coalescent

Found on rec.arts.sf.fandom:

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"I had a sartori, awhile back, that the structure of a West Wing episode is very similar to a typical episode of the Justice League of America.

In the opening scenes, the superheros are each called away from their everyday routines by a new crisis. They gather together, exchange quips and information, and then each of them goes after his/her nemesis du jour. There is a hierarchy of powers among the various heros. Occasionally they team up in pairs or in groups of three to solve a problem.

While the junior superheros, Donna and Sam, deal with various procedural issues or conundrums, the others deal with more powerful Congressional supervillains. The heavyweights, Leo and Josiah, face the planetary (or continental) menaces. It is true that Sam or Charlie ("Snapper Carr") Young will occasionally save the day for the heavyweights by performing some brilliant Sherlock Holmesian feat of super-memory."

The original post is here, but contains what appears to be a spoiler for S3 of The West Wing.