Aaron Sorkin’s White House drama is marking its 25th anniversary with the release of The West Wing: The Complete Series on Blu-ray. This marks the first time that the NBC/WBTV series, which ran 1999-2006, has been made available on Blu-ray.

Throughout its seven seasons, The West Wing used its platform to touch on a number of political issues. That they dd so from a Democratic viewpoint while George W. Bush was president speaks to the creativity of the series. Much like President Bill Clinton, President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen) also experiences his own scandal in office. Congress did their own investigation, ultimately censuring President Bartlet. I specifically remember watching the first episode that responded to the 9/11 attack. “Isaac and Ishmael” doesn’t refer to the terrorist attack itself but touches on terrorism in both America and the world. I give major credit to Aaron Sorkin and company for getting an episode written and on air very quickly in the third season. The series has its own story arc depicting the war on terrorism throughout Seasons 3-5.

Much like the real world, the series had its own response to the Valerie Plame affair. Communications director Toby Ziegler gets fired for leaking information about a top-secret space shuttle. President Bartlet pardons him before leaving office. One can only imagine how Sorkin and company would have responded to the Trump presidency, let alone the campaign. The things that are happening there…nobody in Hollywood could have ever written, let alone predicted.

The West Wing‘s presidential elections take place during midterm years. Interestingly, there are so many similarities between the 2006 presidential campaign on TV and the 2008 campaign in real life. They actually based Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) on then-Senator Barack Obama. Funny enough, Santos chooses a Washington insider, Leo McGarry (John Spencer), much in the same way that Obama selected then-Senator Joe Biden as his running mate. Unfortunately, McGarry died on the night of the election to reflect Spencer’s death of a heart attack. Had the series proceeded to an eighth season, the 25th Amendment would have been utilized to select a new vice president.

For those of you who may be wondering, this 28-disc Blu-ray collection does not include the 2020 reunion special, A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote. The stage play was a re-creation of a season 3 episode, “Hartsfield’s Landing.”

John Wells Productions produced in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Synopsis

Widely considered one of the best series of all time, The West Wing remains a landmark achievement in television, earning 26 Emmys, including four for Outstanding Drama Series. With its sharp writing and memorable ensemble cast, the show continues to inspire audiences with its intimate look at the triumphs, sacrifices and inner politics of the White House.

Bonus Features

• Season 1
  • Audio Commentaries
    • Pilot: Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme
    • In Excelcis Deo: Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, and Alex Graves
    • Take This Sabbath Day: Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme
    • Celestial Navigation: Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, and Christopher Misiano
    • What Kind of Day Has It Been?: Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme
  • The Primaries
  • The Inauguration
  • Capital Beat
  • Sheet Music
  • Unaired Scenes
  • Gag Order
  • The West Wing Suite
  • Off the Record
• Season 2
  • Audio Commentaries
    • In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part I: Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, Bradley Whitford, and Janey Moloney
    • In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part II: Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, and Martin Sheen
    • Noël: Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, and Bradley Whitford
    • 18th and Potomac: Aaron Sorkin, Robert Berlinger, and Kathryn Joosten
  • Constructing Two Cathedrals
  • Unaired Scenes
  • Gag Order
• Season 3
  • Audio Commentaries
    • Manchester Part II: Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, and Allison Janney
    • Bartlet for America: Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, and John Spencer
    • Posse Comitatus: Aaron Sorkin, Alex Graves, and Thomas Schlamme
  • Documentary Special
  • A Propmaster’s Story
  • Chief of Stuff
  • Unaired Scenes
• Season 4
  • Audio Commentaries
    • Game On: Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, Alex Graves, and Joshua Malina
    • Commencement: Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, and Alex Graves
    • Twenty Five: Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, and Christopher Misiano
  • Behind Every Good Man…Is The First Lady
  • The Letter of the Word
  • Unaired Scenes
• Season 5
  • Audio Commentaries
    • 7A WF 83429: John Wells and Alex Graves
    • The Dogs of War: John Wells and Christopher Misiano
    • The Supremes: Alex Graves, Jessica Yu, and Debora Cahn
  • In POTUS We Trust
  • Gaza: Anatomy of an Episode
  • Unaired Scenes
• Season 6
  • Audio Commentaries
    • King Corn: John Wells and Alex Graves
    • In G-d We Trust: Lawrence O’Donnell Jr. and Christopher Misiano
    • 2162 Votes: John Wells and Alex Graves
  • C.J. Cregg: From Press Secretary to Chief of Staff
• Season 7
  • Live from the Director’s Chair
  • Countdown to West Wing Live

CREATOR: Aaron Sorkin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, John Wells, Alex Graves, Christopher Misiano, Lawrence O’Donnell Jr., Peter Noah
CAST: Rob Lowe, Moira Kelly, Alan Alda, Stockard Channing, Kristin Chenoweth, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Joshua Malina, Mary McCormack, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, with Jimmy Smits and Martin Sheen

The West Wing: The Complete Series is now available on Blu-ray.

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