The West Wing’s 10 Best Cold Opens

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The TV show The West Wing is famous for its hopeful outlook, presented with a good blend of drama and comedy. Like most shows on television, each episode begins with a short scene that either connects to the main storyline, is its own separate event, or sets the mood for what’s to come.

Recently back on Netflix, The West Wing is gaining a new audience who are discovering how cleverly the show uses its opening scenes. These scenes often end with a funny or impactful moment right as the theme song begins, setting the stage for what’s to come and perfectly capturing the show’s emotional depth and the complex ideas explored in each episode.

The Staff Plays Pickup Basketball

Season 1, Episode 5, “The Crackpots and These Women”

For the first time, we see the President and his closest advisors dressed casually, which often signals the show’s most heartfelt scenes. In one such moment, Toby, Josh, Charlie, and President Bartlet are playing a spontaneous game of basketball outside the White House at night.

This scene is mostly just a fun change of scenery for the characters, but it also really showcases the special relationship between Bartlet and Toby, which is a recurring theme in the show and especially noticeable in this episode.

Toby playfully says that it’s like a perfect poetic image: he had everything he needed to be great, but his intense desire to win overwhelmed his good instincts. It’s a joke, but there’s a real point to it, and they both understand that.

The episode ends by referencing this earlier conversation. Toby concludes with a powerful statement: “For the first time in a long time, it feels like the President’s good side has a real chance against his inner struggles.”

President Bartlet Wants To Talk About National Parks

Season 1, Episode 8, “Enemies”

At first, the President keeping Josh talking late into the night seems like just an amusing distraction. Josh is tired and reminds the President he needs to be back at work in just four hours, but knows he can’t leave until Bartlet ends the conversation. The President, continuing to share facts about National Parks, insists they’re finished with work and this is simply for enjoyment.

The episode, “Enemies,” returns to the issue introduced at the beginning: a tricky situation for the President. His bill includes a clause that could allow strip-mining in Big Sky, Montana, forcing him to choose between approving it and potentially harming the environment, or vetoing the entire bill. Josh ultimately finds a solution: creating Big Sky National Park to protect the land.

Rain Moves The President’s Speech Inside

Season 1, Episode 19, “Let Bartlet Be Bartlet”

The beginning of the episode focuses a lot on the weather. Toby thinks it might rain during the President’s speech to the Trout Fishermen’s group, and if it does, Sam will need to rewrite the opening line because it mentions the beautiful view.

Sam repeatedly argues it won’t rain, and even if it does, the President is adaptable enough to handle it. However, the scene ends with Toby looking frustrated as the President begins his speech – which hasn’t been revised despite the move indoors – with the same original opening line.

Honestly, the speech itself was pretty good fun, but what really stood out to me was the President playfully suggesting we “dip our toes in the water” and start considering nominees for the two empty spots on the F.E.C. – which, normally, is the Senate’s job, not ours!

The episode comes full circle when Leo criticizes the President for being overly cautious. He accuses the President of only going through the motions – appearing to take action without actually risking any real conflict, saying he’s just “dangling our feet in the water” to look like he’s trying.

Sam Gets Beat By A Girl

Season 2, Episode 4, “In This White House”

I was completely hooked by the latest episode! It brought in Ainsley Hayes, and let me tell you, she was fantastic. Sam really misjudged her, thinking she’d be an easy opponent just because she’s a Republican. He seriously underestimated her! She totally dominated him in their televised debate, and honestly, he was scrambling, hoping the White House hadn’t tuned in to watch him get schooled!

You won’t believe what happened – Josh actually ran into Toby’s office, yelling that Sam was getting totally trounced in a debate… by a woman! And she was good. Seriously, Ainsley was so impressive, they offered her a job at the White House, working to overcome partisan issues. It was also amazing to see Josh back at work after everything he went through – he was clearly feeling better and brought so much energy to everyone. It really lifted the whole episode.

Josh And Sam Start A Fire In The Mural Room

Season 2, Episode 11, “The Leadership Breakfast”

This episode is mostly lighthearted entertainment. The West Wing frequently finds humor in how its smart characters can sometimes be surprisingly silly, and “The Leadership Breakfast” showcases this with two examples even before the show’s opening sequence.

