The Best Episodes Directed By Thomas Schlamme

Every TV Episode Directed by Thomas Schlamme Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    undefined Season 2 Episode 22 - Two Cathedrals
    9.3/10(7 votes)

    #1 - Two Cathedrals

    S2:E22

    On the day of Mrs. Landingham's funeral, the staff deals with a Haitian presidential crisis and the law suit against the big tobacco companies, and Bartlet must decide about running for reelection.

    Writer:N/A

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  2. undefined Season 6 Episode 5 - The Great Patriotic War
    8.8/10(18 votes)

    #2 - The Great Patriotic War

    S6:E5

    As the summit fast approaches, Elizabeth enlists Philip’s help for a mission that could yield game-changing intel.

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  3. undefined Season 2 Episode 1 - In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (1)
    8.7/10(6 votes)

    #3 - In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (1)

    S2:E1

    "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen" is the two-part second season premiere of the American political drama television series The West Wing. Both parts were written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Thomas Schlamme.

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  4. undefined Season 1 Episode 22 - What Kind of Day Has It Been
    8.5/10(6 votes)

    #4 - What Kind of Day Has It Been

    S1:E22

    The staff deals with the crisis of an American pilot who was shot down in Iraq; Toby's brother is in danger on a space shuttle whose doors won't close; Bartlet and the senior staff walk into trouble as they leave a town meeting.

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  5. undefined Season 2 Episode 2 - In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (2)
    8.5/10(6 votes)

    #5 - In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (2)

    S2:E2

    With the accomplice in custody, it's revealed that the intended target was Charlie, not Bartlet. The staff still awaits news about Josh, and recalls how C.J. and Donna came to join the Bartlet campaign.

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  6. undefined Season 3 Episode 20 - We Killed Yamamoto
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #6 - We Killed Yamamoto

    S3:E20

    While Jed, Leo and Fitzwallace grapple with terrorism and moral absolutes, Josh and Amy grapple with each other over a welfare-reform bill; Donna represents the White House at a North Dakota state-party caucus whose goal is to remove the word "North" from the state's name; Toby doesn't want Jed to attend a New York fund-raiser because Ritchie will be there; Charlie is assigned the responsibility of finding Jed a new secretary; C.J. discovers that Simon Donovan is a very straight shooter

    Writer:N/A

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  7. undefined Season 2 Episode 17 - The Match Game
    8.4/10(7 votes)

    #7 - The Match Game

    S2:E17

    Susan institutes extra precautions in case Chloe tries to reclaim Little Susie. Mark changes his look, growing a goatee and wearing contact lenses. Carol and Jeanie square off over the care of a transient. Carter celebrates when he receives his residency match, putting his patient and his job at risk. Shep, still suffering from Raul's death, is surly with new parter Reilly. Benton and Ross have differences when Peter discloses a critical mistake made by Doug, raising animosity between the two.

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  8. undefined Season 3 Episode 2 - Manchester (2)
    8.3/10(6 votes)

    #8 - Manchester (2)

    S3:E2

    The senior staff clash with the consultants who are to work on Bartlet's reelection campaign; C.J. is concerned that the press senses the Bartlets' marriage could be in trouble; Josh asks Leo to let him use his connection to postpone the FDA's drug announcement; the situation on Haiti comes to a head.

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  9. undefined Season 2 Episode 8 - The Secret Sharer
    8.3/10(7 votes)

    #9 - The Secret Sharer

    S2:E8

    Doug's heroics earn him a second chance as Bernstein and Morganstern ask him to stay on. Doug and Mark clash when each treats a seriously injured patient and want to use the same equipment. Benton learns that Jeanie has separated from Al. After missing an earlier diagnosis, Carter overcompensates on his next patient and catches a break when the test results reveal something. Shep gets on Carol's bad side when he makes disparaging remarks about the people who make botched suicide attempts. Doug gets a phone call from his estranged father.

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  10. undefined Season 2 Episode 10 - Noël
    8.3/10(6 votes)

    #10 - Noël

    S2:E10

    Josh investigates the suicide of a pilot with whom he has things in common; Donna tries to get an invitation to the Congressional Christmas party to hear Yo-Yo Ma perform; Jed insists on signing a mountain of Christmas cards himself; after a White House visitor has a strange reaction to a painting, C.J. sets out to discover its provenance; following weeks of volatile behavior and an outburst in the Oval Office, Josh meets with representatives from the America Trauma Victims Association and finally deals with the trauma from his shooting.

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  11. undefined Season 4 Episode 1 - Ambush
    8.2/10(6 votes)

    #11 - Ambush

    S4:E1

    While a film crew is filming in the ER, it's Elizabeth Corday's first day.

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  12. undefined Season 1 Episode 14 - Take This Sabbath Day
    8.1/10(9 votes)

    #12 - Take This Sabbath Day

    S1:E14

    After the Supreme Court refuses to stay the execution of a convicted murderer, Bartlet has forty-eight hours to decide whether or not to commute the sentence. Josh faces off with Joey Lucas about his staff's not backing her candidate as vigorously as she'd like.

