Veep: The Complete Fifth Season

The fifth season of the Emmy-winning political comedy begins with President Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus)—the comically ineffectual and self-defeating Vice President who was elevated to the Oval Office after the prez's resignation—facing a tie in the Electoral College in the Presidential election, contesting a recount in a close state tally, and rallying support in Congress when the election is thrown to the Senate. Created by British satirist Armando Iannucci, Veep is a savage satire of American politics that serves up a hilarious portrait of political dysfunction and the people who feed the chaos. David Mandel takes over as showrunner this season and makes Selina even more mercenary and self-involved as she deals with the death of her mother and the attempts made by her daughter (Sarah Sutherland) to repair their own relationship. One of Selina's only redeeming features is her loyalty to Amy (Anna Chlumsky), her longtime political aide. While there is nothing inspirational about this shallow politician whose drive for office is guided only by ego and power, Emmy-winner Louis-Dreyfus makes her a riveting political monster. But the show's real strength lies in its ensemble cast, who exhibit an easy, improvisational quality that makes everything look like it's been captured by a stray documentary camera. Season five makes no direct references to the current political circus (it ran during the 2016 election campaign), but it is one of the few running political satires able to provide surprises that at least approach the craziness of the current reality we live in. Presenting all 10 episodes from the 2016 fifth season, extras include select episode commentaries and deleted scenes. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)