The episode begins with a chilly West Wing, prompting Josh and Sam to playfully (and somewhat clumsily) build a fire in the Mural Room. Their efforts are reminiscent of a chaotic duo. Meanwhile, CJ meticulously crafts the seating arrangement for the Leadership Breakfast, spending over seven hours on the task—only to discover she accidentally left out the President!

In a moment highlighting the show’s wry humor, smoke begins to fill the room, and Sam discovers a plaque explaining that the fireplace hasn’t been usable since the 1800s – a fitting detail for the often-chaotic White House depicted in The West Wing.

Toby Figures Out The President’s Secret

Season 2, Episode 18, “17 People”

Toby is increasingly troubled by something he noticed in the Vice President’s calendar, leading him to suspect that Hoynes doesn’t think President Bartlet will run for reelection. Despite Leo’s dismissals, Toby relentlessly pursues the issue until he confirms his suspicions – and reveals to the audience that something is definitely happening behind the scenes.

The scene is filled with tension and sets the stage for a morally complex storyline surrounding the President’s illness. It feels unsettling that Toby’s investigation keeps pointing to Leo and the President, strongly suggesting they’re keeping secrets. This is the first moment the show makes us question whether these characters are truly the heroes.

The White House Goes To Great Lengths To Keep The President’s Therapy Under Wraps

Season 3, Episode 14, “Night Five”

The episode starts with a mysterious vibe, but feels more like a quirky work problem. Josh’s therapist, Stanley Keyworth, arrives at the White House pretending to be there for a regular appointment with Josh. However, after Josh gives him a strange tour where multiple people ask about his flight, Stanley figures out he wasn’t actually brought in to treat Josh.

This episode’s title and Stanley’s visit both relate to the President being awake for five straight nights. The introduction of a therapist highlights that, while the President and his team made a significant mistake, they are still people dealing with the consequences. Despite this, the situation remains highly stressful and emphasizes the gravity of the situation.

Toby, Josh, And Donna Get Left Behind In Indiana

Season 4, Episode 1, “20 Hours in America: Part 1”

I was with the campaign staff when the President was traveling through the countryside. Donna had to go out to the fields to find Toby and Josh – they were chatting with a local farmer’s daughter named Cathy. When they finally came back, we were shocked to discover everyone had left! The whole motorcade just took off and left us behind, it was crazy!

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The show “20 Hours in America” essentially tells a story about Josh and Toby, two privileged young men from the city who look down on rural life. After they rudely dismiss Cathy, who represents the struggles of small farmers, it feels fitting that they find themselves stranded in a place they clearly disrespected – a kind of comeuppance for their attitude.

The President Pranks Toby

Season 4, Episode 6, “Game On”

This scene highlights the ongoing dynamic between Bartlet and Toby, but this time Bartlet is in control. The President is being prepped for his first re-election debate with intense practice sessions, and Leo advises Toby that Bartlet needs encouragement rather than criticism.

The President struggled to answer the questions, which led Toby to angrily interrupt. Everyone suddenly started laughing and each handed Bartlet ten dollars, because he’d made a bet that Toby would lose his temper if the President didn’t do well.

The interaction between Bartlet and Toby shows their relationship is tense, but it also highlights the President’s preparedness for the upcoming debate.

CJ Insists You Can Stand An Egg On Its End During The Equinox

Season 4, Episode 20, “Evidence of Things Not Seen”

On the night of the equinox, while the White House staff enjoys a poker game, CJ jokingly claims that an egg can stand on its end precisely when spring begins. Everyone dismisses it with laughter, but the idea becomes a lighthearted symbol of hoping for the best. At the same time, the President is forced to interrupt the game to handle a crisis: a U.S. spy plane has gone missing in Russia.

I was really struck by the President’s reaction to this ‘egg theory’ – he’s a practical man, and he wanted to see if it worked himself. But when his egg fell over, it felt like something shifted. It wasn’t just about the immediate problem; it felt like all his hope turned to doubt, not just about the situation, but about everything. That moment, with the egg, perfectly captured the core struggle of The West Wing: the constant battle between believing things can get better and the cynicism that things will always fall apart.

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2025-12-21 20:32