There’s simply no question that this is the best political television drama ever produced by a studio. Even though it leans toward a fairly progressive viewpoint, particularly in some of its less important plot threads, the show is remarkably well-crafted and almost always manages to present episodes that are genuinely insightful. I've watched through complete seasons of this series many times, and my feelings about certain periods have shifted over time. I used to love the initial four seasons, while completely writing off season five, and only acknowledging seasons six and seven with a degree of respect. Now, though, I find myself preferring seasons six and seven to one, three, and four. I’m not entirely sure why, but that's how it is! Regarding the performances, apart from Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, and John Spencer, the early seasons featured mostly actors who weren't particularly well-known. However, starting around the middle of season one, it doesn't really matter because Alison Janney as CJ, Bradley Whitford’s fantastic Josh Lyman, and Richard Schiff’s intense Toby Ziegler all do a superb job with their characters. The show’s greatest strength is undoubtedly its writing, particularly during those first four seasons when Aaron Sorkin was directly involved. Even after his departure, the quality of the writing for season five and later remained quite good, though it wasn't always consistent. It has been some time since I last watched this series. So, as winter approaches, I might just settle in and enjoy those signature conversations with the characters again.

Source on TMDB