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  13. undefined Season 3 Episode 9 - Bartlet for America
    8.0/10(7 votes)

    #13 - Bartlet for America

    S3:E9

    Leo fears the worst when he testifies in the congressional investigation into Bartlet's lack of public disclosure about his illness.

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  14. undefined Season 3 Episode 1 - Manchester (1)
    8.0/10(6 votes)

    #14 - Manchester (1)

    S3:E1

    Bartlet's decision about Haiti falls under scrutiny; C.J. makes a horrible blunder in a press conference and is hounded about the president's health by reporters; the staff disagrees about whether Bartlet should apologize for not revealing his medical condition; Abbey is angry that Jed has decided to run for reelection.

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  15. undefined Season 4 Episode 11 - Holy Night
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #15 - Holy Night

    S4:E11

    It's December 23, and the holiday brings several visitors to the White House: Zoey comes home with her new French boyfriend in tow; aided by Josh, Toby's father seeks a reconciliation; and Danny arrives bearing gifts of gold and a heads-up for C.J. about Shareef's death. Will moves into Sam's office at Toby's insistence, and is treated to some good-natured ribbing by the rest of the staff. Bartlet and Leo try to exorcise their guilt about Shareef by adding eleventh hour funding to combat infant mortality in the federal budget, and promoting peace in the Mideast, respectively.

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  16. undefined Season 2 Episode 11 - The One with the Lesbian Wedding
    7.9/10(58 votes)

    #16 - The One with the Lesbian Wedding

    S2:E11

    Monica caters the wedding of Ross's ex-wife and her lesbian lover. Phoebe is possessed by the spirit of an 82-year-old massage client who dies in the middle of a session. And Rachel's mom comes to visit and drops a bombshell.

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  17. undefined Season 3 Episode 4 - Dimebag
    7.9/10(15 votes)

    #17 - Dimebag

    S3:E4

    Philip faces a moral dilemma while developing an asset. Philip and Elizabeth’s friction escalates. Stan develops a theory with serious repercussions for national security. Paige makes a surprising birthday wish.

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  18. undefined Season 2 Episode 10 - The One with Russ
    7.9/10(59 votes)

    #18 - The One with Russ

    S2:E10

    Monica gets back together with Fun Bobby. Joey lands a role of a neurosurgeon on Days of Our Lives. And Rachel, dating a guy named Russ, can't see his uncanny resemblance to Ross.

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  19. undefined Season 2 Episode 1 - Comrades
    7.6/10(22 votes)

    #19 - Comrades

    S2:E1

    Elizabeth comes back from her injury and straight into what should have been a routine mission – but it goes awry, leaving her and Philip in fear not only for themselves but for their whole network… and family. Paige's suspicions have only grown in her mother's absence. Meanwhile, Stan continues to fall for the Russian agent who has started to play him.

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  20. undefined Season 1 Episode 3 - Gregory
    7.4/10(25 votes)

    #20 - Gregory

    S1:E3

    Philip and Elizabeth discover that their murdered colleague Robert had a wife they never knew about. As they try to determine what she knows and where her allegiance lies, Stan's investigation into Robert's death puts him hot on their trail.

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  21. undefined Season 4 Episode 1 - Glanders
    7.4/10(19 votes)

    #21 - Glanders

    S4:E1

    Philip and Elizabeth deal with the fallout of all they’ve wrought. What will happen when the FBI finds out about Gene’s suicide? How will Pastor Tim deal with the revelation that they are Russian spies? And will they be able to handle a dangerous, new bioweapons assignment?

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  22. undefined Season 3 Episode 3 - Open House
    7.4/10(19 votes)

    #22 - Open House

    S3:E3

    Danger mounts for Elizabeth and Philip as they get closer to the inner circle of the C.I.A. Afghan Group. Stan monitors Zinaida. Agent Aderholt challenges Agent Gaad on a crucial operation. Arkady tasks Oleg and Tatiana with gathering high‐level intel. Martha proposes a lifestyle change to Clark.

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  23. undefined Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.1/10(17 votes)

    #23 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    The senior members of the White House staff are summoned to the office early in the morning to handle difficult situations: Hundreds of Cubans are on their way across the Atlantic Ocean in search of freedom; and klutzy President of the United States Josiah Bartlet accidentally sprained his ankle riding a bicycle into a tree.

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  24. undefined Season 1 Episode 2 - Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc
    6.7/10(13 votes)

    #24 - Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc

    S1:E2

    The Vice President refuses to fall in line with Bartlet. Sam discusses the problem of Laurie with Josh and Toby. Bartlet hires Mandy as his consultant.

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  25. undefined Season 1 Episode 7 - The State Dinner
    6.3/10(9 votes)

    #25 - The State Dinner

    S1:E7

    The president of Indonesia is honored at a state dinner. The staff deals with Hurricane Sarah, a potential teamster strike, and a raid involving children in Idaho while a reporter flirts with CJ.

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Thomas Schlamme Ratings Summary

"Two Cathedrals" is the best rated episode directed by Thomas Schlamme. It scored 9.3/10 based on 7 votes. It was written by N/A. It aired on 5/16/2001 and is rated 0.5 points higher than their second-best episode, "The Great Patriotic War".