Veep Season 2 – Episode 9 Review

Running can be hard work. There’s all the blood, sweat and tears that go into it. And the money. No one ever thinks about the money before the effort that’s needed. To be the best usually knocks people down before they’ve even started. You need help from others, to lift you up when you get knocked down, to keep others off your back and finally to reap the benefits of what you sow when they come round the big house asking for money.

And yes, that’s all a double meaning, just like the title of this week’s Veep episode: ‘Running’.

Selina Meyer has seemingly forever been under the cosh thanks to the current President, and it looks like through lines and long running plot set ups are coming to a head. But then Selina Meyer walks through a glass door. It’s a little strange that something as insignificant as a door can so thoroughly change the political climate.

What is in store this week is less debates on political change and butterfly effects altering history though, and more about fully seeing Selina Meyer lose her mind and drop lower than she ever has by contemplating quitting.

Despite the earlier sarcasm, the running race is a solid metaphor for the situation. Politicos all running to catch up to one another, all with a mixed message to pass along. Or flat out trying to beat each other any way they can, and look good while doing it. Meanwhile Selina’s beaten by a banana and Gary’s stuck at the back.

It’s all for the funnies this week. Selina high on pain medication, buying Mike’s boat and Jonah breaking his brain. Jonah has always been hilarious but somehow his portrayal by Timothy Simons gets funnier with every passing week. There isn’t a weak character in the bunch. It’s only tough when it comes to picking a favourite, despite some of the more showy performances in view. While some characters aren’t as well served (Amy’s relationship with Ed could be given more time instead of passing comments), it’s hard fitting everyone in when they have less than half an hour.

An amusing appearance by the stereotypical Japanese news CGI at the end typifies what the series has been about. An idiot leading other fools to hopefully take over the world in the not too distant future. Let’s hope the finale and the next series (which isn’t too far in the distant future) keeps increasing in quality to make Veep one of the best comedies ever made.

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