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The Worst Episodes of The West Wing

Every episode of The West Wing ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The West Wing!

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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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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    The West Wing Season 7 Episode 13 - The Cold
    4.5/10(2 votes)

    #1 - The Cold

    S7:E13

    After the near-nuclear disaster at the power plant the polls show surprising, or maybe not so surprising, results for both candidates. The Vinick camp gears up for backlash while the Santos camp hopes for cause to celebrate. Meanwhile Bartlet is still trying to keep the situation in Central Asia under control. Relationships in the Santos campaign, the Vinick campaign, and the West Wing all undergo changes and Vinick and Bartlet attempt to deal with different versions of the cold.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writers:Debora Cahn, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich

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  2. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 16 - Election Day (1)
    5.0/10(2 votes)

    #2 - Election Day (1)

    S7:E16

    Election Day finally arrives, and between analyzing exit polls, and mulling over news reports, a few Santos staff members discover the joys of campaign romance. Meanwhile, C.J. ponders life after the White House; and Annabeth makes a tragic discovery.

    Director:Mimi Leder
    Writer:Lauren Schmidt Hissrich

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  3. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 22 - Tomorrow
    5.0/10(2 votes)

    #3 - 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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  4. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 1 - The Ticket
    5.3/10(3 votes)

    #4 - The Ticket

    S7:E1

    As everyone but Josh causes Santos to question his choice of Leo as his running mate, Bartlet's investigation into the dangerous press leak continues. Also C.J. gets interviewed by Babish and Donna approaches Josh for a job.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writer:Debora Cahn

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  5. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 2 - The Mommy Problem
    5.8/10(4 votes)

    #5 - The Mommy Problem

    S7:E2

    Santos and Vinick have to deal with press fallout when it looks like the Bartlet White House is not going to continue the investigation into the press leaks.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:Eli Attie

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  6. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 12 - Duck and Cover
    6.0/10(4 votes)

    #6 - Duck and Cover

    S7:E12

    Bartlet must deal with the possiblity of a nuclear explosion in California, Kate is keeping a careful watch on the election in Kazakhstan and China's response, Will is acting as the government's voice this week, and Josh is trying to keep his political version of Tourette's in check.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writer:Eli Attie

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  7. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 17 - Election Day (2)
    6.0/10(4 votes)

    #7 - 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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  8. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 18 - Requiem
    6.0/10(4 votes)

    #8 - 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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  9. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 20 - The Last Hurrah
    6.0/10(4 votes)

    #9 - The Last Hurrah

    S7:E20

    While Santos is busy trying to select a new vice president, his wife finds her new responsibilities staggering. Meanwhile, Vinick ponders his next move.

    Director:Tim Matheson
    Writer:Lawrence O'Donnell

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  10. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 19 - Transition
    6.2/10(4 votes)

    #10 - Transition

    S7:E19

    Bartlet and his staff make the transition as easy as possible for the president-elect, who discovers some unpleasant realities about his new job.

    Director:Nelson McCormick
    Writer:Peter Noah

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  11. The West Wing Season 7 Episode 21 - Institutional Memory
    6.2/10(4 votes)

    #11 - Institutional Memory

    S7:E21

    C.J. and Will both face uncertain futures as Bartlet and his staffers prepare to leave the White House to make way for the Santos administration.

    Director:Lesli Linka Glatter
    Writer:Debora Cahn

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  12. The West Wing Season 1 Episode 7 - The State Dinner
    6.3/10(9 votes)

    #12 - 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.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writers:Paul Redford, Aaron Sorkin

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  13. The West Wing Season 1 Episode 17 - The White House Pro-Am
    6.3/10(10 votes)

    #13 - The White House Pro-Am

    S1:E17

    Abbey keeps the staff busy with the fallout when she leaks her personal preference for a Federal Reserve Board appointment and discusses child labor on a talk show, prompting a Congresswoman to offer an amendment which could shoot down the entire international tariff bill. Charlie's date with Zoey is cancelled because of threats by a white supremacist group.

    Director:Ken Olin
    Writers:Paul Redford, Lawrence O'Donnell, Aaron Sorkin

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  14. The West Wing Season 1 Episode 21 - Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
    6.4/10(8 votes)

    #14 - Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics

    S1:E21

    Bartlet gets closer to making the FEC campaign finance reform-friendly, but his opponents strike back by making Sam's former dalliance with the call girl public knowledge; CJ waits anxiously for the administration's approval rating.

    Director:Don Scardino
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  15. The West Wing Season 1 Episode 2 - Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc
    6.7/10(13 votes)

    #15 - 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.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  16. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 14 - An Khe
    7.0/10(3 votes)

    #16 - An Khe

    S5:E14

    When five navy E-2C Hawkeye crew members are stranded in North Korea, Bartlet orders a risky Navy Seal rescue attempt. C.J. agrees to one on one with a motormouth conservative talk show host.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:John Wells

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  17. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 15 - Full Disclosure
    7.0/10(3 votes)

    #17 - Full Disclosure

    S5:E15

    He's back, Former VP John Hoynes, who resigned in sex scandal, makes a bid for political resurrection by trashing Barlet and Leo in a tell-all book. But it's C.J. who's taking the news the hardest.

