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Rating: 
Summary: The writing is still phenomenal.
Review: 4.5 stars. The main reason I love this show is the writing; the excellent character acting and cinematography coming in second and third, respectively. The dialogue is thoughtfully written and remains fresh, for the most part, even after more than sixty episodes. The third season picks up appropriately where the last episode from season two left off but the plot is then put on hold for one full show due to the events of September 11th. The very first episode, which stands entirely alone, has more to do with explaining why those types of events occur in the first place, what belief systems are driving the extremists, and why, in short, do they hate America so much. It was yet another enlightening episode, like many others from the previous two seasons, and is a somber tone to begin season three. But most of the episodes that follow are actually upbeat and subsequently less passionate than season two. I absolutely adored season two, and I knew going in to season three that high expectations were both in order and obviously unfair. The writing is still superb. The entire cast, with many, many guest actors entering and infusing their immense talents into the show, all look and feel more comfortable in their roles than ever before. There are many moments of brilliance here, my personal favorite coming late in the season (episode #17 "The U.S. Poet Laureate") where the show is elevated to greatness throughout with every single nuance and word so carefully and emotionally revealed that something magical happens. That entire episode is stellar. This brings me to the only downfall to the season, which is that "The U.S. Poet Laureate" is the only show that never becomes predictable or stagnant or has a rare flat spot. There are many great moments throughout each and every show, but unlike season two which had a multitude of outstanding whole episodes, season three only had one amazing episode and many other good ones. To reiterate: the writing is the main reason to watch this show, regardless of untied sub-plots and too many unresolved characters exiting, not to be seen for five or six shows at a time. The stories are at their most fresh in season three when flashback episodes unfold, where the actors give their characters more vitality and youthfulness instead of the weary characters of the West Wing stumbling into a re-election year. Overall, this is yet another solid season of one of the most impressive shows ever brought to television. Those who criticize "The West Wing" too much should look and see and remind themselves of all the heaping crud that comprises most network television, and thank their lucky stars that a show this professional and sometimes incredible was ever made. Thank you Aaron Sorkin, and the entire cast and production staff of "The West Wing." Keep up the phenomenal work.
Rating: 
Summary: Still The Greatest
Review: After reading the other reviews I admit a shortcoming: I have never seen the broadcasts. Instead, my wife and I have only watched the DVDs as they've been released. We have sort of formed a tradition of "marathoning" the episodes together, since they're so hugely enjoyable.
So I cannot comment on the downfalls of seasons 4+ as cited below. I can only give a much deserved 5 stars to this installment. Tne writing continues to be smart, issue-focused and thought provoking. It's so sparkly that I still have trouble believing that real people might talk like that, but feel that such brilliance (as it might exist anyplace) is so well-used in the service of our country. Well, fictionally, anyway.
It remains an excellent series of lessons on how our system works, too. There are nuances of politics and our system which I never understood until I saw this series.
If anything, it seems "poll heavy," which I initially wrote off to Pad Cadell's job with the series. However, I'm naive: politicians live and die by polls, so their significance is not to be underestimated.
You won't regret buying these DVDs for keeps; it's the best non-PBS television we've seen in the last ten years - no kidding.
Rating:
Summary: Where are the bloopers?
Review: Amazon is not the only place where the "bloopers" are listed as part of the DVD set. "Political Missteps" is also listed on the DVD set box, but I haven't been able to find them on the disks. If someone knows where they are hiding, I'd appreciate being enlightened.
Rating:
Summary: No Bloopers Amazon labled DVD wrong
Review: Amazon is the only place that says there are bloopers listed as politcal missteps they do not appear on the DVD anywhere. Amazon better recheck your sources on what's actually on this DVD. Excellent season, worth buying to remember when the West Wing was worth watching!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: At last impressed by US TV.
Review: Here in the UK and all that we had from across the pond was Friends or Will & Grace (plus others, I liked Smallville for instance) the prospect of anything cerebral as a TV show was beginning to fade. Along came "24", good action etc... but what about something for the more politically attuned person. The answer, the superb West Wing.
