MovieChat Forums > The West Wing (1999) Discussion > Leo's wife, Jenny

Leo's wife, Jenny

posted 8 years ago by jmbwithcats
4 replies | jump to latest

She may be feeling neglected, but I don't think we ever saw her supportive, and she knew who she married, after all these years and I doubt the intensity of this new job would be that different, like he wasn't driven and busy before? Now you can say perhaps this was a long time coming, the problem is we never really see Leo and Jenny together as a strong couple, so there's really not much data to go on... which makes looking at the personal relevance a little less so, and to look at it metaphorically, the obsession and importance, loyalty to the job Leo feels so deeply.

One also perhaps feels when Jenny says "not more important than our marriage", that this was his last shot to save the marriage, and he chose the job.

A good lesson of what not to do... never choose a job over the love in your life... no matter what that job is. There was nothing so concerning that Leo couldn't have handled it the next day, like Jenny said.

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[–] Sonatine97 8 years ago

Good points, and if you look at the bigger picture the same could be said for most of the senior staff, including perhaps, POTUS himself!

CJ - couldn't hold down a good relationship for more than a few months, and even with Danny in S7, she still was more focused on her job/career than a personal relationship. That is until Danny finally talked her down and made her see sense - that the job never ends (which is something Leo said to Josh just before the latter went off to join the Santos campaign in S6)

Charlie - had a hot and cold relationship with Zoey throughout most of the show.

Sam - was close to get married twice (at the bookends of the show), and was pulled away at the last minute to join senior staff. Thus putting the job fist over all else. And then of course he had a fling with Laurie, which turned into a disaster because he just couldn't mix a personal life with his particular job role.

Toby - Married and then divorced Andrea. And then tried to get back with her again in the mid-seasons of the show. But Andrea knew exactly what he was like and didn't want to go through all that pain and angst again. in this case both worked in politics and both had differing ideologies, that often got in the way of a personal life again.

Josh - Well we all know what a complete masochist he is with relationships. He seemed to spend 90% of his time locking horns and banging heads with Amy and Mandy, mostly over work-related issues. And I suspect the same would probably have happened with Donna sooner or later.

President Bartlet - Perhaps because he and Abbey had been married for so long that they were a little more tolerant of each other through the presidential years. But even so there quite a few occasions they would have full-blown arguments and fall-outs, usually over letting work matters overrule personal and health concerns. But they fought through it. Perhaps because Bartlet had MS and was very dependent on Abbey.

To sum up, all of the senior staff had big issues trying to hold down a stable relationship with the demands of work - especially working in the White House of all places.

“When is old news gonna be old news?”
― Arnold Vinick (The West Wing)

[–] McCartney42 8 years ago

Plus the fact that Leo was an alcoholic sure didn't help things. I guess she just got tired of being last in Leo's life. Just a thought mind you.

[–] Marshamae 8 years ago

I think the point was working at the White House meant everything else took a back seat. If it couldn't, as inJosh's PTSD, he would have to go because" I don't think that's a thing I can have" and there's no time off fir treatment.

Likewise Jenny, who might have enjoyed life as the wife of the Labour Secretary, but Leo's job kept ramping up, and there were some bouts of alcohol and substance abuse. She just wasn't prepared to wait 6 more years for him to rejoin her, or put her needs on the back burner, and I wasn't mad at her.

Jed and abbey had had a life together in school, in congress in tge state house . Lots of it wasn't so extremely pressured. Also Abbey was pursuing a high powered career of her own. With the decision to seek a second term, she knew that he would be a physical wreck, and she would be a care giver, but she grieved her way to acceptance.

Joshua and Donna, it seemed to me ,had a chance.8 more years in the White House was going to be tough, but like Jed and Abbey, they were both ambitious , and their jobs meshed.

Toby was probably incapable of intimacy, but once he left the White House and got some sleep, he probably was a decent , if overprotective father.

I think the one with a tough relationship call was Sam.

It was a toss-up whether I go in for diamonds or sing in the choir. The choir lost.

[–] cschear 8 years ago

There's also the thought that Jenny wasn't the love of his life.
I also think it's worth pointing out, that while no one had successful relationships while serving in the White House, excluding the President, the characters all took their jobs seriously and made it their number one priority. Not everyone needs a relationship. And not everyone should be in one either. But I think that's actually a fairly accurate portrayal of that kind of life. It's a job with a definite shelf life. Why wouldn't they put everything they have into it?