I firmly believe that Commencement is the best episode of the season. It has so much in one episode. There's the scramble to find a new VP and it is sweet that Josh, having seemingly ruled out half the Senate, considers Leo as a replacement for Hoynes. Then there is the revealation that the Americans killed Shareef but the staffers just take it in their stride - CJ has been suspecting it for months.
It is also interesting how much of the dialogue in this episode takes place in pairs. Danny, having returned with a sniff of a story, is questioning CJ in the press room, Charlie and Zoe are in the sculpture garden and Donna and Amy talk in Josh's office. And I nearly forgot about Toby and the house. He builds it up to be the big, overblown romantic gesture that will change Andy's mind but it only brings further disappointment.
Perhaps the best part about this episode is its visual quality. There's some outstanding camerawork with cuts to and from the club and the brilliant blending in of the music - big thumbs up to Alex Graves, who directed this episode. It also has a gripping ending; what with the discovery of the adorable Molly lying dead in a blood soaked alleyway, Charlie being proved right all along about Jean-Paul and Leo sprinting towards the residence to alert the President to Zoe's abduction. An outstanding piece of drama.
i have to agree.... it was a truly stunning epsiode... i was left stunned and shocked for weeks! - i had to rewatch it a number of times just to let the major events sink in correctly.... in my opinion it was on a par with my favourite epsiode Posse Comitatus.
I agree - this is definitely the best episode of the season, if not of all time1
Sorry; I pressed 'add reply' by mistake and was cut off in full flow.... I don't know how to edit/merge posts (is that possible?), so apologies for not doing that.
'Commencement' is an amazing episode, with some wonderfully poignant moments - I love Charlie and Zoey with the champagne, and I really felt for Donna when Amy asked her if she was in love with Josh.
Let's see if I have better luck posting this...