HBO's Veep is good again

[HorseTears]

I thought the present season of HBO's Veep was off to a shaky start with two perfectly fine, but not particularly memorable episodes, but last night's third episode, 'The Eagle' was absolutely brilliant.  Easily the funniest thing  I've seen in awhile.  Everything was firing on all cylinders as the half hour built to a frenzied third act.  This is when the show's at its best - when it seamlessly blends sharp, political satire with out-and-out farce.  It's one of the few 'smart' comedies that also makes me genuinely L-O-L.  

 

As for the rough start to the season, it might be explained by a change in creative leadership.  Armando Iannucci decided not to return for the fifth season, so that he could stay home in London with his family.  But the new showrunner is no slouch - David Mandel is an executive producer of Curb Your Enthusiasm.  

[east side story]

Veep is the best show on television, and features a stellar ensemble cast. However, I am not crazy about this fifth season. It lacks a certain punch that the past seasons had. I do think it is because of the change in showrunner. The scripts are still funny, and the cast continues to deliver, but it's just not knocking it out of the ballpark the way past seasons continually did. And this sounds strange, but even the switch in filming locations has altered the look and feel of Veep. This new season is the first shot on the West coast. 

[SmoothLover]

I like the show but sometimes I feel like the lines come out of the mouths of the writers and not the characters. People in general are not that quick witted. But I will always love Tony Hale. He can play that part until he croaks as far as I am concerned. Very Funny!!!

[Petralicious]

CVS not CBS! haha, haven't we all made similar mistake?

[SweetLips]

I want Madam Secretary to meet with Veep

[Call_me_jorge]

Aren't CBS and HBO like sister channels or somehow related through Make it happen please!

[HorseTears]

No, that's CBS and Showtime.  

[E.Davis]

Season keeps getting better and better.

[SmoothLover]

The funereal scene was very funny. Gary Cole looked like he was laughing...

[HorseTears]

Another great, eminently quotable episode.  They've definitely recovered from a slow start.  Love that they went so dark, too.  

[John Adams]

Selina: So where's my mother?
Sue: She’s down the hall, to the right. …and Andrew’s here.
Gary: What…?
Selina: What!?
Sue: At Catherine’s request. ...but I made sure he had nowhere to sit.
Selina: You are good people, Sue.

[Roscoe]

SmoothLover said: "I like the show but sometimes I feel like the lines come out of the mouths of the writers and not the characters. "

Yeah -- there've been a few too cleverly arcane references tossed around this year, more than once I've winced at the over-reaching.  

[HorseTears]

I understand ^that complaint, though I don't agree with it.  I think you either connect with a writer's sensibilities or you don't.  That same complaint could be lobbed at comedic works from Shakespeare to Wilde to Woody Allen to Tina Fey.  

[Roscoe]

Well, not so much a matter of not connecting with their sensibilities, more a matter of thinking that the writers, being mere humans after all, blow it on occasion.  For every wince-inducing bit of over-reaching there's been four or five moments where it just bloody well works like gangbusters.  Even Shakespeare, Wilde, Woody and Tina all stumble occasionally -- I still get them.

[HorseTears]

Sorry, I wasn't referring to variances in the quality of writing, simply to the criticism that "the lines [sound like they] come out of the mouths of the writers and not the characters".  

 

I was just observing that the same thing has been said about many comedic writers - including some of my favorites.  When I don't connect with the writer's sensibilities (say, with the dreadful Diablo Cody of 'Juno' fame), this 'writer voice' quality drives me up the wall.  But when I do connect with the writer's sensibilities (Shakespeare, Wilde, Allen, Fey etc.) then it doesn't seem to bother me in the least.  And that's not to say that any of those writers can't/couldn't write for individual characters.  Of course they could.  But they each have/had such distinctive voices, that their styles are almost instantly recognizable.  I think the same could be said of the Veep style of writing.  

[Hellob]

I hate that they aren't using Hugh Laurie more. He was a great addition. Hopefully, it's due to him filming the cable miniseries. I figure it would end up with the tie and him president and she's veep again. 

[Fantod]

Just watched this Sunday's episode and it might be one of the best of the series. Angry, demented, and downright hilarious, it reminds me of the very best episodes of the first season.

[Kad]

Selina's takedown of Senator Knickerson was positively glorious.

[SmoothLover]

HorseTears said: "Sorry, I wasn't referring to variances in the quality of writing, simply to the criticism that "the lines [sound like they] come out of the mouths of the writers and not the characters".  

 

I was just observing that the same thing has been said about many comedic writers - including some of my favorites.  When I don't connect with the writer's sensibilities (say, with the dreadful Diablo Cody of 'Juno' fame), this 'writer voice' quality drives me up the wall.  But when I do connect with the writer's sensibilities (Shakespeare, Wilde, Allen, Fey etc.) then it doesn't seem to bother me in the least.  And that's not to say that any of those writers can't/couldn't write for individual characters.  Of course they could.  But they each have/had such distinctive voices, that their styles are almost instantly recognizable.  I think the same could be said of the Veep style of writing.  

The observation I made was not in anyway a criticism of the writers. It is the job of the director and actors to inhabit the dialogue. It is acting and directing 101. If it is not achieved it becomes a distraction from the world that is being created. I appreciate the rapid fire satirical approach but the dialogue still needs to come out of the minds of the characters. Don't get me wrong, I love the show.

"

 

[Petralicious]

Jonah Ryan winning the election would not be so funny if it was not so close to truth!

[HorseTears]

Just caught up on last week's ep.  Oh LORD.  That was perhaps the second funniest of the season.  The misidentification of Selena and Catherine's relationship had me dying. 

[Fantod]

That was a harsh episode.

[E.Davis]

A very strong season, going to be interesting to see where they go from here. 

[SmoothLover]

Is there another season?

[Fantod]

^ yes

[SmoothLover]

Maybe there will be something to finding the missing votes....The whole thing with the daughter getting the glam makeover was very funny. The missing discs for her documentary were never recovered nor addressed which was a bit odd...........