the president's wishes and divulges classified information??! WHAAT. That was just sad.

[so_bambiesque]

...because it came on the heels of the stellar S4.
SO.TRUE. Season 4 is just incredible. It kills me over and over again. It was never going to be able to live up to that :( I think people just base the whole series on the kidnap resolution, when there's so much more to it than that.