This Week: I'm Hoping Colin Farrell or a Donkey will Pop Up

I haven't really watched a ton of TV or movies lately, and instead got sucked into Marvel's Midnight Suns, a shockingly good game that came out at the very end of 2022 and promptly flopped.

I'm very sad that it did, because it's easily in my Top 10 favorite games of all time. It feels like I'm in one of those late 90s, early 00s cartoons that I grew up with and formed a foundational part of my childhood. (Plus, where else can I play as a half-demon and join a book club with Blade, Captain Marvel, Steve Rodgers, and Wolverine?)

Five Shows That Struggled Without Their Creators

Meet the new boss. Unfortunately, they really weren't the same as the old boss, which caused nothing but problems for these five classic shows.

Five TV Characters Who Vanished Without a Trace

For the latest instalment of our new semi-regular feature, Doux Five, I'll be looking back at those TV characters who, for whatever reasons the writers couldn't be bothered to come up with, went and pulled a Lord Lucan on us. No wait, that reference isn't universal. Errr, a Richey Edwards? No, that is even more obscure, you idiot. An Amelia Earhart? Yeah, I'm going with that. Characters who pulled an Amelia Earhart on us.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

The West Wing: The War at Home

"Are we gonna keep them alive longer, or is it just going to seem longer?"

In the follow-up to 'Bartlet's Third State of the Union,' Jed has to decide how to deal with five American citizens taken hostage by drug dealers in Colombia.

The West Wing: Bartlet's Third State of the Union

"That's all that tonight's speech was about!"

Bartlet gives his third (or second – see below) State of the Union speech, but Abbey is not impressed that serious issues concerning domestic violence got bumped for school uniforms. Very sensibly, she deals with this by going for food.

The West Wing: The Drop-In

"We can't govern if we don't win."

Toby offends both Sam and the environmental lobby. Meanwhile, Bartlet welcomes new ambassadors to the United States.

The West Wing: The Leadership Breakfast

"Would you ask him if it's better to diss the House Whip or the Senate Whip?"

This episode is memorable for two things: it has Felicity Huffman in it, and the cold open.

The West Wing: Noel

“I can hear the damn sirens all over the building!”

On Christmas Eve, Josh sits down with a therapist from ATVA to talk about how he cut his hand.

The West Wing: Galileo

"Wow, that happened fast."

Bartlet is very excited about a new unmanned space probe called 'Galileo V' that's due to land on Mars, and rather less excited about a night listening to new music performed by the Reykjavik Symphony Orchestra.

The West Wing: Shibboleth

"They made it into the New World, Josh. You know what I get to do now? I get to proclaim a national day of Thanksgiving."

It's Thanksgiving at the White House, and since CJ was sick last year, there are some surprises in store for her.

The West Wing: The Portland Trip

"You weren't wearing that during the day today."

The President, Charlie, Sam, Toby, CJ and the White House Press Corps work through the night on a flight to Portland, while Josh, Donna, Ainsley, Leo and Margaret work through the night back at the White House.

The West Wing: The Lame Duck Congress

"I hear things, I don't understand most of it but I hear it."

Everyone considers whether to call a session of Lame Ducks, what to do with a drunken Ukrainian and how to avoid carpal tunnel.

The West Wing: And It's Surely to Their Credit

"You heard the news and you broke the White House."

Ainsley Hayes' first day at the White House does not run entirely smoothly for anyone.

The West Wing: In This White House

"The people that I have met have been extraordinarily qualified, their intent is good. Their commitment is true, they are righteous, and they are patriots. And I'm their lawyer."

Bartlet is impressed by a Republican lawyer who shows Sam up on a TV show and orders Leo to hire her for the Counsel's Office, over everyone's protestations.

The West Wing: The Midterms

"Holy interruptus, Batman!"

Over the course of three months, the staff try to win back the House for the Democrats at the midterm elections.

The West Wing: In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part 2

"He was supposed to sign a letter?"

We're still wrapping up the story that ended season one and began season two, so I'm still not saying anything above the break. In the meantime, enjoy this picture of the Dirty Dancing-style perm CJ has in flashbacks.

The West Wing: In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part 1

"If I see the real thing in Nashua, should I tell you about it?"

This episode follows straight on from the dramatic cliffhanger that ended season one, and details have therefore been redacted until after the break. In the meantime, enjoy this publicity shot and contemplate why CJ and Toby are holding hands. And why Rachel is naked on that Friends poster where they're all on the bed. I've always wondered about that.

The West Wing: What Kind of Day Has It Been?

"'We hold these truths to be self-evident,' they said, 'that all men are created equal'."

After a long day in which a space shuttle (with Toby's brother on board) has failed to land and an Air Force pilot has gone missing, Bartlet drags Zoey along to an appearance at a Town Hall meeting.

The West Wing: Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics

"What's next?"

The main thread that runs through this episode is a major poll about which all our girls and guys are very nervous. CJ thinks they're going to gain five points while everyone else is just hoping to hold steady or lose only a few points.

The West Wing: Mandatory Minimums

"The President ate his Wheaties this morning."

Still fired up from last week, everyone pushes their agenda hard, while dealing with the personal repercussions of Mandy's infamous note.