Some say the show is unrealistic. The West Wing by Chris Jackson Ratings and Golden Globe nominations make it official. NBC's The West Wing has the voters' approval as THE SHOW to watch. Writer Aaron Sorkin has whipped up a show with razor sharp dialogue, engaging story lines, and carefully orchestrated ensemble acting. So far the drama's focus on matters of law has been pretty mushy.
Spiritual guidance is the series' strong suit.
This is a show in search of wisdom rather than justice. Obviously, wherever the Truth lies, her character and the series built around it challenges us to think about how we perceive current changes. The litmus test of good fiction is whether or not you continue to think of the characters after you've laid down the book, left the theater, or turned off the tube. Judged by these standards, Ally McBeal, as created by David E. Kelley and played by Calista Flockhart, rates as one of the most interesting cultural phenomena of the 90's. Her courtroom tactics may be feeble, but she struggles to arrive at truths she can believe in.