    Director:Lesli Linka Glatter
    Writer:Lawrence O'Donnell

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  18. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 16 - Eppur Si Muove
    7.0/10(3 votes)

    #18 - Eppur Si Muove

    S5:E16

    When a conservative Republican Congresswoman targets Ellie's research project in an effort to discredit Jed, Toby discovers that the source of the leak is uncomfortably close to home, and Will realizes that they've all greatly underestimated his boss; Josh investigates the wisdom of a recess appointment as he tries to convince an old friend to be patient with the Sixth Circuit judicial nomination process and keep his hat in the ring; C.J. completely misreads Ben's intentions; Donna tracks down an AWOL Ryan; an opening is created on the Supreme Court; in an effort to redefine Abbey's image with the press, C.J. sets her up to do a public service announcement with the Muppets, which inspires Ellie to stand up before the press in defense of scientific research unhampered by politics.

    Director:Llewellyn Wells
    Writer:Alexa Junge

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  19. The West Wing Season 6 Episode 5 - The Hubbert Peak
    7.0/10(3 votes)

    #19 - The Hubbert Peak

    S6:E5

    Hours before the CAFE standards amendment is defeated, Josh succumbs to the lure of test driving a monster SUV while shopping for a Prius and gets into a fender-bender that proves embarrassing to the administration, so he's saddled with heading up a task force on alternative energy sources; after hosting a surprise graduation party for Charlie, Zoey agrees to his taking her out to a thank-you dinner; Annabeth educates Toby on the art of "charm and disarm" in handling the press; Charlie is offered an attractive way out of his employment dilemma; Kate extents a hand of friendship and support to Donna; C.J. gets some crucial insight from Leo on keeping Jed healthy; Margaret's plan to redecorate Leo's former office meets with resistance from her new boss.

    Director:Julie Hébert
    Writer:Peter Noah

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  20. The West Wing Season 6 Episode 6 - The Dover Test
    7.0/10(3 votes)

    #20 - The Dover Test

    S6:E6

    The peace mission suffers its first American casualty, whose father is sharply critical of the administration; Santos breaks ranks with the party by signing onto Republican legislation for a patient bill of rights when his own bill dies in committee; Margaret searches for a new office for Charlie; Leo struggles to recover his health, his strength, and his appetite with the help of his nurse, who looks after both his body and his soul with wisdom and determination; Donna, out of her wheelchair and onto crutches, is besieged by the media for interviews; C.J. has harsh words for Toby when he lets his personal feelings take him off-message in the briefing room; Leo contemplates a post-recovery job offer in the private sector before his nurse reminds him why he left there in the first place; Will calls Josh out about the staff's disrespect for Russell's candidacy; as Annabeth finds a way to turn around a bad news cycle, Toby admonishes C.J. about micro-managing the press office.

    Director:Laura Innes
    Writer:Carol Flint

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  21. The West Wing Season 6 Episode 7 - A Change Is Gonna Come
    7.0/10(3 votes)

    #21 - A Change Is Gonna Come

    S6:E7

    Hoynes throws his hat in the presidential ring, and asks Josh to join his campaign; Jed's health begins to deteriorate; Toby and Kate head the protocol negotiations with the Chinese over the arrangements for the upcoming summit, which is jeopardized when Jed mistakenly accepts a Taiwanese flag at the National Prayer Breakfast; Bernard takes his new position as head of the Gifts Unit to heart as he gives Charlie a hard time about retrieving the flag so that it can be returned; Josh has his hands full with a pro-Taiwanese senator holding a hard line on recognizing their independence; Bob Russell crashes an Oval Office photo op with the governor of Pennsylvania, who's also another potential presidential candidate.

    Directors:Vincent Misiano, John Sacret Young
    Writers:John Sacret Young, Josh Singer

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  22. The West Wing Season 6 Episode 19 - Ninety Miles Away
    7.0/10(3 votes)

    #22 - Ninety Miles Away

    S6:E19

    New rumors about Fidel Castro's health cause the President to re-examine the economic sanctions against Cuba that haven't worked for 40 years, and he sends Leo McGarry to meet secretly with the Cuban dictator. The occasion causes C.J. to check into Kate Harper's past with the C.I.A., but she is unaware of a past encounter between Kate and Leo. Meanwhile, Charlie discovers the complexities of dealing with a termite invasion of the White House.

    Director:Rod Holcomb
    Writer:John Sacret Young

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  23. The West Wing 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.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  24. The West Wing Season 1 Episode 10 - In Excelsis Deo
    7.1/10(14 votes)

    #24 - 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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  25. The West Wing Season 1 Episode 18 - Six Meetings Before Lunch
    7.1/10(9 votes)

    #25 - Six Meetings Before Lunch

    S1:E18

    Mendoza is confirmed by the Senate; Mandy needs Toby's help to replace a dead panda bear; Sam angers Mallory when she reads a position paper that he wrote supporting school vouchers; Josh meets with Jeff Breckenridge, who is irritating certain Congressmen with his stance on slavery reparations.

    Director:Clark Johnson
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Cold" is the worst rated episode of "The West Wing". It scored 4.5/10 based on 2 votes. Directed by Alex Graves and written by Debora Cahn, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, it aired on 3/12/2006. This episode scored 0.5 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Election Day (1)".