In this 3rd season the characters have developed very nicely, Toby even smiles ! The political meandering & shenanigans make the House of Commons look like first school. What I find missing are historical references such as Bartlett has his MS but then why no mention of Roosevelt's polio, Kennedy's back injury and the drugs he took for it, Reagan's Alzheimer's ? Perhaps out of respect. What about the shady dealings of numerous presidents regarding arms dealing in the world etc.. A lot of this is absolute fact but Bartlett seems too good to be true, a few skeletons in the closet but nothing too shocking (not shocking probably due to my constant exposure to the UK tabloids and their stories).
In summary, very entertaining and best of the bunch. For political drama, the best of any long running series. Lets hope that the quality continues.
Rating: 
Summary: Mediocre at best
Review: I don't know about anyone else but I found that this product distributed by Warner Home Video was very lacking. I received two different copies from Amazon and neither one had the 'Political Missteps' that the box implied. I have no fault with Amazon; I find fault with Warner Home Video for distributing such a shoddy product to such a quality distributor like Amazon. I let Warner Home Video know of my dissatisfaction and I encourage anyone to do the same. The West Wing is too good a show to be distributed in this lackluster way.
Rating:
Summary: Arguable the best drama television has EVER produced
Review: I really love this program, and this season in particular. Its a refreshing break from the mind-numbing content and style of most American television; and in a time when extremists are running the real-life White House, its nice to be reminded what it could look like to have a moderate and open-minded administration -even if it is fictional. As a moderate conservative myself, I think 'The West Wing' provides much needed relief for people on both the left and the right of America's political spectrum. Every part of this show is constructed beautifully. Aaron Sorkin and the other writers never flinch from confronting major issues, and those which they do confront are examined in a manner which never condescends to the viewers. They treat us as intelligent, informed people, and for that I am grateful. The acting is top-notch, particularly in the character of C.J. Craig played by Allison Janney; and the sets are immaculate; So that, all in all, 'The West Wing' creates a world that is always believable, always entertaining, and -rare for TV- always intellectually stimulating. If 'The West Wing' has one weakness, it is that the directors can sometimes slip into sentimentality. However, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise spectacular show and is easily overlooked, and in Season Three this problem is alot softer than in the previous two.
Rating:
Summary: West Wing soars again!
Review: The third season of the West Wing does not disappoint. All the major characters are given a chance to develop. The DVD opens with a special episode that the cast and writers put together after the September 11, 2001 attacks, then jumps immediately back into the regular storyline with the next episode. Absorbing all the way through.
Rating:
Summary: Season Three continues the tradition, but lacks punch of 1&2
Review: The West Wing is certainly one of the best television dramas of all time. The Season One boxed set was 20 hours of pure entertainment. The season was well written, fast-paced, and the plotlines tightly coupled. The season ended with a shocking climax that left viewers panting for Season Two. They weren't disappointed.
Season Two didn't skip a beat in maintaining the speed, energy, or suspense viewers had come to expect. The Season Two finalie was also a cliffhanger, albeit one to which the outcome was certain.
When Season Three begins, the energy, suspense, and well-written plotlines are all but forgotten. The entire season meanders slowly through an election year campaign season with side trips to an attorney or two over the President and First Lady's 's legal troubles.
The introduction of a new character, a strong, assertive, self-assured campaign manager, breathes some life into the few episodes he appears in and Oliver Platt delivers consistently good performances as the White House legal counsel.
However, there a numerous episodes with little meaning to the overall plot, and development of the storyline progresses little during the season. The season winds down with a fairly depressing, but not-at-all suspenseful finalie in which the President expresses his determination to win re-election, the exact same crux that he faced at the end of the second season.
Overall, The West Wing Season Three manages to squeeze in 20 more episodes without any relevant advancement of the plot, characters, or relationships in the Bartlett administration. Viewers could easily skip Season Three and pick up at Season Four and would miss little of importance.
Rating:
Summary: West Wing Season 3
Review: This set of dvd's is just as good as the last one! From the days when Aaron Sorkin was still writing the show and it had excellent storylines and characters.....before John Wells made it die a slow and torturous death. I miss Sam Seaborn.... :( Buy this, it's great!
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