Others here have vividly described what this episode is about, and if you're reading these reviews you most likely already know anyway, which is great because it relieves me of the need to describe it myself.
I would say that whilst most episodes are merely worth rating 10/10, several easily deserve 11/10. This one goes even further than that, and I would give 12/10 if I could.
My chief reason for this is the ending montage. OK, it's not QUITE as stirring as that of 'In Excelsis Deo', but it's pretty damn close. Maybe it's my Englishness driving my love for this. After all, the play IS by Shakespeare (sort of) and I agree with President Bartlet that the song they sing seems exactly right for the hallowed halls of a Cambridge college. Combine that with the emotions evoked by the scenes immediately preceding it, and it gets me every time.
Although, in fairness, at the conclusion of nearly every episode I'm left feeling "yeah, that's one of my favourite endings".
I would say that whilst most episodes are merely worth rating 10/10, several easily deserve 11/10. This one goes even further than that, and I would give 12/10 if I could.
My chief reason for this is the ending montage. OK, it's not QUITE as stirring as that of 'In Excelsis Deo', but it's pretty damn close. Maybe it's my Englishness driving my love for this. After all, the play IS by Shakespeare (sort of) and I agree with President Bartlet that the song they sing seems exactly right for the hallowed halls of a Cambridge college. Combine that with the emotions evoked by the scenes immediately preceding it, and it gets me every time.
Although, in fairness, at the conclusion of nearly every episode I'm left feeling "yeah, that's one of my favourite endings".