What I’m Watching: Veep

Veep: Season 2, Episode 4 “The Vic Allen Dinner” (B+)

It was no surprise that Selina’s big number ultimately imploded, but what was much more unexpected was the fact that it actually went over well at first. It’s a rare thing that Selina gets a win, and, with her new rivalry with Kent, she’s way too preoccupied with trying to outbox him that she’s not really thinking clearly. Fortunately, she has Amy, who, despite some discouraging words of judgment from Sue, knows what’s going on, and had enough sense to tell her that she needed to see what Sue wanted to stay and to take Gary to a meal to show her appreciation for all that he does for her. I thought she was going to strangle Dana, and it turned out to be just one contained explosion that won’t serve to ruin Selina’s relationship with Gary since even he saw that she was pushing Selina’s buttons. I loved that the picture of Selina texting became a meme, and that Jonah pitched great ideas on how to publicize it, only to discover that it was his fault it had remained popular. Her outburst and ousting of him from Air Force Two was pretty fantastic, and I like that he had to try to return the car he had purchased specifically because he got access to the parking garage. Mike being loaned out to Kent was miserable for him, though I think that was partially because Kent tried to give him too much responsibility. From the Armando Iannucci cinematic universe, I was excited to see David Rasche, who was one of the key players in “In the Loop,” as Jim Marwood in this episode.