Guardian: Will The West Wing go south without Leo?

[question everything]

Will The West Wing go south without Leo?

Lucy Mangan
Tuesday December 20, 2005

Guardian

(snip)

But Leo McGarry was central to one of the show's main storylines, running as vice-president on the Democratic ticket with congressman Matt Santos. The campaign against Republican nominee Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) begins in season six, currently showing on More 4, and was due to be the central plank of the seventh, now being filmed. The writers and producers may be able to buy some time with technical wizardry - a digital Oliver Reed appeared frequently in Gladiator after he died halfway through filming; previously discarded footage kept the celluloid James Dean alive until they had finished cutting Giant; and in an even closer parallel, Nancy Marchand was given a posthumous final scene as Tony's fearsome mother in The Sopranos thanks to computer imagery, spare shots and a body double.

But sooner rather than later, the West Wing team are going to have to come up with a narratively satisfying end for McGarry that also constitutes a fitting farewell for Spencer. The most obvious option would be to use the established history of ill-health for the character to write in another heart attack, but this might hit too close to home for cast and viewers alike. Then again, Leo McGarry was ever the voice of reason when it looked like his president was about to make a sentimental choice instead of serving the greater good, so maybe his voice will guide those who this time have to find a real-life way between the two.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,1671108,00.html

[napi21]

1. I am very sorry Leo is gone. I loved his character, and him too!

But I don't think West Wing will "go South" because of him not being there. I have no idea how the writers will deal with this unhappy event, but they've done an excellent job of writing the show, and I'm confident they'll do well with this too.

[deadparrot]

2. Seeing as this has been seen in most circles as the last season anyway,

I don't think it'll have a huge impact on the remaining episodes, quality-wise. The show doesn't have enough time left to lose viewers. However, it'll be interesting how the storylines change after this tragedy. It has to be tough for everyone involved with the show right now, especially if they choose to kill off the character of Leo (as I suspect they will). I don't envy them. :(

[kaygore]

3. If they keep having stupid, senseless scripts like the last one

about Ellie's wedding that would have been incomprehensible to anyone who had not been following the show, then it deserves to die. The Ellie Wedding script lowered the show to the level of a banal soap opera. The show needs to regain its fire or it doesn't matter whether John Spencer lived or died.

He will be missed; however. I enjoyed him on L.A. Law and on West Wing. But right now the show has bigger issues than replacing Leo.