The West Wing backdrop
Drama

The Worst Episodes of The West Wing

Every episode of The West Wing ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The West Wing!

Binge this in 4d 7h•Peaking at 9.7/10

The West Wing provides a glimpse into presidential politics in the nation's capital as it tells the stories of the members of a fictional presidential administration. These interesting characters have humor and dedication that touches

Airs on
NBC
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons7

All1234567

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    The West Wing Season 5 Episode 18 - Access
    7.1/10(1003 votes)

    S5:E18

    A documentary camera crew follows C.J. around for a not-so-typical day in the White House.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:Lauren Schmidt Hissrich

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The West Wing Season 6 Episode 19 - Ninety Miles Away
    7.1/10(786 votes)

    S6:E19

    New rumors about Fidel Castro's health cause the President to re-examine the economic sanctions against Cuba that haven't worked for 40 years, and he sends Leo McGarry to meet secretly with the Cuban dictator. The occasion causes C.J. to check into Kate Harper's past with the C.I.A., but she is unaware of a past encounter between Kate and Leo. Meanwhile, Charlie discovers the complexities of dealing with a termite invasion of the White House.

    Director:Rod Holcomb
    Writer:John Sacret Young

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The West Wing Season 4 Episode 18 - Privateers
    7.5/10(907 votes)

    S4:E18

    Toby's old friend approaches him ready to blow the whistle on his employer's violations of environmental laws; staff pranks abound on Amy's first day at the office; Abbey charges Amy with the task of convincing the President to threaten a veto on a foreign aid bill containing an abortion gag rule provision; claiming that Abbey's ancestor was a pirate rather than a privateer, a prominent member threatens to mount a boycott of the D.A.R. dinner at which Zoey will be inducted until Will, C.J. and Amy devise a plan to defuse the situation; at the behest of Jean Paul, Zoey sends Charlie a "Dear John" email, but Charlie refuses to accept the brushoff and declares his love for Zoey; Donna is less than thrilled when Josh assigns her the job of shadowing a possible security risk at Zoey's D.A.R. induction; Will takes one for the team in putting an environmental and political face on the destruction and deaths which resulted from the melting of an Alaskan glacier.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 3 - Jefferson Lives
    7.5/10(888 votes)

    S5:E3

    When he realizes that his first choice for Vice President faces an uphill fight for nomination, Jed nominates a congressman that none of the staff can get excited about; Josh is less than thrilled with his new intern.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 5 - Constituency of One
    7.5/10(870 votes)

    S5:E5

    Will Bailey receives an offer to become Vice President Russell's top aide. Amy Gardner does some skillful lobbying for domestic violence prevention which gets the wrath of Bartlet. A conservative democratic senator switches parties.

    Director:Laura Innes
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 10 - The Stormy Present
    7.5/10(868 votes)

    S5:E10

    President Bartlet attends the funeral of a former president with other former presidents Glenallen Walken and D. Wire Newman, while monitoring a possible situation in Saudi Arabia. Josh Lyman mediates an argument between a representative from Connecticut and one from North Carolina who wants her state's copy of the Bill of Rights returned. CJ is concerned about a scientist's invention which could interfere with privacy.

    Directors:Alex Graves, John Sacret Young
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of The West Wing

    READ
  7. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 19 - Talking Points
    7.5/10(795 votes)

    S5:E19

    Hail the conquering hero. Josh returns after nailing down details for a trade agreement. But the devil in the detail, including information kept from Josh. C.J. fights megamedia ownership of local TV.

    Director:Richard Schiff
    Writer:Eli Attie

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The West Wing Season 6 Episode 6 - The Dover Test
    7.5/10(738 votes)

    S6:E6

    The peace mission suffers its first American casualty, whose father is sharply critical of the administration; Santos breaks ranks with the party by signing onto Republican legislation for a patient bill of rights when his own bill dies in committee; Margaret searches for a new office for Charlie; Leo struggles to recover his health, his strength, and his appetite with the help of his nurse, who looks after both his body and his soul with wisdom and determination; Donna, out of her wheelchair and onto crutches, is besieged by the media for interviews; C.J. has harsh words for Toby when he lets his personal feelings take him off-message in the briefing room; Leo contemplates a post-recovery job offer in the private sector before his nurse reminds him why he left there in the first place; Will calls Josh out about the staff's disrespect for Russell's candidacy; as Annabeth finds a way to turn around a bad news cycle, Toby admonishes C.J. about micro-managing the press office.

    Director:Laura Innes
    Writer:Carol Flint

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The West Wing Season 2 Episode 6 - The Lame Duck Congress
    7.6/10(1202 votes)

    S2:E6

    The president considers recalling the Senate to push ratification of a nuclear-test-ban treaty. Meanwhile, Donna lobbies new legislation introducing ergonomic standards in the White House; A Ukrainian politician shows up at the White House drunk demanding to see the president.

