did you know that dolphins are just gay sharks?

Because I'm very disappointed with Gunn at the moment. Not any of Wesley's business, my ass. The end of the episode was good, the rest was kind of lame.

But I was cheered up, because the West Wing episode rocked! Good use of all the characters, some favourite recurring characters popping up, good characterisation, interesting plots.

Of course, now that WW has gotten good again, there's 4 weeks with no new eps (soccer then tennis). Grrrrr.

This includes some vague spoilers for both shows.

I was discussing this with sinbrat last night. Not parallel's so much in terms of specific characters or storylines, but in quality and the lack thereof.

This is all my opinion, and my reactions to them, naturally.

Both shows had a very strong first season (when so often first seasons have teething problems), with a very high number of rewatchable eps.

Both shows ditched a character that was in the S1 opening credits (Doyle and Mandy).

Both shows had mixed success with S2. WW started very strongly (ITSOTG), but got crappy for a while, before coming good. In Angel's case it was a up and down the whole way through. Both have problems in that they build up storylines well, but don't resolve them well/wrap them up too quickly. Angel is particularly bad at this (see Dar.

Both shows have had a marked downturn in S3. They're still watchable, but there's less substance to them. Rather than being caught up in an ep, I'll be enjoying it for the little things. And episode shouldn't be made enjoyable by Russell Crowe jokes and slashy moments, while the rest of the plot has me going 'what the fuck?' They should be the icing, not the sum total of good stuff.

The actors are still giving their all, but the writing is just not up to scratch on either show.

Both shows have had new female characters (whom most people don't like) thrust into the cast and into uninteresting relationships with a lead male (which is boring most fans). Other relationships, especially slashy ones, have been reduced/virtually eliminated.

Aaron Sorkin is an arrogant asshole. I'm not so sure about Greenwalt and Minear.

Post-H Con 172 short Sam-angst story from Kacey Linden (I really like how she writes Sam).

Already Falling

We've seen Josh and CJ kept prisoner in the Oval Office and almost in a coma while the President has been inspired by trivial matters.

We've also seen that Sam is quite the trivia buff too.

Who would cave first? Would youthful enthusiasm and stamina outstay the experience and knowledge of Bartlet? Doubt it, but I suspect Bartlet would cheat and get the secret service to remove Sam if so :)