THE SECOND TIME AROUND

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: In the dearth of summer TV, Jonathan and I were  looking for something engaging entertaining and relatable and fun, possibly a little bit life-changing. I saw that Lucy and her husband were watching West Wing, and that seemed like a good idea. So we started at the very beginning, season one episode one and Reds and readers, we are hooked.

We watched it before, when it was on the air the first time in the early 2000s, and I remember loving it, and thinking it was wonderful and groundbreaking and intelligent and powerful, but I have to say, watching it again, it is all of those things and even more.

The writing is astonishing! It is still timely, how can that be? Sometimes hilariously so, one episode recently talked about wacky people coming to the White House, and one of them wanted to convince the president that we should use the map of the world that’s actually accurate. That shows geography in the real size, which makes the United States very small and Africa very big. The way it really looks. (Thank you to Equal Earth and Correct the Map)

The Mercator type maps, the one we are so used to, also  puts the Arctic circle at the top of the globe. Who’s to say that’s right side up?

Anyway, it was incredibly thought-provoking, and what do you know, just recently, a week or so ago, that was one of their proposals before the UN. (Only the United States voted against it.)

There are episodes about patriotism, and extremism. About racism and healthcare and women’s rights and inside politics. About Air Force One, and ballrooms, and dealing with the press.Truly. And I just love the character Donna.

It’s amazing. Reds and readers, do you watch West Wing, have you, would you, do you?

The last episode we watched made us both cry. When was the last time TV did that?  Putting it this way –when was the last time the television rerun made you cry?  Have you gone back and watched anything on TV that’s different-better-worse the second time around? 

LUCY BURDETTE: So glad you are enjoying it the second time around Hank! We feel a little ridiculous watching something so old, but it’s very good writing and television! We are also re-watching Nashville in honor of the death of Hayden Panatiere. It’s so sad how her life mirrored the show. But this is another excellent series. Unfortunately, it just left Netflix, but you can purchase it through Amazon prime or Apple TV. Since we are hopelessly hooked, we are doing that now! 

HALLIE EPHRON: I watched West Wing regularly waaaaay back when. Seems like the one (oops two things) thing I remember is Allison Janney. And Martin Sheen. At the time I thought it was a bit preachy… but then so was Star Trek which I can rewatch endlessly, and a little preachiness is refreshing right now.

I’m going to queue it up on my tv. Between new episodes of Great British Baking Show which restarts in a few days. Weirdly that’s another show with old episodes I can rewatch and be just as surprised at the outcomes as I was the first time around.

JENN McKINLAY: The most recent show that Hub and I rewatched was The Office. If you’ve ever worked with a small group of people, it absolutely holds up. I’m afraid to rewatch West Wing because I’ll get depressed, you know, because there’s no East Wing anymore, so is it truly a West Wing? *Jenn wanders off muttering under her breath*

HANK says: That's what I worried about, too, Jenn. But it's more inspirational than depressing. Really!

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I never watched West Wing the first time around, so if I dig into it, it’ll be a premiere for me. But I have been doing a rewatch of sorts. You may remember I was working my way through the ITV Poirot series, and I naturally segued to the ITV Marple series. I’ve now seen all the Geraldine McEwan/Julia McKenzie episodes (including several that I KNOW weren’t Marple mysteries - what’s up with that?) 

I decided I had to give the Joan Hickson version of Miss Marple a try, and am working my way through those episodes with great pleasure. What’s next? You guessed it - the Margaret Rutherford Miss Marple movies. So I’m seeing the same stories, but with different casts and production values.

RHYS BOWEN: I can never understand why they have to keep rehashing Miss Marple. To my mind Joan Hickson was perfect. Exactly as I imaged her. Others were too twittery and lacked her natural breeding and grace

And Hallie, I’ll also be starting the British baking show as soon as I get home. 

Right now it’s family dinners and lots of entertaining in Cornwall.

DEBORAH CROMBIE: We loved THE WEST WING, back in the day. The writing and acting were amazing, but I've been afraid to rewatch because I thought it would be depressing. But if you say it's more inspirational, Hank, maybe we will give it a try. It would be good to remember how things were supposed to work.

Meanwhile, we are halfway through season 6 (of 7) of ELEMENTARY, which we did not see first time around. I'd say the first four seasons are terrific. I'm flagging a bit in season 4 and now 5, but kind of hate to give up.

HANK:  How about you, reds and readers? Have you watched re-runs of anything recently? Have you been tempted?

Is it different from re-reading a book?

And what do you think of the map of the actual world?