The Prestige TV Podcast

‘The West Wing’ Hall of Fame: “Two Cathedrals”

December 4, 2025

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  • The episode ‘The West Wing’ Hall of Fame: “Two Cathedrals” is inducted into the Prestige TV Hall of Fame due to its status as the universally acclaimed best episode of the series, despite being highly President Bartlett-centric. 
  • The episode's success, featuring potentially cliché elements like flashbacks, a musical montage, and a storm metaphor, is attributed to Aaron Sorkin firing at his peak and Martin Sheen's compelling performance. 
  • The tragic death of Mrs. Landingham, stemming from a real-life casting decision, is highlighted as a masterful narrative pivot that profoundly impacts President Bartlett's character arc and faith. 

Segments

Introduction and List Context
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(00:01:18)
  • Key Takeaway: The Prestige TV Podcast is inducting “Two Cathedrals” into its Hall of Fame based on The Ringer’s list of The 100 Best TV Episodes of the Century, where it ranked 16th.
  • Summary: The episode is being inducted into the Prestige TV Hall of Fame, prompted by its ranking at number 16 on The Ringer’s list of The 100 Best TV Episodes of the Century. Hosts Joanna Robinson and Rob Mahoney note that this is the first in-depth discussion of The West Wing on the podcast. Rob Mahoney expresses lukewarm feelings about the episode’s placement at number 16 on the list.
Why The West Wing Matters
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(00:04:18)
  • Key Takeaway: The West Wing is considered the ultimate workplace drama, characterized by brilliantly constructed dialogue, walk-and-talk sequences, and a strong ensemble cast during its Sorkin era.
  • Summary: Rob Mahoney views The West Wing as the ultimate workplace drama, praising its ensemble cast and the brilliant construction of its writing and dialogue, particularly the walk-and-talk elements typical of the Sorkin era. The show’s second season is identified as a sweet spot where the original cast is intact and the show has hit its stride after initial growing pains. The show’s structure during this era involved 22 episodes per season, resulting in nearly 50 episodes by the end of season two.
Plot Setup for “Two Cathedrals”
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(00:06:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The season two finale centers on President Bartlett preparing for a press conference where he must address his secret MS diagnosis while simultaneously dealing with the tragic death of his secretary, Mrs. Landingham.
  • Summary: The episode builds toward a press conference where President Bartlett intends to announce his decision regarding re-election and his MS diagnosis, a secret kept for eight years. This personal crisis is juxtaposed with the sudden, tragic death of Mrs. Landingham, who was killed by a drunk driver. The episode utilizes a flashback structure, which is noted as being timey-whimey and smoothly executed with match cuts.
The Episode’s Grandeur and Ego
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(00:13:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite employing potentially cheesy devices like a booming thunderstorm and imaginary conversations, “Two Cathedrals” succeeds because President Bartlett’s massive ego allows him to frame his personal crisis as a direct confrontation between himself and God.
  • Summary: The episode successfully executes several potentially melodramatic elements, including flashbacks, a musical montage, and a thunderstorm metaphor, because the gravitas of President Bartlett’s character supports the grandeur. Bartlett’s ego is highlighted when he frames Mrs. Landingham’s death as a personal attack from God, demanding, “How could you do this to me?” The flashback reveals that young Jed Bartlett failed to achieve the change his father asked of him, underscoring the ego required for his presidential ambition.
Mrs. Landingham’s Impact and Departure
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(00:17:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Mrs. Landingham’s death was precipitated by actress Kathryn Joosten seeking another pilot, leading Aaron Sorkin to turn her departure into a core narrative event that forces President Bartlett to confront his faith and make a difficult choice.
  • Summary: The decision to kill Mrs. Landingham was a reaction to actress Kathryn Joosten pursuing another pilot opportunity, which Sorkin chose over simply writing her off. This event is used to push President Bartlett into renouncing his faith in a dramatic confrontation with God in the National Cathedral. Her memory ultimately nudges Bartlett toward making the hard choice to face criticism and answer questions at the press conference.
Iconic Music and Visuals
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(00:27:55)
  • Key Takeaway: The use of Dire Straits’ “Brothers in Arms” during the walk-no-talk to the press conference is the episode’s singular, iconic needle drop, forever linking the song to this television moment.
  • Summary: The episode is rare for The West Wing in its use of a significant needle drop, specifically Dire Straits’ “Brothers in Arms,” which was heard by 20 million viewers in real-time. The song’s opening storm sound effect layers perfectly with the actual DC storm, enhancing the tension of the walk-no-talk sequence toward the press conference. This moment, combined with the image of the American flag waving against the storm, is considered the most iconic shot.
Best Performance and Details
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(00:32:52)
  • Key Takeaway: While Martin Sheen’s performance as Bartlett is the obvious peak, John Spencer’s portrayal of Leo McGarry, particularly his faith in Bartlett during the crisis, is also a standout performance.
  • Summary: Martin Sheen’s performance, especially the confrontation with God in Latin within the National Cathedral, is cited as the best, though he never won an Emmy for the role. John Spencer’s Leo McGarry provides crucial grounding, exemplified by his quiet command, “Watch this,” signaling his certainty about Bartlett’s impending decision. A subtle detail noted is the camera lingering on Mrs. Landingham’s empty desk, which President Bartlett actively avoids looking at.
Best Moment and Contextual Viewing
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(00:42:42)
  • Key Takeaway: The most satisfying moment is President Bartlett’s resolution, walking into the press conference with his hands in his pockets and smiling, representing the culmination of two years of character development.
  • Summary: The best moment is the final sequence where Bartlett, having endured isolation and spiritual crisis, walks into the press conference, signaling his decision to run for re-election. This moment feels like a massive payoff, synthesizing two years of character development regarding his ego, altruism, and underdog spirit. The hosts agree that the episode requires prior context of the MS storyline and Mrs. Landingham’s importance to be fully appreciated.
Runner-Up Episodes and Re-watch Habits
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(00:46:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Rob Mahoney’s runner-up episode is the season four two-part premiere, “20 Hours in America,” which features Amy Adams and Bartlett’s powerful “Streets of Heaven” speech.
  • Summary: If “Two Cathedrals” were excluded, the preferred runner-up is the two-part season four premiere, “20 Hours in America,” which showcases the show’s strengths in election coverage and issue-driven plots. Other highly regarded episodes include the Toby-centric “In Excelsis Deo” and the post-MS reveal episode, “17 People,” where Toby confronts Bartlett about lying to the public. The West Wing is generally considered a comfort watch, though seasons five and six are noted as being rockier than the Sorkin-led early seasons.