The Bradley Whitford Gem You Missed During the Game of Thrones Craze Returns to Netflix
Decades after its first run, The West Wing is back: the Emmy-winning political drama has returned to Netflix US four years after its 2020 exit, inviting a fresh binge of the Bradley Whitford–led NBC classic that ran from 1999 to 2006.
Well, look who just strolled back into the room. After years of bouncing between platforms, 'The West Wing' is officially streaming on Netflix in the US again. If you never got around to it the first time or you want a rewatch without hunting for discs, this is your moment.
Where to watch it right now
Netflix confirmed on December 10, 2025 that every episode is live in the US. That caps a very 2025 kind of saga: the show briefly vanished from Max (formerly HBO Max) in early January as part of a cost-cutting sweep, then got put back on January 8. Now it is also re-licensed to Netflix. Considering it left Netflix back in 2020, the return is a bit of a plot twist.
Why this comeback matters
Even with fresher, louder genre hits hogging the spotlight, 'The West Wing' still sits near the top of the political-drama hill. The NBC series ran from 1999 to 2006, and yes, the Bradley Whitford-led ensemble more than earned its prestige reputation. It nabbed Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys four years straight from 2000 to 2003, tying that streak with 'Hill Street Blues', 'L.A. Law', 'Mad Men', and 'Game of Thrones'. For a while it was also tied with 'Hill Street Blues' for the most total Emmy wins by a drama at 26, until 'Game of Thrones' blew past it in 2016 with 38.
The Rob Lowe chapter, explained
Rob Lowe played deputy communications director Sam Seaborn for a little over four seasons before leaving at the height of the show. He has been open about why. On the 'Podcrushed' podcast in 2023, he described his experience as unhealthy, comparing it to sticking around a bad situation at work where people undercut you or don’t value you. He did pop back in for the final season and later the HBO reunion special, but he’s been clear about why he walked.
'It was a super unhealthy relationship... Leaving felt like walking away from the most popular girl at school.'
He said it was the right move for his own well-being and the example he wanted to set for his kids.
What John Wells is cooking next
While 'The West Wing' finds new life on Netflix, longtime showrunner John Wells is building something new there, too. He’s executive producing a political drama called 'The Aisle', written by Phoebe Fisher. The hook: a younger wave of D.C. staffers navigating career hunger, messy workplace dynamics, and the way governance actually shifts under their feet. If that sounds like a modern cousin to the classic walk-and-talk world, that’s the idea.
- Series: The West Wing (7 seasons)
- Original run: NBC, 1999–2006
- Now streaming: All episodes on Netflix US (as of Dec 10, 2025); restored to Max on Jan 8, 2025 after a brief removal
- Key talent: Created by Aaron Sorkin; showrunner/EP John Wells
- Production: John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television
- Awards snapshot: Outstanding Drama Series winner 2000–2003 (tie for the four-in-a-row record); 26 total Emmy wins (once tied for most until Game of Thrones hit 38 in 2016)
- Scores: IMDb 8.9/10; Rotten Tomatoes 81%
So, should you dive back in?
If you skipped it because everybody wouldn’t stop talking about 'Game of Thrones' for a decade, this is your second chance. And if you’re already a fan, you now have a slick, easy rewatch lined up — plus a new Wells project on the horizon that might scratch a familiar itch.
What do you want from 'The Aisle'? More idealism, more mess, or both?
'The West Wing' is streaming now on Netflix US.