Chris Addison

The election that has been looming all season finally arrives, leading to a strong season finale that goes in an unexpected direction and opens up a lot of possibilities for next season.

As Meyer deals with James’ popularity usurping hers, Dan deals with Amy making a better impression than him as a lobbyist, while Jonah deals with his physical similarity to Teddy’s other victims in another entertaining episode.

Meyer’s ascension to Presidency turns out to be more of a curse than a blessing as the show returns in fine form, playing on its strengths and remaining as funny as ever.

Showrunner Steven Moffat has stayed away from two-parters for a while, but as is traditional for Doctor Who, a new Doctor means a fresh start for the show and it’s only fitting that the Twelfth Doctor get the same two-parter blowout end-of-first-series as his predecessors. After a season of teases, Missy is revealed as the latest regeneration of the Master (Missy being a shortening of the Mistress) and she’s come to Earth to turn the entire population of the planet, current and former, into a massive army for the Doctor, so they can be buddies in universal domination. As far as plans go, it makes sense for the Master, even if it is a bit disappointing. Michelle Gomez is fun in the role, particularly in “Death in Heaven*,” but seeing the Master reduced to an agent of chaos, rather than someone with a particular agenda or motivation all their own, feels more appropriate for a mid-season romp than a season-ending two-parter.

As Meyer’s presidential campaign suffers setbacks, her political career receives an unexpected boost, leading to varying reactions from her staff in a strong finish to the season.

Certain characters undergo major shakeups as the third season of Veep sets off a new path for Selina Meyer and her staff, in a hilarious episode.

Veep, Season 2, Episode 4: “The Vic Allen Dinner” Written by Simon Blackwell and Armando Iannucci Directed by Chris Addison Airs Sundays at 10pm (ET) on HBO Numerous politicians over the course of history have seen their credibility get lost in the blink of an eye, with a single off-handed statement, or an unfortunate picture, …

Speeches are a key part of any politician’s career. A good speech can immortalise a politician, while a bad one can weigh down the rest of their career like an anchor. The amount of time politicians and their staff spend on the specific wording of any given speech, and the message it conveys, thus makes sense in this context, but nonetheless remains an absurd exercise, and it is this aspect of politics that Veep tackles this week, in an episode that displays the human side of Selina Meyer while turning the spotlight on the one-upmanship politicians play with civilian lives.

Veep, Season 2, Episode 2: “Signals” Written by Simon Blackwell and Armando Iannucci Directed by Chris Addison Airs Sundays at 10pm (ET) on HBO One of the major concerns with Selina Meyer in the first season was how her position affected her personal life. Her inability to even have a fight with her partner without …