简介：Season3:2001–2002 Cast:RobLowe,StockardChanning,DuléHill,AllisonJanney,JanelMoloney,RichardSchiff,JohnSpencer,BradleyWhitfordandMartinSheen Thethirdseason,whichcoverstheadministration'sthirdandfourthyearsinoffice,startsoffwithBartletannouncinghisintentiontorunforreelectionandisheavilydevotedtotheupcomingpresidentialelection.OtherprominentplotlinesincludeCongressionalinvestigationsintowhetherBartletcommittedelectoralfraudbyconcealinghisMS,adeaththreatagainstC.J.andtheensuingrelationshipshedevelopswithaSecretServiceagentassignedtoher,theQumaridefenseministerAbdulShareefplottingterroristattacksagainsttheUS,andatroublingmeetingbetweenTobyandthePresidentthatleavesBartletwithaboutofinsomniainNightFive.Theseasonfinale,PosseComitatusclosesseveralofthesestorylinesasBartletmeetshisopponentintheelectionsandreaffirmshiscommitmenttobeathim.TheepisodeendswiththepresidentfinallydecidingtoorderShareef'sassassination(alegallyquestionableact)andC.J.'sagent'smurder,justafterthemanthreateningC.J.wascaught. Fromacriticalperspective,seriescreatorAaronSorkinacknowledgedinOctober2002thattheterrorism-relatedplotsdesignedtokeeptheseriesrelevantafterthereal-life9/11attackswereawkwardattimes,sayingfromweektoweek,youfeltlikeyouwerewritingtheshowhandcuffed,alittlebit.Ididn'tknowhowtowriteitanymore.ItwasaconstantsearchforwhatIwasn'tdoingthatusedtomaketheshowwork.[...]Maybetherewasawaytomakeitwork;thereprobablywas.Iwasn'tabletofinditintwenty-twoepisodes.[1]Nonetheless,theshowwentontowinitsthirdOutstandingDramaEmmyinarow.