Selina’s swan song
Veep is back with its seventh and final season. REBECCA BALLOCH takes a look at what to expect from the critically acclaimed comedy’s final stint in the office.
For a satire about a fictional US Vice-President (and President), Veep, the brilliant, awardwinning series starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, has a track record of somewhat predicting the future.
Fans of the series, here and worldwide, cackled in horrified disbelief when then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull adopted the rather unfortunate slogan “continuity and change” in 2016.
Besides the fact people struggled to understand its meaning, it was obvious no one in Australian inner political circles had had the pleasure of watching Veep: the line was comically similar to the phrase the incompetent Selina Meyer (LouisDreyfus) used to spearhead her campaign in season four, “continuity with change”.
Now as the much-loved and memed series gears up for its seventh and final season, the American political landscape has become very “Veepy”, for want of a better word.
Parallels can be drawn be
tween Selina’s inept behaviour as she grapples for power and US President Trump’s unpredictable, arrogant conduct. One can (almost) imagine Trump telling one of his publicity managers Selina’s line, “I need you to have … make me unsaid it”, after one of his typo-ridden Twitter rants.
As season seven was being crafted, showrunner David Mandel – who has also worked on Seinfeld and Curb
Your Enthusiasm – touched on Trump’s controversial presidency.
“The hope is that we can find things to mine out of this horrible situation and make fun of,” he said.
Whatever materialises in this farewell season, which will consist of a shorter run of seven episodes, it’s going to be a bittersweet goodbye.
Season six ended with Selina out of the political game after a crushing loss, but Mandel reveals she’s “unable to live a civilian life and thinking about running again” in the new episodes.
Fans can get sÏet for more eye-rolling and shady political manoeuvring as Gary (Tony Hale), Mike (Matt Walsh), and Amy (Anna Chlumsky) reluctantly get back on the campaign trail for their ego-driven boss.
“The funniest thing about how people respond to our show is as horrible as she (Selina) is – and maybe part of this is because of how much they love Julia – they still want her to be President,” Mandel said. “I used to think that was crazy. The good news is, based on the last year, she would make an excellent President now.”
While fans might find themselves shedding tears at the thought of losing one of the sharpest and funniest shows of the decade, spare a thought for Louis-Dreyfus, who was “overcome with joy and grief – a joy and grief mash-up – as this show ended”.
As for how it all wraps up, one can guess that it won’t conclude in a blaze of glory for the errant protagonist.
“She’s as true to herself as she can possibly be by the time this season ends. But I’m not sure that evolution is her game. Where the show ends up ultimately is a place I’m very happy about,” Louis-Dreyfus revealed.
“I think it’s the right ending for America,” Mandel cryptically added.
Mandel: “The funniest thing about how people respond to our show is as horrible as she (Selina) is – and maybe part of this is because of how much they love Julia – they still want her to be President.”