    Director:Jeremy Kagan
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The West Wing Season 4 Episode 9 - Swiss Diplomacy
    7.6/10(885 votes)

    S4:E9

    The 15-year old son of an Iranian leader needs a heart transplant in the U.S. Problem is, the only man who could do it is an enemy of the Iranian government; The Senate minority leader threatens to thwart the President's legislative agenda when he believes that Hoynes is doing some political maneuvering for the next Presidential election; Toby offers a Congresswoman a Cabinet position but is forced to take back the offer.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writers:Kevin Falls, Eli Attie

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 6 - Disaster Relief
    7.6/10(850 votes)

    S5:E6

    The fallout on the Hill from Carrick's switch to the Republican party exiles Josh deep into a White House doghouse, so C.J. gives Donna some tips on how she can support him; Jed gets a harsh reality check from C.J. when he lingers too long in a small Oklahoma town devastated by a deadly tornado; in Jed's absence, Leo juggles an impending war between Albania and Greece, a visit from the German chancellor, a tussle over tax cuts, and an over-reaching Secretary of Defense; Josh and Toby are less than thrilled when Leo brings Angela on board to assume some of Josh's responsibilities.

    Director:Lesli Linka Glatter
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 9 - Abu el Banat
    7.6/10(849 votes)

    S5:E9

    The Bartet clan attempts to gather for a holiday dinner. Jed must deal with a hostage situation in Sudan, an assisted suicide in Oregon, his son-in-law's yearn to run for the House of Representatives, and his grandson's want to spend time with his grandpa. C.J. takes a stand on the assisted suicide because of her father's worsening condition.

    Director:Lesli Linka Glatter
    Writer:Debora Cahn

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 11 - The Benign Prerogative
    7.6/10(840 votes)

    S5:E11

    In the days leading up to the State of the Union address, Toby gets crucial voter feedback when he accompanies Joey as she mall-tests the speech around the nation; Jed and the staff wrestle with the issues of presidential pardons and mandatory minimums; Charlie dates an attractive woman who's not what she seems; Joey Lucas derails Josh's plans when she arrives at the White House carrying a surprise; Jed and Abbey reach out to an old friend on the eve of his ex-wife's remarriage.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writer:Carol Flint

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 14 - An Khe
    7.6/10(835 votes)

    S5:E14

    When five navy E-2C Hawkeye crew members are stranded in North Korea, Bartlet orders a risky Navy Seal rescue attempt. C.J. agrees to one on one with a motormouth conservative talk show host.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:John Wells

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The West Wing Season 5 Episode 16 - Eppur Si Muove
    7.6/10(806 votes)

    S5:E16

    When a conservative Republican Congresswoman targets Ellie's research project in an effort to discredit Jed, Toby discovers that the source of the leak is uncomfortably close to home, and Will realizes that they've all greatly underestimated his boss; Josh investigates the wisdom of a recess appointment as he tries to convince an old friend to be patient with the Sixth Circuit judicial nomination process and keep his hat in the ring; C.J. completely misreads Ben's intentions; Donna tracks down an AWOL Ryan; an opening is created on the Supreme Court; in an effort to redefine Abbey's image with the press, C.J. sets her up to do a public service announcement with the Muppets, which inspires Ellie to stand up before the press in defense of scientific research unhampered by politics.

    Director:Llewellyn Wells
    Writer:Alexa Junge

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The West Wing Season 6 Episode 5 - The Hubbert Peak
    7.6/10(779 votes)

    S6:E5

    Hours before the CAFE standards amendment is defeated, Josh succumbs to the lure of test driving a monster SUV while shopping for a Prius and gets into a fender-bender that proves embarrassing to the administration, so he's saddled with heading up a task force on alternative energy sources; after hosting a surprise graduation party for Charlie, Zoey agrees to his taking her out to a thank-you dinner; Annabeth educates Toby on the art of "charm and disarm" in handling the press; Charlie is offered an attractive way out of his employment dilemma; Kate extents a hand of friendship and support to Donna; C.J. gets some crucial insight from Leo on keeping Jed healthy; Margaret's plan to redecorate Leo's former office meets with resistance from her new boss.

    Director:Julie Hébert
    Writer:Peter Noah

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The West Wing Season 6 Episode 12 - 365 Days
    7.6/10(755 votes)

    S6:E12

    On the day after Bartlet gives his last State of the Union address, Leo returns to the West Wing but has difficulty getting the attention of the rest of the staff for a meeting about what to do during the remaining 365 days of Barlet's term. Kate and C.J. have to deal with emergencies in Bolivia and North Korea. Charlie tries to figure out how to get Congress to support funding for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Toby solicits Annabeth's advice regarding proper behavior for Abbey at a NASCAR event. Will asks why they originally chose Russell to be Vice President. And Bartlet seems to have recovered most of his strength after his recent bout with MS.

