Sally Phillips, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Veep, Season 3, Episode 06: “Detroit”
Teleplay by Kevin Cecil, David Quantick, and Andy Riley, Story by Armando Iannucci, Kevin Cecil, David Quantick, and Andy Riley
Directed by Tim Kirkby
Airs Sundays at 10:30pm (ET) on HBO
It was inevitable that Meyer’s newest campaign for the US Presidency would run into some hot button issues, whether she liked it or not. The team has already faced prior crises related to this, whether they be public ones like the abortion stance, or private ones like Meyer’s childcare support. However, with the roles in the unit now more clearly defined, this week’s episode throws multiple problems at Meyer and her staff in a short period of time, resulting in an entertaining episode that further reinforces that the campaign will not be an easy one.
Watching Meyer’s campaign this week is an intriguing look into how the team handles crises, especially when multiple issues arise at the same time. While the abortion issue gave the campaign their first taste of how to deal with a hot-button issue, that was before the campaign had formally kicked off, and before Meyer had an official campaign manager. It will be worth keeping an eye on how Dan and the rest of the team continue to handle crises as the campaign rolls on, particularly as it gets closer to election day and their opponents get more vicious. The fact that the group is outsmarted this week by Jonah is not a positive sign, as both candidate Chung and campaign manager Ericsson have shown themselves to be shrewder individuals, which means the fight will only get more difficult.
The evolving relationship between Meyer and her daughter also makes for a fascinating look this week. Their interactions throughout the course of the series have indicated that Catherine has more affection for her mother than the latter may have for her daughter, and Catherine’s violent reaction to the protestor only serves to reinforce that. However, being in the same limelight as Selina is something the younger Meyer has previously expressed a disliking to, and the media and public reaction to her punch this week do a great job of illustrating why. As the campaign continues, Catherine will be worth keeping an eye on. Unlike everyone else on Meyer’s team, Catherine doesn’t stand to gain anything from her mother becoming President, which means she is the only one working for only altruistic reasons. Thus, how much her patience is tested, and how she reacts when it finally snaps, will be worth keeping an eye on.
Overall, this is another strong episode. It’s great to see Sally Phillips return as the Finnish now ex-Prime Minister, and the character once again proves to be a hidden comedic strength for the show. Hopefully this is not the last appearance of her or her husband. Christopher Meloni likewise makes for a fun addition to the ensemble. It’s fascinating to note how much more relaxed Dan appears after his appointment to campaign manager, and how his stress appears to have been transferred on to Amy. Andrew joining the team alongside Selina opens the possibility of a fun to watch dynamic, and it will be worth keeping an eye on proceedings to see how that plays out. With Amy’s stress being released by Ray this week, and Gary’s shoulder seemingly healed, where the stress manages to lodge itself next, and how it wreaks havoc on the team, will be worth keeping an eye on as the season continues.
– Deepayan Sengupta