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The Best Episodes of The West Wing

Every episode of The West Wing ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The West Wing!

Binge this in 4d 7h•Peaking at 9.7/10

The West Wing provides a glimpse into presidential politics in the nation's capital as it tells the stories of the members of a fictional presidential administration. These interesting characters have humor and dedication that touches

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The West Wing Season 2 Episode 22 - Two Cathedrals
    9.7/10(4994 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.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  2. The West Wing Season 2 Episode 1 - In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (1)
    9.4/10(3414 votes)

    #2 - 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.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  3. The West Wing Season 2 Episode 10 - Noël
    9.4/10(2257 votes)

    #3 - 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.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Peter Parnell

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  4. The West Wing Season 2 Episode 2 - In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (2)
    9.3/10(1803 votes)

    #4 - 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.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  5. The West Wing Season 4 Episode 23 - Twenty Five
    9.3/10(1272 votes)

    #5 - Twenty Five

    S4:E23

    When Bartlet learns that Zoey's kidnapping is the work of Qumari terrorists, he invokes the 25th amendment to diminish their leverage and eliminate any conflict of interest; since there's no Vice President, the power of the Presidency passes to Bartlet's chief political rival and the most powerful Republican in the country, the Speaker of the House, who immediately takes a very hard line; now that twins Huck and Molly have arrived, Toby wonders if he's capable of loving them enough.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  6. The West Wing Season 1 Episode 10 - In Excelsis Deo
    9.2/10(2232 votes)

    #6 - In Excelsis Deo

    S1:E10

    Toby tries to arrange a proper funeral for a homeless veteran. Josh and Sam try to set up a preemptive strike against Lillienfield, who is attacking Leo because of his prior drug and alcohol problem. CJ tries to get the staff to revisit the hate crimes issue. Bartlet sneaks out to do some last minute shopping.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Rick Cleveland

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The West Wing

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  7. The West Wing Season 1 Episode 22 - What Kind of Day Has It Been
    9.2/10(1675 votes)

    #7 - 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.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  8. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 17 - The Supremes
    9.2/10(1418 votes)

    #8 - The Supremes

    S5:E17

    Jed and the staff vet potential Supreme Court appointees; Toby and Andy don't see eye-to-eye on her fact-finding trip to the Middle East; Donna's parents are the unlikely inspiration for the resolution to the problems arising from the judicial confirmation process.

    Director:Jessica Yu
    Writer:Debora Cahn

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  9. The West Wing Season 3 Episode 10 - H. Con-172
    9.1/10(1335 votes)

    #9 - H. Con-172

    S3:E10

    Leo defiantly rejects the Congressional Oversight Committee's offer of a public censure of Bartlet that would finally bring an end to the investigation and spare Leo of any possible personal repercussions.

    Director:Vincent Misiano
    Writers:Eli Attie, Aaron Sorkin

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  10. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 17 - Election Day (2)
    9.1/10(968 votes)

    #10 - Election Day (2)

    S7:E17

    Abbey is in New Hamphire with Liz Bartlet-Westin and they are awaiting the results of Doug Westin's campaign for a seat in Congress. Members of both the Santos campaign and the Vinick campaign must decide how to handle a tragedy, as the voters around the country continue to cast their votes for the next President of the United States.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writers:Eli Attie, John Wells

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  11. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 22 - Tomorrow
    9.1/10(1187 votes)

    #11 - Tomorrow

    S7:E22

    While Santos and his winning camp are nervously gearing up for the presidential inauguration, current President Bartlet, CJ, and the others fondly look back as they prepare to leave the White House forever.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writer:John Wells

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  12. The West Wing Season 2 Episode 18 - 17 People
    9.0/10(1373 votes)

    #12 - 17 People

    S2:E18

    Toby, suspicious that there's something going on with the President, finds out about Bartlet's MS and informs Leo of the legal ramifications; Josh and Donna disagree about the date of their "anniversary"; Sam and Ainsley argue about the necessity of the ERA; staffers struggle to punch-up the speech the President will give at the White House Correspondents Dinner.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  13. The West Wing Season 2 Episode 21 - 18th and Potomac
    9.0/10(1374 votes)

    #13 - 18th and Potomac

    S2:E21

    The staff prepares for the worst as they make arrangements for the public announcement of the President's condition; Sam and Babish grill Abbey about her medical treatment of the President's MS; a crisis erupts in Haiti; Josh deals with two Democratic senators who won't support the administration's suit against tobacco companies; Mrs. Landingham buys her first new car, with tragic consequences.

