Ep 10. The Stormy Present

As the title suggests, the fifth season's tenth episode of The West Wing titled "The Stormy Present" depicts a situation that revolves around a crisis and a difficult decision which needs to be made. Set in the White House in Washington, D.C., the political drama follows the staff of the President of the United States as they navigate the complex world of politics in America.

In this episode, the current President of the United States, Josiah Bartlet, faces one of the most significant crises of his presidency when he receives news of a coup in the fictional African country of Equatorial Kundu. The country is situated in the Gulf of Guinea and is experiencing a revolution led by rebels who are on their way to the capital to overthrow the government.

The episode focuses on how the Bartlet administration deals with the situation as they receive conflicting intelligence reports on whether the leader of Equatorial Kundu, a dictator called President Nimbala, is alive or dead. Not only does the administration need to figure out their stance on the coup, they also have to decide whether to grant asylum to the Kundan ambassador, who pleads for his country’s leadership's safety.

As Bartlet and his team gather in the Oval Office, they ponder over their options, which range from providing assistance to the current government, enabling refugees, or putting together a peacekeeping force. On top of that, there's also concern about how this affects the international relationship between the USA and Africa. Already, China and Russia eagerly seek to exploit the situation in their favor, while the Kundan ambassador warns the U.S. of the danger of leaving their country defenseless and vulnerable to outside influence.

While the crisis unfolds, the personal lives of the West Wing staffers also take center stage. Sam Seaborn is conflicted about continuing his relationship with a call girl. Press Secretary C.J. Cregg is still trying to convince her secret service agent boyfriend to continue seeing her, despite his desire to distance himself from the relationship. Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Carol Fitzpatrick, is discovered to be pregnant, and Chief of Staff Leo McGarry is preoccupied making sure his twin brother is alright.

Throughout the episode, Aaron Sorkin's writing is thoughtful and engaging, with the pacing never letting up throughout the drama. The situation is tense and high-stakes with every character at the brink of making a life-altering decision that may affect themselves and the country they serve. The political and moral ambiguity of the President’s choices, in particular, is a reflection of real-life politics, showcasing the complexity of international relations.

Overall, "The Stormy Present" is a solid and engaging episode of The West Wing, one of the most critically acclaimed and beloved political shows of all time. With great acting and dialogue, this episode is a snapshot of what makes The West Wing a standout in the world of television- the humanizing of politics and the intractable and resolute personalities of people who lead countries.