    Director:Andrew Bernstein
    Writer:Mark Goffman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. The West Wing Season 6 Episode 14 - The Wake Up Call
    7.6/10(786 votes)

    S6:E14

    Valentine's Day starts badly when the Iranian air force shoots down a British airliner, killing 100 passengers. The U.K. Prime Minister threatens to retaliate by bombing nuclear reactor sites, which could doom future support for political reformers in Iran. But C.J. has made an agreement with Abbey to allow the President to get more rest, and she is reluctant to awaken him at 5 A.M. to deal with the crisis. Meanwhile, Toby and a visiting law professor answer questions from a foreign delegation that is trying to write a new constitution for the former Soviet Republic of Belarus, and harried staffers pass the buck of Leo's traditional meeting with the new Miss World.

    Director:Laura Innes
    Writer:Josh Singer

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. The West Wing Season 1 Episode 17 - The White House Pro-Am
    7.7/10(1321 votes)

    S1:E17

    Abbey keeps the staff busy with the fallout when she leaks her personal preference for a Federal Reserve Board appointment and discusses child labor on a talk show, prompting a Congresswoman to offer an amendment which could shoot down the entire international tariff bill. Charlie's date with Zoey is cancelled because of threats by a white supremacist group.

    Director:Ken Olin
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Lawrence O'Donnell, Paul Redford

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. The West Wing Season 2 Episode 7 - The Portland Trip
    7.7/10(1203 votes)

    S2:E7

    After ridiculing Notre Dame, C.J. is forced to accompany the President on a trip to Oregon; Toby and Sam struggle to write Jed's education speech for the following day; back at the White House, Josh tries to dissuade a gay Congressman who supports legislation banning same-sex marriages and Leo gets divorce papers, which causes Margaret to worry that he may fall off the wagon.

    Director:Paris Barclay
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The West Wing Season 2 Episode 12 - The Drop-In
    7.7/10(1134 votes)

    S2:E12

    The test of a missile defense program meets 9 of 10 essential criteria. But the 10th is the sticking point: hitting the target. Sam is livid when a speech he wrote is changed without consulting him.

    Director:Lou Antonio
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The West Wing Season 4 Episode 4 - The Red Mass
    7.7/10(928 votes)

    S4:E4

    Leo meets with the Israeli Foreign Minister to enlist Israel's assistance with the Shareef investigation, but is ultimately foiled by the Qumari; the debate about the Ritchie debates rages on until the staff comes up with a brilliant tactic; Josh and Amy argue over whether Stackhouse is siphoning votes from Bartlet; Ritchie tries to bait Bartlet on needle exchange programs; Bartlet is faced with resolving an 11 day standoff with the KSU bombers in Iowa who are holding an injured child; Josh sends Donna undercover to a seminar held by one of Ritchie's advisors in an effort to expose the "fortune cookie candidacy"; Stackhouse comes to a momentous decision about his campaign and provides inspiration for Bartlet.

    Director:Vincent Misiano
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. The West Wing Season 4 Episode 12 - Guns Not Butter
    7.7/10(871 votes)

    S4:E12

    Josh, determined to make sure a foreign aid bill passes even though it's a hopeless cause, sends Donna out to track down a reluctant senator; in an attempt to impress Zoey's new boyfriend, Charlie unwittingly gets over his head with the Department of Defense; Danny continues to pursue the Shareef matter; a Bartlet photo op with Heifer International creates unexpected opportunities -- for C.J. to perfect her spin-doctoring techniques, and for the staff once again to test Will's mettle and sense of humor.

    Director:Bill D'Elia
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Kevin Falls, Eli Attie

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. The West Wing Season 4 Episode 13 - The Long Goodbye
    7.7/10(1167 votes)

    S4:E13

    While Toby unsuccessfully attempts to fill her shoes in the briefing room, C.J. returns to Dayton, where she gives a speech at her high school reunion, reconnects with an old friend, and struggles with her father's worsening Alzheimer's.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:Jon Robin Baitz

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. The West Wing Season 4 Episode 19 - Angel Maintenance
    7.7/10(885 votes)

    S4:E19

    Air Force One is forced to keep aloft for almost 24 hours when an indicator light leads the flight crew to believe that the landing gear isn't functioning properly; Bartlet and Will have a spirited discussion on Colombian recertification, which is ultimately rendered moot when Air Force One doesn't land on time; the Black Caucus plays hardball with the Oval Office to gain a Congressional debate on the merits of reinstating the draft; legislation to clean up Chesapeake Bay is sacrificed to partisan politics; Will is unsuccessful in hiding his fear of flying from C.J. and Charlie; deaths in Kundu continue to mount.

    Director:Jessica Yu
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"Access" is the worst rated episode of "The West Wing". It scored 7.1/10 based on 1003 votes. Directed by Alex Graves and written by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, it aired on 3/31/2004. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Ninety Miles Away".