    Director:Robert Berlinger
    Writers:Lawrence O'Donnell, Aaron Sorkin

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  14. The West Wing Season 4 Episode 22 - Commencement
    9.0/10(1197 votes)

    #14 - Commencement

    S4:E22

    Bartlet finally tells the staff the truth about the death of Shareef; Danny agrees to hold off on the story after five alleged terrorists go missing; Andy goes into labor after once again refusing Toby's marriage proposal; Zoey is kidnapped from a nightclub on the night of her college graduation.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  15. The West Wing Season 1 Episode 15 - Celestial Navigation
    8.9/10(1657 votes)

    #15 - Celestial Navigation

    S1:E15

    Toby and Sam travel to Connecticut to get Roberto Mendoza released from jail; Josh must run a press briefing when CJ has an emergency root canal.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writers:Lawrence O'Donnell, Aaron Sorkin, Dee Dee Myers

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  16. The West Wing Season 1 Episode 19 - Let Bartlet Be Bartlet
    8.9/10(1524 votes)

    #16 - Let Bartlet Be Bartlet

    S1:E19

    Mandy's old memo about Bartlet administration weaknesses surfaces; Josh tries to get administration nominees appointed to the Federal Elections Committee; Sam works to get a better policy on gays in the military.

    Director:Laura Innes
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Patrick Caddell, Peter Parnell

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  17. The West Wing Season 4 Episode 6 - Game On
    8.9/10(1095 votes)

    #17 - Game On

    S4:E6

    Bartlet, Leo, Josh, Sam and C.J. pull a practical joke on Toby; Sam's mission to end the Wilde campaign leads him to make a career-altering decision; Jordan backs up Leo as he deals with the Qumari; Toby continues to press his case with a resistant Andrea; and Bartlet cleans Ritchie's clock in their debate.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writers:Paul Redford, Aaron Sorkin

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  18. The West Wing Season 6 Episode 22 - 2162 Votes
    8.9/10(891 votes)

    #18 - 2162 Votes

    S6:E22

    At the Democratic National Convention, Russell, Santos and Baker jockey for the 2162 votes that will give one of them the nomination for President, and the opportunity to lose to the apparently unstoppable Vinick in November. Meanwhile, the President must make a decision before it's too late on whether to deploy a secret rescue mission to the space station, and the FBI is asked to determine who leaked the existence of the military shuttle to the press.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:John Wells

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  19. The West Wing Season 1 Episode 14 - Take This Sabbath Day
    8.8/10(1668 votes)

    #19 - 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.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writers:Paul Redford, Lawrence O'Donnell, Aaron Sorkin

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  20. The West Wing Season 2 Episode 17 - The Stackhouse Filibuster
    8.8/10(1450 votes)

    #20 - The Stackhouse Filibuster

    S2:E17

    The staff is blindsided when an elderly senator stages a Friday night filibuster to block their Family Wellness bill; Toby is confused when VP Hoynes, a strong supporter of the oil industry, volunteers to give a speech attacking the energy sector; CJ tries to locate a valuable Egyptian cat goddess statue given to the President.

    Director:Bryan Gordon
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Pete McCabe

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  21. The West Wing Season 4 Episode 2 - 20 Hours in America (2)
    8.8/10(1043 votes)

    #21 - 20 Hours in America (2)

    S4:E2

    Donna teaches Toby and Josh an important lesson as their trek homeward continues; Sam staffs the President in Josh's absence and welcomes an old friend home; Bartlet hires a secretary and C.J. finds a Big Brother for Anthony; the situation in Qumar continues to escalate; Bartlet gets spooked by a photo op as the Dow continues its dive; and a pipe bomb kills 44 students at a Midwest university swim meet.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  22. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 7 - The Debate
    8.8/10(1189 votes)

    #22 - The Debate

    S7:E7

    Santos and Vinick battle it out in primetime live. Forrest Saywer the moderator poses questions and attempts to ensure that the candidates remain within bounds. Ellen DeGeneres guest hosts the show on behalf of American Express and their new credit card.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:Lawrence O'Donnell

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  23. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 18 - Requiem
    8.8/10(957 votes)

    #23 - Requiem

    S7:E18

    Bartlet, Santos, and their staff members attend a funeral for one of their own. Also, Josh cautions Santos about getting involved in the vote for Speaker of the House.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Eli Attie, Debora Cahn, John Wells

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  24. The West Wing Season 2 Episode 4 - In this White House
    8.7/10(1382 votes)

    #24 - In this White House

    S2:E4

    To investigate the cost and availability of AIDS medication needed in Africa, the White House plays host to representatives of American pharmaceutical companies and the president of an African nation; C.J. accidentally leaks information to a freshman reporter; after Sam is shown up by an amateur Republican operative on a television program, Jed decides to hire her.

    Director:Ken Olin
    Writers:Allison Abner, Aaron Sorkin, Peter Parnell

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  25. The West Wing Season 2 Episode 19 - Bad Moon Rising
    8.7/10(1178 votes)

    #25 - Bad Moon Rising

    S2:E19

    Bartlet confers with Babish on the legal ramifications of his MS cover-up; Sam has a personal interest in an oil spill off the coast of Delaware; Josh and Donna argue about a loan to Mexico; Toby orders C.J. to flush out a leak in the White House staff, which is far from easy.

    Director:Bill Johnson
    Writers:Felicia Wilson, Aaron Sorkin

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Best Episodes Summary

"Two Cathedrals" is the best rated episode of "The West Wing". It scored 9.7/10 based on 4994 votes. Directed by Thomas Schlamme and written by Aaron Sorkin, it aired on 5/16/2001. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (1)".