Why is Veep a Benchmark in Political Satire?

While people were hyped up for Game Of Thrones and Avengers: Endgame in the months of April and May, there was one TV show which discretely ended after seven years.

While people were hyped up for Game Of Thrones and Avengers: Endgame in the months of April and May, there was one TV show which discretely ended after seven years. Veep has been regarded as the best political satire in recent years. It follows the rise and fall of fictional Vice President of America Selina Meyer. Here are some factors which set it apart from other political shows of recent times.

The Epic One-Liners and Insults

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs0dDiCuezw&t=26s

“What are you laughing at, Jolly Green Jizzface” -Selina to Jonah

Veep beats all shows when it comes to one-liners and insults. Every episode has one-liners which cause you to roll on the floor and laugh. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky and Peter MacNicol deliver the best insults. The one-liners were comparable to the ones that Chandler delivers in Friends.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Fourteen years after her role as Elaine Benes in Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus was able to pull off the role of a foul-mouthed, hypocritical and heartless politician in Washington DC. The result- she won an Emmy for every season of Veep. She meticulously portrayed a power-hungry individual who clearly hates losing.

Consistency of Seasons

All the seasons were at par with each other in terms of plot and acting (except perhaps the sixth season). The same cannot be said for House Of Cards, another political drama. Its quality dipped after the first three seasons. Another prominent example is T_he Big Bang Theory_, where extending the show to twelve seasons was deemed unnecessary. The various sub-plots are also hilarious in their own way.

The Perfect Ending

Sitcoms have often been criticized for having unsatisfactory endings. Fortunately, Veep entertains us till the very end (even when the credits start rolling). It turns out that Selina was one of the most ineffective Presidents in history. She has no legacy and dies alone. Her quest for power led to her isolation from her family and friends.

The Influence of Present Day Politics

It was always interesting to know how the writers framed the plot with respect to the current political atmosphere. The seventh season focused on how the Chinese try to rig the American elections and succeed. It is quite similar to how Russia is said to have influenced the 2016 Presidential elections. Subplots about the Middle East nations also played an important role in the earlier seasons. The show has been brilliant on its take on the current political scenario.

All seven seasons will air on Star World (India) from 3rd June at 11 PM.

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