Static Zombie

I have yet to see this particular bit of poor plotting, writing, etc. but will use it as an opportunity to ask if I am the only one who feels about the same way about the writing and plotting on the post-Sorokin West Wing. I know they have all been through traumatic things lately, but all of a sudden our formerly articulate and intelligent characters seem to act solely from their character flaws. Josh used to be a political operator with a bit of an ego who occasionally tried bullying as he got things done--the last few weeks that's all he does, and unsuccessfully at that. Leo used to be a little overbearing and controlling on occasional, but you always felt their was a strong hand at the tiller and a good reason behind whatever political decision he was forcing. Now . . . well now he seems hellbent on driving CJ from the White House by needlessly making her grovel and do things she clearly doesn't believe in because he can rather than because the writers have convinced us that it needs to be done. After all that effort to groom Will as the post-Lowe playmate for Toby and the best speech writer around, the new writers feel the president would allow him to be headhunted by a largely unwanted VP without Toby being part of the conversation. Maybe he was still pissed by the VP teleprompting stunt (which would not have happened on Sorokin's watch--the characters might have done something like that to Josh, but not the President). Toby, or at least his writers, sadly have no "big ideas" left for him to think about and no clear way to articulate them, so he stares a lot and explodes. CJ plays victim rather than foil. Considering all he has gone through of late, the only character I can accept being as muted as he's being portrayed is the President. Stripped of the moments of insight, warmth, and intelligence that Sorokin redeemed his neurotic and quirky characters with, they are largely unlikeable, leaving me wondering if I would feel comfortable with this lot running the White House. Is this a carefully calculated reference to the current shift in the fortunes and public opinion of GW's administration? Perhaps, but these writers have yet to prove to me that they are that deft. I no longer trust that they (or Leo, the President, or any character save the intern Pierce) can fix anything when they come into the room. And so West Wing is losing its place of privilege on my DVR list. How about you?