The Last Full Measure of Devotion | The West Wing

"The truth isn't good?"

Season 2 Episode 16: Somebody's Going To Emergency, Somebody's Going To Jail

WATCH NOW: MAX

Subscribe now:

This is the official “THE WEST WING” channel! Stay up to date on President Jed Bartlet and his White House staff’s most inspiring, unforgettable moments.

#TheWestWing #VoteBartlet #Drama #JedBartlet #AaronSorkin #MartinSheen

[JamieFrevele]

The way his voice shakes. That subtle chest heave when he says "devotion." This is such genuinely great bodily storytelling.

[googoo-gjoob]

The *GREATEST* show in the _History_ of television.

[RandalBauer]

One of the finest episodes of TWW. Sam is the most romantic, idealistic character on the show, and it’s stunning to see that worldview shaken.

[armandosanchez]

Sam’s a good guy! Sam does things with a conscience . We need guys like Sam to defend us . The world is changing so much!

[reezee]

I loved the weaving of Don Henley's song throughout the episode, it was so unique and is to this day. What a great episode.

[jstpshply]

Breaks my heart that we can't imagine the workings of our White House functioning with this kind of knowledge, intellect, integrity, or love of country for at least the next 4 years 😢

[henniebogan]

Last full measure of devotion. People need to be reminded of that!

[tal_the_great]

The janitor quietly jotting down notes of things he heard as people walk by him for a later incredible memoir...

[Rotarrin]

This has always been one of my favorite scenes from TWW, and for so many reasons. There's so much going on here, so many layers -- mostly involving Sam, obviously, but also Donna as well. We really see a lot of his character revealed here.

[garylocke]

More people need to watch this show for no other reason other than to get a basic understanding of how our government works. Because reading comments on other sites, most people don't have a freaking clue.

[wholeNwon]

Rob Lowe at his best. Why can't we have TV like that again?

[rottingcorpse]

Rewind in time back to when Sam was arguing with his bosses about buying new tanker ships. Fast forward to him standing up for Ainsley for the "bitch" flowers. This is the kinda stuff i saw my father do. Sam, Josh and Toby....I get weepy thinking about them.

[cherylsimon]

Absolutely the best speech written for the show!

[TheStuport]

For lack of a better response, I'll just offer up that this situation clearly explained the meaning of "Catch 22" to a younger version of myself back when I thought I knew everything. My Dad told me years later that to him Catch 22 was like being handcuffed without the jewelry. Amen.

[davidzasloff]

Every once in a while I watch Rob Lowe Om West Wing (or Parks & Rec) and remember his reputation back in the 1980s when the Brat Pack was active. We thought he was just another pretty face back then. Nope.

[davecoz]

Janel Maloney was excellent in this scene and lifted Rob Lowes' performance

[Mrblacker]

Another excellent scene from the best show ever made*. And another that demonstrates that, apart from Pres. Bartlet, the best and most human character in the show is Donna Moss.

*Band of Brothers and The Newsroom push it close.

[WPPatriot]

For some context, Sam had just found out that his father had been having a very long-lasting affair (28 years, he supposedly had a whole other family on the other side of the country) so when he makes that slip up at the 3 minute mark, it's not really an accident.

[Wherethehellarewegoing]

So heartbreaking but his true self comes through when he doesn't tell Stephanie the truth..

[jimandreen]

Of Rob Lowe's long career, this might be his best work right there.