Ranking the 7 Seasons of Veep from Worst to Best

Article Overview

Veep Season 6 lacks the compelling plot and jeopardy of other seasons, focusing on Selina's attempts to regain relevance.

Veep Season 1 displays Julia Louis-Dreyfus's natural charm, yet falls short in terms of impactful characters.

In Veep Season 2, the show fulfills its premise of the Vice Presidency and introduces memorable supporting characters, laying the foundation for significant plot advancements.

Armando Iannucci's D.C. satire Veep captivated audiences with its incredible cast and hilarious storylines. However, certain seasons stood out among the rest. Julia Louis-Dreyfus delivered a standout performance as Vice President Selina Meyer, whose ruthless ambition was often hindered by an incompetent team, solidifying her as one of the most memorable TV characters in recent years. With a total of seven seasons, Veep remained consistently entertaining, but certain seasons excelled even further due to their unique plots and recurring characters.

Veep garnered acclaim for its diverse ensemble cast and its relentless mockery of the American political system, earning its place among the top HBO shows. While the series had numerous comedic approaches to make viewers laugh, it also delved into the deeper inner struggles of its characters, portraying them as tragic heroes consumed by the toxic world of politics. The show reached its peak when it seamlessly blended its trademark fast-paced comedy with moments of raw human despair. This winning combination resulted in unforgettable seasons of television.

7. Veep Season 6

2017

Selina Meyer struggles to find her purpose after being removed from the White House, a sentiment that is reflected in Veep season 6. This season focuses on Selina's efforts to solidify her legacy in a world that has long forgotten about her. She enlists Mike's help in writing her memoir and attempts to establish a presidential library to emulate her predecessors.

Although there are still humorous moments throughout the season, the overall plot is not as captivating as previous seasons. It sets the stage for Selina's presidential campaign in season 7, but lacks the same level of suspense and intrigue. The stark contrast between Mike's incompetence and Leon's ruthless nature provides a compelling representation of modern journalism's good and bad sides. Additionally, Jonah's transformation from an irritating creep to the show's most diabolical villain is a notable highlight of the season.

6. Veep Season 1

2012

The first season of Veep exudes a remarkable sense of confidence. Armando Iannucci, the series' creator, already showcased his satirical prowess through his British show, The Thick of It, and seamlessly adapted his style to American politics. Initially, Selina is portrayed as a Vice President with minimal authority, yet the show effectively establishes her ensemble and her unwavering ambition.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus effortlessly brings charisma to the show, sparking a debate about the comparison between Selina Meyer and her iconic TV character from Seinfeld, Elaine Benes. However, despite Louis-Dreyfus' commendable performance, the first season of Veep was missing essential characters like Kent, Richard, and Ben, which are crucial to what defines the show. Without them, Veep fails to deliver its usual impactful punch.

5. Veep Season 2

2013

Season 2 of Veep surpasses all other seasons in delivering on the show's original premise. It explores the unique and challenging position of the Vice President, as well as Selina's relentless pursuit of power and popularity. The plot is driven by a gripping hostage crisis in Uzbekistan.

Moreover, Season 2 introduces captivating side characters, including the Finnish Prime Minister Minna Häkkinen. Minna's exemplary leadership style contrasts with Selina's disdain towards her. Selina manipulates the truth about the Uzbekistan situation, which unexpectedly boosts her popularity. This realization prompts Selina to make a life-altering decision in Season 3 - she decides to run for President, forever transforming the trajectory of the show.

4. Veep Season 3

2014

Veep excels as Selina embarks on her campaign trail, showcasing its astute observation of American political maneuvers by satirizing the presidential primaries of 2016 a year in advance. Kent and Ben seize the opportunity to showcase their talents while Selina's entanglement with her personal trainer and Jonah's disruptive Ryantology blog create additional chaos and unpredictability.

Season 3 sees an escalation in the ongoing squabbles between Dan and Amy as they vie to undermine each other in their respective bids for the campaign manager position. Additionally, this season introduces Richard Splett, a character initially intended as a guest star, whose portrayal by Sam Richardson ended up reshaping the entire show. Richard's presence brings a refreshing touch of naivety and morality to a political landscape characterized by greed and deceit.

3. Veep Season 7

2019

Although Veep's final season is three episodes shorter than the others, it compensates with a remarkably satisfying conclusion. Seemingly prepared to sacrifice everything, including her most devoted ally Gary, Selina is determined to secure one last tenure in the White House. Season 7 brings back the intense political campaigning that showcased the show's finest moments, but this time it escalates the tension with Jonah's unexpected presidential candidacy and Selina's entire team facing unprecedented challenges to maintain their political survival.

2. Veep Season 4

The season finale flawlessly delivers its conclusion, garnering praise even from Tony Hale, who portrayed Gary, and expresses a desire for more. Ultimately, the entire system becomes corrupted, except for Richard Splett, whose improbable journey as a beloved two-term President offers a glimmer of hope for the integrity of American politics. Season 7 successfully honors each main character's story arc, such as when Kent disregards the polling numbers in favor of rationality and morality.

2014

The final two episodes of Veep season 4 elevate it from being good to truly exceptional. In episode 9, titled "Testimony", Selina's team finds themselves desperately trying to cover their tracks during a congressional hearing. This is followed by episode 10, "Election Night", which delivers an absurd and satirical take on politics as the electoral college is evenly split. These episodes showcase distinct styles, with "Testimony" resembling a C-SPAN broadcast, and they undeniably stand out as the show's finest moments.

Additional highlights of season 4 include Patton Oswalt's portrayal of the crudely outspoken chief of staff Teddy, and the introduction of Hugh Laurie as Tom James. As Selina's running mate, Tom's charm swiftly overshadows hers, resulting in a captivating dynamic between Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Hugh Laurie. Their superb pairing magnifies Selina's comedic rage and dominates the entire season.

1. Veep Season 5

2016

Veep season 5 presents an absurd premise that sets the stage for a remarkable series of episodes. Selina's team is determined to challenge the election results and regain their power. As the storyline unfolds, Selina's relationship with her dying mother provides insights into her past, although this quickly becomes secondary as the focus shifts back to the potential impact on her poll numbers. Season 5 of Veep offers a compelling blend of scathing satire and humor driven by its well-developed characters.

Amy's investigation into which of Selina's staffers secretly insulted her, and Jonah's campaign headed by his vulgar uncle Jeff, are both notable highlights. However, the standout episode undoubtedly is episode 9, titled "Kissing Your Sister," which features Catherine's documentary. This mockumentary style perfectly captures the deceitful nature of Selina's team. As the best episode of the whole Veep series, "Kissing Your Sister" solidifies its claim towards the end of the show's exceptional season.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have a few thoughts on the ranking of Veep's seasons. Firstly, I agree with the assessment that Season 6 is the weakest of the bunch. The show seemed to lose its focus and direction, and the plotlines were not as compelling as in previous seasons. However, I would argue that Season 1 is actually one of the strongest. While it may not have had the same level of character development as later seasons, the writing was sharp and the performances were hilarious. I also appreciated the show's willingness to tackle political issues head-on, something that it continued to do throughout its run.

Overall, I think Veep is a great show and I'm glad that it had such a successful run. It's a shame that it had to end, but I'm looking forward to seeing what the cast and crew do next.