Ep 6. Mr. Willis of Ohio

In the sixth episode of The West Wing's first season, titled "Mr. Willis of Ohio," the show takes a break from its usual fast-paced storytelling format to delve deeper into the personal lives of some of its characters.

The episode revolves around a seemingly insignificant piece of legislation, a bill to fund a new dam project in Ohio. President Bartlet and his staff are reluctant to support the bill, as it doesn't align with their environmental stance. However, they soon find out that the bill's sponsor, Congressman Mark Richardson, is not interested in the dam as much as he is in a particular provision that will provide jobs for a struggling Ohio community.

Meanwhile, Toby, Josh, and Sam are tasked with convincing a reluctant Democratic congressman from Ohio, who is known for being a swing vote, to support the bill. The congressman, Jed Bartlet's old friend and political ally, is dealing with a personal tragedy that is affecting his ability to make a decision on the bill.

As the episode progresses, we get a glimpse into the characters' personal lives. Sam is juggling his work with trying to find a date, Josh is trying to deal with a persistent reporter who is trying to get a story on a Democratic controversy, and Toby is dealing with the aftermath of a recent breakup.

The writing, as usual, is top-notch, with witty banter and sharp one-liners. The episode manages to balance the personal development of its characters with the overarching political narrative. It's a credit to Aaron Sorkin's writing that he's able to keep the audience engaged, even when the focus is on something as mundane as a dam bill.

The actors are also on top of their game. Martin Sheen as President Bartlet shines, as usual, and John Spencer's Leo McGarry is a calming presence throughout the episode. Bradley Whitford's Josh Lyman is perhaps the standout of the episode, as he manages to balance his snarky one-liners with genuine concern for his friend's wellbeing.

Overall, "Mr. Willis of Ohio" is a standout episode in an already impressive season of television. The episode manages to deftly juggle political drama with personal stories, and the end result is a well-crafted episode that's worth revisiting.