Veep recovers from a couple of lesser episodes to once again knock one out of the park. Hmm, pun not intended. In this episode, Selina has been tasked by the President with heading up a task force on obesity. She’s hosting a kick-off event at Camden Yard as the episode begins and the episode really piles on the laughs and the awkwardness as Selina is forced to schmooze with people she doesn’t care for in service of a cause she clearly doesn’t give a **** about. Then comes a surprising revelation and I guess I’m going to spoil this one because it’s kind of necessary to talk about why this is a great episode.
SPOILER ALERT
Anyway, Selina’s possibly pregnant due to an irresponsible, drunken night of unprotected sex with her boyfriend. This plotline really goes in some unexpected and hilarious directions. The phone call where Selina informs her boyfriend is great, as is the extreme difficulties raised by trying to procure a pregnancy test. When it appears the media has gotten wind of the story, things reach a fever pitch of hysteria. The climax of the episode is absolutely phenomenal. Louis-Dreyfus has a wonderful dramatic moment that closes the episode and, unlike the previous dramatic moments the show has tried, this one lands perfectly. It’s, as so many of Louis-Dreyfus’ great moments in this show are, totally wordless, but the slow push-in on Selina’s face as an incredible range of emotions play across it is an astoundingly great moment. In short, the show has once again given us a no-doubt great episode of television. Highly recommended. 4 stars.
tl;dr – hilariously funny episode with some genuinely shocking plot twists and character revelations manages a perfect step into dramatic territory in the final moments. This is great television. 4 stars.