The Shocking Truth About Washington DC Revealed: Behind The Scenes Of Veep

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and company may have started their HBO series Veep as a comedy, but the show quickly turned into a mirror reflection of America’s harsh political reality. The satirical take on the inner workings of the American government is undeniably fictional in the sense that the characters and the narrative are entirely created, but the themes, the plot twists, and even the character’s motivations are all based on real-life events and figures.

Veep does an excellent job of exposing the behind-the-scenes of Washington DC and showcases the sometimes ridiculous and petty aspects of politics. The show brings to light how politicians often engage in a web of personal and professional interests and manipulations to have the upper hand, or at least, an increase in positive public opinion.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as the beloved character Selina Meyer, embodies the complexities of ambition and vulnerability that echo the stories of many women who are in similar positions of power today. Throughout the series, Meyer evolves, stumbles, and learns, but the true brilliance of her performance comes from her ability to, with perfect comedic timing and clever wit, expose the raw truth regarding life as a politician while, in turn, finding that truth reflected within herself.

The satirical elements and comedic tone bring a surprisingly humanizing spin on something as often criticized as American politics. Unlike critics might expect, Veep doesn’t take the comfortable approach of propagating biases or advocating for a particular set of interests. In fact, it beautifully portrays how all politicians and even sometimes Americans as a whole, are ‘helpfully’ led astray by ambition and a focus on winning over ‘doing the right thing’ even the actual right thing changes over time. Perhaps that’s because the characters’ problems are often personal and often quite petty and simplistic – something fans of American office will quickly recognize.

Although most of the public veers away from discussing or even regarding a politician’s feelings or side of things, Veep challenges viewers to adopt a more empathetic and understanding perspective when dealing with the topic. The dark humor also taints Meyer and her co-workers’‘ very human, very human-like mannerisms, yet despite this the political take of the show strikes a healthy medium.