A Show Everyone Needs to See at Least Once Is Finally Returning to Netflix

Since Netflix first became a streaming service, many shows have been given a second life after being licensed to the company. A perfect example of that is the fact that Netflix turned Schitt's Creek into one of the most talked-about shows in the world after it had previously flown under the radar.

Now, a show that originally aired elsewhere is set to return to Netflix after many years away. That is wonderful news since the show is widely regarded as a true classic. The much-celebrated drama returning to Netflix will give millions of people the opportunity to watch the show that should be watched by everyone at least once.

The West Wing Is Returning to Netflix After a 5-Year Absence

On December 9, 2025, The West Wing is set to become available to stream on Netflix in the United States. The show, which originally aired on NBC from September 22, 1999, to May 14, 2006, lasted for seven seasons that were made up of 154 episodes. The memorable series featured an all-star cast of actors like Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Rob Lowe, Moira Kelly, Bradley Whitford, Dulé Hill, Richard Schiff, and more.

When The West Wing becomes available to stream on Netflix again, it will mark almost exactly five years since the show was last available on the streaming service. As a December 2020 People article shows, The West Wingpreviously left Netflix on December 24, 2020.

The West Wing's return comes at a time not long after Netflix got headlines for referencing the classic series. During the third season of a current Netflix political thriller series called The Diplomat, the show featured a notable The West Wing reunion. The Diplomat brought Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford back together after he was cast as her onscreen husband on the series.

What Makes the West Wing a Show Everyone Needs To See at Least Once

Over the last two decades, many people have spoken about how the world has been in the midst of a golden age of television. Looking at how many fantastic shows have been produced over that time span, it is pretty easy to argue that the medium truly has been at an all-time high in terms of quality. After all, there are now so many high-quality shows being produced that no one can keep up with them all.

Instead of trying to see every current show that deserves praise, anyone who appreciates how effective television is as a storytelling medium should learn what led to its current success. One way to do that is by watching the television dramas from the 1990s and 2000s that paved the way for later series like Breaking Bad or The Pitt.

While people will have their own favorite shows from the era, there are four television dramas from the 1990s and 2000s that took serialized weekly storytelling to a new level. Those shows that everyone should watch at least once are ER, The West Wing, The Sopranos, and The Wire.

Anyone who might be tempted to question whether The West Wing is of the same caliber as those other shows needs to keep in mind how acclaimed the hit TV drama was. For example, the Television Academy's website states that The West Wingearned 96 nominations and 26 Emmy Awards. More importantly, Rotten Tomatoes' users have given The West Winga truly impressive 95% Popcornmeter score. Given that it can be difficult for older shows and movies to get good reviews from more modern viewers, that is an incredible achievement for the series.