The episode features Josiah Bartlet, the President of the United States, debating against his opponent in the upcoming presidential election, as well as Sam Seaborn meeting the new character of Will Bailey and Leo McGarry attempting to stop the shipment of arms to a terrorist group.
[1][2][3] The episode centers around preparing Josiah Bartlet for his sole debate against Robert Ritchie, the Governor of Florida and Republican nominee for president in the upcoming election.
During the debate, Ritchie answers a question on his tax plan simply by stating that "The American people know how to spend their money better than the federal government does."
Meanwhile, Sam Seaborn, the Deputy White House Communications Director, goes to California to meet with Will Bailey, who is managing the congressional campaign of the deceased Democrat Horton Wilde against a seven-term Republican incumbent.
Meanwhile, the Mastico, a ship in the Mediterranean Sea bound to the nation of Qumar, was stopped by the U.S. Navy on the suspicion that it was smuggling arms to a fictional terrorist group known as the Bahji.
"[1] Heisler also praises Bartlet's dismissal of the debate format, choosing to articulate his ideas before the American people rather than engage with Ritchie's ten word answers.
[1] He also poked fun at the opening scene, musing that "Bartlet has decided to spend his precious minutes leading to the debate fucking with Toby.
[2][3] Ben Travers, writing for IndieWire, briefly touched on "Game On" as part of a list of "15(ish) Episodes of ‘The West Wing’ To Binge View In Celebration of America", released in commemoration of Independence Day.
[4] In his review, Travers focused on Bartlet's relationship with his wife Abbey, commenting that the two "make quite the pair, both fitting a perfect mold created by Sorkin of opinionated, loving, and sly individuals joining together to better each other in ways both expected and unexpected.
Heisler proceeds to poke fun at their relationship, writing that "If love isn’t a crazy woman waving the tie she just slashed from your chest, then, well, I don’t know what it is.
"[1] Heisler compares Will Bailey to a "young Jed Bartlet", full of unflinching idealism and a willingness to "stand up for the person who didn’t even realize he needed to be stood up for, but is awfully glad someone did.
"[1] He further argues that Sam is at the bar with Will instead of celebrating with the White House senior staff, and volunteering to run in the special election, because he can recognize Bailey's merit as a campaign manager and person.