This 2001 'The West Wing' Episode Premiered 25 Years Ago and Ranked Among 'Best TV Episodes of All Time'
There are a handful of series that have been tagged as being the best of the best, especially specific episodes. Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing premiered a Season 2 episode that left fans gut-wrenched with emotion and was named one of the greatest episodes in TV history.
On May 16, 2001, The West Wing released the episode titled "Two Cathedrals" that saw its main stars dealing with tragedy and the loss of a beloved character. On IMDb, the episode has a high rating of 9.7, with fans calling it "perfect in every way" and a "magnificent hour" of storytelling. Rolling Stone ranks the episodes at No. 33 on their list of the Best TV Episodes of All Time, calling it a "tour de force for a character who wasn't even really supposed to be in this show."
"Two Cathedrals" storyline occurs during a pivotal moment for the series, as President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) tackles overwhelming grief after the death of Mrs. Landingham (Kathryn Joosten). The character was a long-time friend and supporter of Bartlet, having been his school secretary-turned-presidential secretary. The episode parallels this storyline with White House drama as Bartlet's condition with multiple sclerosis puts his presidency in jeopardy.
As Bartlet's staff tries to diffuse the situation and take control of announcing his medical condition, which he kept secret during his election, they question whether the president will run for another term. Barlet also revisits earlier memories of Mrs. Landingham and the effect she had on his life.
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The crux of "Two Cathedrals" that gained praise was Mrs. Landingham's funeral at the National Cathedral. In an emotionally charged scene, the angered and grief-stricken Barlet has a one-on-one argument with God, and he stalks toward the altar, quoting Graham Greene. Bartlet chastises him for a series of recent tragedies, lights a cigarette, and stomps it out onto the church floor.
"I knew he had gone to a very deep place in himself because Martin, as a human being, is a very devout Catholic. In the most beautiful way possible. I just knew that it was a very emotional scene for him," said Emmy-winning director Thomas Schlamme, according to the Television Academy.
Schlamme also revealed that Mrs. Landingham's death came about due to Joosten wanting to work on another series. He commented that it was "the right thing to allow her to be able to do that" and made the decision to kill off her character a bit easier. Schlamme admits he was "stunningly impressed" by Sorkin's script for the episode and calls it one of his "crowning achievements."
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 8:01 AM.