Veep: Season 4 [DVD] [2015] [2016]

Armando Iannucci’s scathing satire of American politics continues into its fourth season, combining the snappy dialogue of the West Wing with the brutal irreverence of the Thick Of It and the Machiavellian machinations of House of Cards. After the unexpected resignation of the president with less than a year remaining of his term VP Selina Mayer stumbles into the Oval Office with her hilariously incompetent staff and finds that being the first female POTUS is somewhat taxing, to say the least. Not only has she to deal with Presidential matters such as freeing an American reporter jailed in Iran and a major data-breach scandal Selina also has the more important task of winning her Party’s nomination for the impending Presidential election. Joining the show is the splendid Hugh Laurie, whose character exudes a charismatic urbane, confident demeanour which contrasts markedly with Selina and her staff, suggesting a potentially intriguing future narrative. Although this season sees a reduction in the quantity of profanities uttered the quality of political satire has definitely increased as the scope of the target area has expanded to include lobbyists and the 24-hour news media, while the marvellous ensemble cast of Selina’s entourage continue to delight with their infighting and desperate attempts to cling onto their roles as they try their upmost to put out fires which are mostly of their own making. This series is not only tremendous fun but also incisively accurate. I am really looking forward to watching Season 5.

The script is as ascerbic as ever and the behaviour even more appalling if that is possible. The entire cast is excellent as always, somehow managing to balance bitterness with pathos. Julia Louis-Dreyfus still owns the show but Hugh Laurie is a marvelous addition as her annoyingly lovely running mate. The storyline about male on male sexual harrassment walks a fine line between comedy and a surprising smidgen of drama.

Sharp, witty and funny. Well written and acted throughout. Unfortunately it doesn't portray either the President or Vice President of the US as being great jobs to aspire to. Great ideas, grand plans, wonderful ideals etc, all having to be ditched or compromised as soon as they are confronted by Congress. There has to be a 5th season ........ please?

Watchable over and over again

Amusing in formulaic way

No sign of the tiredness that besets many long-running series. All the characters are well-developed individuals but (apologies to the rest of the cast) Julia Louis-Dreyfus is outstanding. Pity she's not running for the real presidency.

I love this TV show of Veep

Hilarious. As funny as the previous three seasons. Like the wonderful love-child of Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Thick of It.

Veep est sans doute ma série comique préférée de ces dernières années (oui, même devant Modern Family). Julias Louis-Dreyfus est formidable et le reste du casting n'est pas en reste. Des personnages bien campés à l'alchimie parfaite. Le ton est impertinent, plein de références variées. Une excellente satire politique.