The first season of
The West Wing wastes no time in plunging the fledgling administration of American president Jed Bartlet (
Martin Sheen) into a crisis, when the commander in chief is injured by a fall from a bicycle borrowed from his chief of staff, Leo McGarry (
John Spencer). Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Josh Lyman (
Bradley Whitford) and Communications Director Toby Ziegler (
Richard Schiff) do a neat job alienating the entire Religious Right; and Toby's deputy, Sam Seaborn (
Rob Lowe), exhibits his customary streak of irresponsibility by entering into a romance with call girl Laurie (
Lisa Edelstein). As the season progresses, other major issues arise, some crucial, some not. Vice President Hoynes (
Tim Matheson) refuses to espouse the party line (it isn't the first time, and it won't be the last); Mandy Hampton (
Moira Kelly) is hired as Bartlet's consultant, but doesn't last the year; the president ponders the problem of "proportional response" when he mounts a deadly counterattack to avenge the death of his doctor when his plane is shot down over Jordan; Josh must deal with the death of his sister; the love-hate relationship between Press Secretary C.J. (
Allison Janney) and reporter Danny Concannon (
Timothy Busfield) heats up; war breaks out on the India-Pakistan border; Bartlet shows signs of fatigue (or perhaps something more serious) when he collapses just before his first State of the Union address; and "First Daughter" Zoey raises a few eyebrows (and, unfortunately, more than a few threats) when she begins dating Bartlet's young African-American aide, Charlie (
Dule Hill). Among the recurring characters making their first appearances this season are Bartlet's loyal secretary and sometimes severest critic, Delores Landingham (Kathryn Joosten); Josh's wisecracking assistant, Donna Moss (
Janel Moloney); and political consultant Joey Lucas (
Marlee Matlin), a feisty deaf woman who is seldom seen without her intrepid interpreter (played by actress Maitlin's real-life interpreter, Bill O'Brien). The season ends on a cliffhanger, as Bartlet and his staff are besieged by an assassination attempt -- and it will not be until the following season that the "casualty list" will be posted. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide