Its like Christmas, but happy.
Here is our review of Veep Season 4 episode 5.
The episode opens with the presidents daughter Catherine (Sarah Sutherland) being groomed to introduce her future groom.
The show incisively slices and dices how the media treats political families and how they are treated in return.
If you dont remember, Catherine hasnt been polling well, shes not likeable.
Sutherland caps it all off with a pause.
Its not the right line, its a lame line and she knows it.
Catherine hates herself for having to say it and of course we hate her for saying it.
But we love that Sutherlands eyes stuttered.
Its hard to replace Steve Martin, but not his boring older brother.
Vice President Doyle wants to get out of Dodge to dodge a political bullet.
He wants to get out on principle, but his office has been hiding a scandal.
His man Teddy has been fondling Jonahs balls like he wants to find out what the prize inside is.
Ben Caffrey (Kevin Dunn) handles the dirty work with an amiable fuck off Im busy attitude.
Hes the axe man, the fixer and where the buckshot stalls before it hits the president.
Mike McLintock (Matt Walsh) reminded me of Louis C.K.
I was glad to see Sue (Sufe Bradshaw) bring on her elated face.
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Kent Davison (Gary Cole) finally became Mr. Spock.
Hes been hinting at it, with his nonpartisan good looks and indifferent demeanor.
Jonah admitted he wanted to punch Davison right in his neutral face.
Even after hearing the Chungmania story dozens of times, it never stops being funny.
Not as funny as his military training, which is funnier than Maddoxs hamburger joke.
Convention introduces Tom James (Hugh Laurie), the perfect politician.
Hes so cool he shits ice cubes and pisses snowflakes.
His professional glad-handing and polished demeanor will obviously cover a deep-seated insubordination.
Its fun watching Dan squirm as he takes coffee orders but its more fun when they all squirm.
Scott and Simons have been building a strong toxic chemistry.
They are now finely unpolished swords as they duel on a sinking ship shedding rats.
I know I said last week was Amys episode, but she was just warming up.
Amy Brookheimer (Anna Chlumsky) has been simmering for weeks, if you dont count last season.
Her eyes glisten and her facial tics play like percolating coffee.
She survived the shit storm that is Dan.
All of these were worthy foes.
She takes no side until after it has already been decided.
But as a nothing, she is unbearable.
When Amy blows up it is magic.
Chlumskys entire physical presence is stunted.
Her limbs and digits are doing independent dances on their own.
Her eyes are wide enough to land aircraft on.
She has that mad Carries mother in the Stephen King book look.
Shes gone around the bend, lost her marbles and found clarity.
She has bitten her tongue so long, it looks like a dogs cushion.
President Meyer has two controls: no decision and bad decision.
She shouldnt be allowed to run a bath without the coast guard and the fire department standing by.
Louis-Dreyfus is so good she doesnt have to deliver the punch lines themselves.
But she still owns them.
She calls dibs by sucking on the inside of her mouth before you even know its a setup.
It was relentlessly funny.
Convention was directed by Stephanie Laing.
Story by Armando Iannucci, Sean Gray and David Quantick.
Teleplay by Sean Gray and David Quantick.
Rating:
5 out of 5
