Happy Birthday to Two Cathedrals

Yesterday was the 22nd anniversary of “Two Cathedrals”, my favorite episode of The West Wing. Not only is it many fans' favorite episode of the series, but arguably "one of the best episodes in the history of American television" (James Lipton, Inside the Actor’s Studio.) Valorie Clark, of “Screen Rant”, writes “It is arguably a perfect episode of television, one that sets the standard for all one-hour dramas”.

This episode is amazingly written, and although the plot is mainly focused on the characters' journeys, there is still a dose of both domestic and foreign politics with Josh trying to make headway on an Appropriations Bill and 53 people trapped in the Haitian embassy, both things which are part of multi-episode plot arcs in the show. 

But perhaps more importantly, the flashbacks, filming, music, acting, and dialogue create a truly amazing episode that captures the viewers’ attention and hearts. In 43 minutes the audience is taken on a journey of grieving for Mrs. Landingham, catharsis as President Bartlet confronts God in Washington National Cathedral, and left on the edge of their seats wondering whether or not President Bartlet will be running for reelection. In 2017 on election night, a lawyer in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Josh Reinitz (Dem) was waiting for the election results for his run for borough council and slipped away to watch “Two Cathedrals”, his favorite episode of The West Wing, on his phone.

The West Wing is not only a great show because it teaches its audience about politics. It tells a story, with the characters going on journeys in their careers and personal lives, experiencing conflict, which, like in the real world, is not always resolved. We see that the characters in the show are people, just like us, and it reminds us that in the real world, those who work in the White House are also people. It makes it easier to empathize with them and open our minds to listening to their side of the argument. With a little bit of empathy, we are at least willing to listen to other opinions and try to understand where they are coming from. Teens are growing up in a world that is extremely polarized, especially when it comes to politics. And it is so much easier to not listen to a point of view we disagree with and to treat the people with whom we disagree as “the other side” rather than as other people who hold different beliefs than us for their own reasons. But by understanding those we disagree with not as “the other side”, but as other people who we happen to disagree with on certain topics, who have their own conflicts and problems and losses, we are able to learn so much more about each other, the complexities of our world, and the issues that govern our lives.

Tragedies started long ago with the Greeks. They used appeals to the audience’s emotions to be able to create an effective story that articulates an overall meaning about life to their audiences. This is why “Two Cathedrals” is so important. Episodes like this are the nexus between an emotional drama that pulls on our heartstrings and political drama which teaches us about government and global issues.