Veep took some big
turns in “South Carolina,” breaking from the approach of the first half of the
season and setting up the final push to the finale. Selina is no longer
sparring with Sen. James or wooing billionaire donors, she’s committing
election fraud and trying to stay two steps ahead of the allegations surrounding
her ex-husband Andrew and the Meyer Fund. By stepping up the stakes of what
Selina’s involved in, there’s less need for her to be stymied by foolish gaffes
and her team’s incompetence. She’s up against bigger players, so she can be
cannier while still being in over her head, and this smarter, more scheming version
of Selina is far more interesting.
Right from the jump, “Super Tuesday” crackles with Veep’s trademark, and recently lacking,
energy. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kevin Dunn, Gary Cole, and Tony Hale banter back
and forth, bringing the audience up to speed on Selina’s surging poll numbers
and precarious position in regards to Andrew. The first five minutes of the
episode are filled with great lines, from Ben’s crack about being able to run
for the House from prison to Selina’s insistence that Leon not use “WaPo” but, “call
it the Washington Post, like a non-asshole,” to Selina’s creative instruction
to Gary, about the remaining Chinese funds in the faith-based initiative fund: “Just
give it to one of those gay-converting Baptist colleges to fund a statue of a
gold-plated Jesus fucking a triceratops.” Wow is right, Gary. Not only is the
tight pacing and character specificity so expertly deployed in “Iowa”
back, the opening efficiently and entertainingly catches up the audience on
everything they need to know.
The episode only builds from there. As expected, Andy Daly
is terrific as the newly threatening, but still unsettlingly cheery Keith
Quinn—or is it Luther? Daly turns off Keith’s bubblier side to great effect
when the episode calls for it, but his giggly delivery when describing the
Chinese’s Facebook campaign in Texas is off-putting, to say the least. It would
seem the Keith viewers saw in the first part of the season isn’t entirely a façade,
but an aspect of his personality he can bring out as needed. The patient,
certain demeanor Daly adopts for Keith’s final scene with Selina is just as
effective, and the decision to let him be duped by Selina becoming emotionally
distraught only adds more layers to this character. Season seven has
under-delivered on several of its new and returning characters—Kemi and Michelle
come immediately to mind—but Keith is right up there with Emily Pentergast’s
Beth as the best additions of the season.
While the writers continue to mine the Trump campaign for
inspiration for Selina and Jonah, this episode connects them in a much more
powerful way. Both Selina and Jonah are sent spinning with tragic news. Selina
gets Andrew killed, throwing her for a loop and showing just how much it takes
to expose her humanity. Jonah finds out that his wife Beth is not his former
step-sister, but his half-sister; they share a father. As if that weren’t
enough, it’s likely Beth is pregnant. This is Shakespearean tragedy foisted
upon a malignant, narcissistic fool. It’s played for comedy, but not without
heart, as many of Jonah’s best storylines have been. The episode treats Jonah’s
mother Nancy with respect, and Nancy Lenehan’s resigned, weary performance is incredibly
affecting as she explains why she kept Jonah’s father’s identity a secret, and
her decision upon Jonah and Beth’s elopement. “I just decided not to think
about it. ‘Cause that’s the best solution sometimes.” There is no good solution
to Jonah’s discovery, and it’s hard to predict what comes next for Jonah and
Beth.
As for Selina, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is once again great
reacting to hard, unexpected loss. Her scenes both with Ben and Kent and later
Keith call to mind Louis-Dreyfus’ masterful performance in “Mother.”
Selina gets over her shock much more quickly this time, however. Her genuine
guilt and sorrow are tempered by news that the US Attorney and Washington Post
are closing down their investigations into Andrew and the Meyer Fund. Louis-Dreyfus
is always amazing, but she particularly shines when she can show off her range,
stripping back the layers of Selina’s snark and self-involvement to explore something
new.
The final and most intriguing corner of the episode is
Richard’s quick ascendance in Iowa politics. The writers clearly have an end
goal in mind for Richard, moving him out of both campaigns and catapulting him
to regional, then national prominence. Wherever he’s headed, the journey has
been delightful thus far and Richard stumbling into promotions through his honesty
and good intentions is an effective counterbalance to Jonah and Selina’s
desperate grasping for power. Dan’s inability to corrupt Richard, despite his
best attempts, is utterly charming, but it’s hard to imagine a version of this
show that ends with Richard or anyone else decent thriving in a position of
authority without becoming tainted by that power. If anyone can do it, though,
it’s Richard Splett. Only two episodes remain, and at this point, anything can happen. Maybe even a happy ending.
Photo: Colleen Hayes (HBO)Stray observations
- Very glad to have a new nickname for Jonah, Congressman Slender
Man. Congressman Furlong’s disappointment at having been beaten to the punch
with that one is a fun little moment. - A tip of the hat to David Pasquesi, who is as perfectly
smarmy as ever, sending Andrew off in fine form. Pasquesi and Louis-Dreyfus are
particularly strong together as Andrew and Selina scheme about who to pin Andrew’s
crimes on. The conversation between Selina, Marjorie, and Andrew that
culminates in Marjorie asking for Catherine’s hand is lovely, and one of the
funniest of the episode. - That being said, this isn’t my first rodeo: No body, no
confirmation of death. I will not be surprised if Andrew pops up later to
testify against Selina, having entered witness protection. - Welcome back, Lennon Parham! Karen is a fun and completely
ridiculous character, and I will happily take any little moment we can get with
her. - I loved Ben and Kent each assuming the other was the Chinese
mole. - The chyrons for the cable news clips are great. I
particularly enjoyed, “Congressman Ryan deviates from prepared remarks,” for
CNN. - Dutch Johnson does a lot with very little as Officer
Youngblood. I hope we get to see Youngblood and Marjorie together, talking shop
or even just connecting via reaction shots. - It’s hard to pick a favorite line or delivery this episode,
but I’ll go with Amy’s description of Selina as a, “miserable, poultry-necked
hag.” I have my issues with how the writers got Amy to here, but Anna Chlumsky nails
that moment.