Vote for Veep

Freedom fans, you’re going to love Vice President Selina Meyer.

Need a break from real-life US politics? It’s time to get into HBO show Veep (2012-current; Seasons 1 to 7 are available on Showmax).

It’s a show about incompetent, egotistical, high-ranking United States political insiders who don’t read their briefings, can barely cover their contempt for voters, and create widespread panic with “candid” tweets and public statements.

It’s about people who, ultimately, will say whatever it takes to get into a position of power, no matter how it contradicts their previous positions or party politics.

According to series creator Armando Iannucci, Veep is a satire and not a documentary (in case you’re wondering) and our vote for the best role goes to Vice President Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who’s now won seven Emmy Awards for her work as Lead Actress and Producer on the series). And with these crazy characteristics, what’s not to love about politically improper Selina?

Getting to know the little people

No one understands the US voter like Selina. She demonstrates her wisdom in season 1, episode 3 (2012), when she tells her staff, “I’ve met some people, okay, real people. And I gotta tell you: a lot of them are [beep] idiots.” And in season 3, episode 7 (2014), she declares, “Fat people don’t even vote. They can’t even be bothered to get out of the house!”

Power and grace

She’s no Second-Place-Selina. Arrogant, entitled Selina knows what’s due to her as Vice President. In season 1, episode 4 (2012), she instructs her staff through gritted teeth, “I’m the Vice President of the United States, you stupid little [beep]s! These people should be begging me! That door should be half its height so that people can only approach me in my office on their [beep] knees!”

The affectionate nicknames

In season 1, episode 5 (2012), Selina’s team report back to her on what she’s being called behind her back and in the press. May we present “Meyer the Liar”, “The Wicked Witch of the West Wing”, “Tawdry Hepburn”, “Blunder Woman”, “Grizzly Madam”, “VoldeMeyer”, “Selina Meh”… and you can add your own! In season 2, episode 5 (2013), she even gets called the “Khaleesi From DC”. Nice!

Transparency

In season 1, episode 7 (2012), Selena goes public with all her email correspondence.

Well, not quite all – there are a certain number of things that will be shredded. But she’s determined to let a little embarrassing stuff “slip” through so it looks authentic, and it appears that she has nothing to hide. We wonder if that would really work …

The internet loves her

In season 2, episode 4 (2013), Selina storms the internet when a photo of her giving her phone an unimpressed look – while obviously not paying attention during the previous episode’s hostage crisis – becomes a meme. Her response with a political parody song makes her an even bigger name online. Selina is a gift to the internet and a quick real-life search will reap loads of rewards for Veep fans.

Selina’s sympathy

In season 3, episode 9 (2014), Selina and her “bag man” Gary (Tony Hale) get some astonishing good news. When Gary gets excited, his nose bleeds, so they’re stuck in the bathroom laughing and panicking giddily as Selina goes through his briefcase looking for tissues and questioning him about its weird contents. It’s a perfect, intimate, absurd moment of celebration between Selina and someone she normally treats like a dirty human trash can.

It’s real adult entertainment

Alas, there’s so much more we can’t tell you about what goes on behind closed doors in Veep because it is very, very rude.

Half of Veep’s creative energy goes into what Selina and her staff call one another. Delightfully awful things are said about innocent roast pigs, Bigfoot and people’s moms – and all those insults that you know politicians are longing to lob at one another while they’re being so icily polite and dull in public are hurled while aggressive and humorous lewd gestures are made.

So go on – treat yourself.

Seasons 1-7 of Veep are now on Showmax.

Watch now »