Will Bailey

Will Bailey arrives on The West Wing as a sharp, underemployed political consultant running the campaign of a congressman who dies partway through the race. Idealistic but pragmatic, he writes a eulogy for his former boss out of duty, catches the attention of the Bartlet White House, and finds himself pulled into its orbit almost by accident.

Malina plays Will with a wry, unshowy competence that never tips into arrogance, which makes him a natural fit for a show obsessed with the craft of speechwriting and argument. He's introduced as an outsider, which lets the series re-examine its own institution through fresh eyes, and Malina's dry timing keeps him distinct from the staffers already there.