The West Wing

The West Wing is the most idealistic show in television history — and that idealism is its greatest strength. Aaron Sorkin wrote a White House staffed by brilliant, passionate, flawed people who genuinely believed that government could be a force for good. Martin Sheen's President Bartlet is the leader everyone wishes they had. The walk-and-talk format, the rapid-fire dialogue, the ability to make policy debates feel as thrilling as action sequences — Sorkin invented a vocabulary for political drama that every subsequent show has borrowed. The first four Sorkin seasons are among the best runs in television. 'Two Cathedrals' is a perfect episode.