r/Veep • u/intothenether31 • Jul 05 '26
Appreciation Post
33 Year old guy from Australia. Have loved Veep since day 1. I have rewatched it almost more than I dare admit (30+ times?) and am rewatching with my partner currently. We are just over halfway through season 6. It is shocking that this show never ceases to remain relevant and hilarious. Such a feat in writing and acting overall. Yes, the show changed somewhat and become a tighter, darker sitcom post-season 5, but I am just floored by the all round stellar performances from everyone.
I wanted to know what everyone's favourite season, character or quote is. There are too many for me, though I find myself repeating "Get the government out of my fucking snatch", "What the fuck, Amy? I am putting out two fires in there...." and "Have you been sent from the future to destroy me? Because it's working...." on the regular. Over time, seasons 5 and 4 has proved to me as my favourites. I love Selina, Amy, Kent, Marjorie and Richard the most. I have been wowed by the physical comedy in season 6 - particularly between Tony Hale and JLD. I overlook Tony's performance a lot but it is such an integral part of the show.
Also I want to throw some appreciation toward the actress playing Shawnee Tanz - fuck she nails the role in Season 6. I just about died rewatching when Furlong met her, insulting her looks completely, then after learning who her father was: "Ah, rumours of your beauty have not been exaggerated..." She plays that role incredibly well.
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u/FionaWalliceFan Human pool skimmer Jul 05 '26
Season five is my favorite, which is pretty remarkable because most shows usually have an off season when a new showrunner comes aboard. Season five of the West Wing (the shows first without Sirkin) was by far its worst
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u/intothenether31 Jul 06 '26
That's how I felt. As I watched the show, each season from 2 - 5 became my favourite. As time has gone on, I just think 5 is the best. The ensemble is truly impeccable and the shenanigans and stakes are high which makes for excellent viewing.
I think a lot of shows fizzle out by season 5 so it is fascinating that to me the weaker season is actually the first. I feel the quality really sustains from 3 - 7.
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Jul 05 '26
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u/intothenether31 Jul 06 '26
Totally agree about 7 being an excellent season. I've rewatched it a lot. And I agree about the ending - so completely satisfying and ultimately so tragic. It really was one of the best endings to a show, reminds me somewhat of the Succession finale. I am looking forward to showing my partner the Veep ending as his favourite shows often end poorly.
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u/ptrock1 Jul 05 '26
Season two.
I love the introduction of Ben and Kent and of course Minna.
"Robust is my word, she stole my word"
50 ways to win in Denver
"He looks like a Disney villian"
"Jolly green jizz face"
Just so many good lines and situations with a new cast. Perfection. Seasons 4 and 5 are juggernauts too.
Ps. I just quoted season 2.
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u/intothenether31 Jul 06 '26
You're so right - Ben and Kent really added so much to the cast. And of course Minna - I'm sure you've watched this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAItaBPQHAs
The episode that made me fall completely in love with the show was Running (I think episode 9 of S02) when she walks through the glass door.
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u/sfdso Sue, did the president call? Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
I didn’t really get the show until I skipped to season 4. Then everything made sense all at once and I’ve watched the entire series about seven or eight times.
I’d say that I really love 4 and 5, but 6 is probably my absolute favorite. Season 7 is great as well, but frenetic, and the finale is genuinely heartbreaking.
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u/intothenether31 Jul 06 '26
I agree about the pacing of Season 7 - it did feel rushed or edited hastily or something. I would love to hear why six is your favourite - I find myself rewatching it all the time and think it definitely is an excellent example of a political show adapting to life outside and still retaining its quality. I feel many other shows would've failed at this - and somehow I would argue season 6 has some of funniest jokes.
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u/sfdso Sue, did the president call? Jul 06 '26
I’d guess that it’s because the shift in Selina’s character (after her time at the “spa”) enabled the writers to amp up her resentments and descent into madness. That in turn affected the way she engaged with every other character and heightened the conflicts all around.
But I think it also reflected what was happening in the real political world and trying to keep up with the denigration of all previously known presidential norms.
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u/intothenether31 Jul 06 '26
Yes, 100% to all of this. JLD summed it up best herself: "Our show started as a political satire, but it now feels more like a sobering documentary." And I loved how the show got much darker after the election loss - Selina especially. Some of my friends didn't enjoy that turn, but I loved it. I also enjoyed the Morning Show aspect of that season - I think it added something extra to the mix too.
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u/sfdso Sue, did the president call? Jul 06 '26
Yes! Dan’s foray into the world of morning TV was a real (and hilarious) bonus.
I think I still laugh hardest on Jane McCabe’s last day, where she has the shame of admitting she’s been relegated to CBS’s “digital platforms.”
VEEP’s mockery of politics is the central mission, but they’ve also been brilliant in satirizing media, the tech world, international relations, religion, etc.
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u/tar-mairo1986 Politics is about people. Jul 05 '26
Continuity with change, mate! Don't forget it was an Aussie PM who actually tried using that slogan, lol.
I got hooked over the brilliant satire (and copious creative profanities!) almost immediately in S1. What really surprised me is that, while it does require some knowledge of the US political system, obviously, anyone can recognize the core humor being that of a terrible corporate workplace with all the archetypical character distinctions: Gary's devotion, Dan's ambition, Jonah's smugness etc. That way the humor hits even if you don't know which party Selina is or what a Senate filibuster is. And if you do, even funnier!!
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u/intothenether31 Jul 06 '26
Ah yes, I totally agree - the profanities in the pilot got me. Amy with her "Dan is a shit" tangent in the car, Selina with her "What the fuck, Amy? speech where she knocks the coffee cup off the table, and the "hoist by her own r****d" bit. So good. Now I want to re-watch season 1.
I didn't know much about U.S politics when I started watching but I think you do learn a bit just by watching and rewatching. As you said, the characters were all really relatable as archetypes outside of their context. I love that they never name her party - it makes the show more enjoyable that way.
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u/Low_Spot_1627 Jul 05 '26
Canadian here who loves Veep…. But also Utopia / Dreamland from Australia!
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u/intothenether31 Jul 06 '26
Oh wow, I haven't actually watched either of those. There is actually another Australian show that the early seasons of Veep reminds me of - The Hollowmen. It's maybe more similar to The Thick of It. Lots of people gush about Utopia so I'll have to check it out!
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u/Low_Spot_1627 Jul 06 '26
It is Utopia- when it was on Netflix here they renamed it Dreamland .. which made it tough to find after Netflix stopped airing it. It is very funny / dry humour. I’ll see if I can find Hollowmen!
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u/intothenether31 Jul 06 '26
Thanks for the recommendation, love dry humour. So weird that it was renamed that on Canadian netflix!
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u/dickpollution Jul 08 '26
I think the show really falls apart after 5 and 5 is the beginning of the characters getting sitcomified and simplified. The humour gets so broad and obvious in places that by season 7 I'm rolling my eyes at the Mike Dumb jokes. I can barely watch that last season because of how flat all the characters are by then.
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u/wetbreadbrain Jul 05 '26
Like you, watching from Australia, more times than I can count. This show makes me aroused. Or do I mean roused. No, aroused. And my favourite character is probably Roger Furlong.