VEEP Not Second-Choice Release Today

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'Veep - The Complete Fourth Season' on Blogcritics.

HBO’s Veep is about to begin its fifth season, so, not coincidentally, The Complete Fourth season arrives on Blu-ray and DVD this week. The series is a hilarious send-up of an inept politician who is in the job below the one she wants. With a stellar cast and sharp writing, somehow the program gets better with each subsequent year, and the fourth season is no exception.

As this run begins, Selina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is Veep no longer, having taken the Oval Office after the president’s resignation. Despite getting to the job she wants, things do not get any easier for Selina as she bumbles through having actual authority and faces stiff primary challenge in the upcoming election. Unlike what she’d hoped while aspiring to the highest office in the land, everything doesn’t fall into place and she finds her difficulties to be greater than ever. Which makes for ripe comedic ground, this show relying heavily on mistakes and errors.

With Selina’s elevation, the staff is in disarray, too. Dan (Reid Scott) and Amy (Anna Chlumsky) struggle for control of the agenda, and while one gains an early lead, that is far from the end of their drama. Mike (Matt Walsh) may not be suited to the larger spotlight, while Gary (Tony Hale) feels edged out. Jonah (Timothy C. Simons) continues to hang on the fringe, looking for his in. Kent (Gary Cole) and Ben (Kevin Dunn) continue to attempt to do what’s best, but they aren’t always right, and aren’t always listened to when they are. Only Sue (Sufe Bradshaw) remains relatively unfazed, but that’s the role she plays in the crazy group.

Veep likes to bring in fresh faces, and why not? Any comedy actor should love to get on a series with this high a profile and this much acclaim. Sam Richardson (Spy), who has appeared on the series before as Richard, is given a larger presence in The Complete Fourth Season, being promoted to a full-time player. The terrific Patton Oswalt recurs throughout the season. Most notable, though, is Hugh Laurie’s (House) amusing turn as Tom James, Selina’s running mate who keeps overshadowing her. Is it on purpose or by accident? Is Tom angling to edge Selina out and take over, or is he just not as good as she hoped he’d be? You’ll have to watch to find out.

As usual, there are plenty of comedy-of-error moments and slapstick intermixed with witty dialogue and clever bits. Veep is both smart and dumb comedy, excelling at all levels of humor, and providing constant entertainment. It is certainly one of the most consistent series in the genre, rarely having a lesser episode or scene.

As with most sitcom television shows, there isn’t a huge difference in quality between high definition and standard. Obviously, the picture and sound are a lot crisper if you go for the Blu-ray version, but with few special effects or sweeping vistas, it’s not very noticeable. That being said, standard definition is starting to look like it’s from another era and it’s not something I’d ever recommend for a modern show when HD is available.

Where this set fails is in bonus features. Besides some deleted scenes and digital copies of the ten episodes, there is nothing else in this release. With such a phenomenal ensemble and all the Emmy wins, one would think somebody would sit down and talk to those involved about the series. There have got to be some good stories about things that happen on-set. Sadly, though, nothing along those lines is included, making this one of the worst groupings of extras I’ve seen. It’s not enough to sway me into not recommending The Complete Fourth Season; the episodes are still plenty worth it on their own. But it it regrettable.

Veep: The Complete Fourth Season will be available next Tuesday, April 19th at retailers everywhere.

THE GOOD WIFE Has "Meat"

Article originally published as THE GOOD WIFE Review Season 6 Episode 16 Red Meat on Seat42F.

THE GOOD WIFE gets into some “Red Meat” in this week’s installment on CBS. You may take that title literally, as Diane (Christine Baranski) goes hunting with her husband and his rich, conservative buddies. But there is also ample opportunity to take it figuratively. The Good Wife is always juicy and filling, and “Red Meat” is no exception.

The main plot revolves around Election Day for Alicia (Julianna Margulies). Things are looking good for her, so Marissa (Sarah Steele) and Finn (Matthew Goode) try to distract her with video games so she doesn’t worry too much. Unfortunately, a little worry is necessary when Peter (Chris Noth) blows up Alicia’s chances, sending Josh (David Krumholtz) and Johnny (Steven Pasquale) scrambling. They even considering having The West Wing’s Melissa Fitzgerald (herself) do a robo-call, though they don’t know who she is. Thankfully, Eli (Alan Cumming), almost always a fan of Alicia’s these days, and relatively honorable where she is concerned, convinces Peter to help fix his mistake, and Alicia wins.

Peter and Alicia’s marriage is over. This has never been more clear than in “Red Meat.” When Eli has to convince Peter to help his wife after Peter is the one that screws things up, that’s a sure sign there’s nothing left there. He has little respect or love for her, using her merely as a political tool. She has seemingly shut down most of her emotion towards him as well, and hopefully now that the election is over, they can get a divorce. It might not be what Eli wants, or the most helpful thing for their public image, but it’s time for them to move on.

Alicia has two romantic options going into “Red Meat,” but both seem to be gone by the end of the hour. Although Finn offers to cancel a date to go out with her, Alicia doesn’t let him. And while I think she would take up with Johnny, Johnny sees Alicia and Peter together and wrongly assumes their marriage is still viable, so he leaves town. Either would be good matches for Alicia, but I have to admit, I’m sad that Johnny seems less likely at this point because they were very good together. Thank god Marissa is sticking around to help Alicia, even if she only provides for less physical urges.

Alicia offers Prady (David Hyde Pierce) her number two spot and he declines. This is disappointing, but understandable. He doesn’t believe in Alicia’s approach, and how can he serve an office he doesn’t respect? A friendship of a sort may have formed between the two, and I do hope they come back into one another’s circles in the future. But they are just too far apart in outlook for the District Attorney’s office to be place for it.

While this is going on, Diane is off hunting with Kurt (Gary Cole). She can’t resist turning it into a work trip when she finds out a big name in the tech industry, Gil Berridge (James Snyder, Adonis), is present, but that’s still relaxing for her, as she enjoys her career immensely. Despite screwing things up with Gil, she does find herself in an engaging political debate with R.D. (Oliver Platt, The Big C), who turns out to be even richer and much more open to her pitch, providing her firm stays out of abortion issues.

“Red Meat” is pure fun for Diane. We get to see her out of her element, but also somehow in her element at the same time. She’s surrounded by those she has fundamental disagreements with, but as in her marriage, she makes it work, and she ends up having fun. Diane is a complex, wonderful character, and I’m glad that THE GOOD WIFE gives her this focus, away from cases, to explore her personality.

Back at the firm, that leaves Cary (Matt Czuchry) and David Lee (Zach Grenier) as unlikely partners. Thank goodness Diane will soon be back, as I can’t imagine David Lee getting a position of too much power again, given his recent bad behavior. Still, Alicia leaving the firm will shake things up, especially for her co-founder, Cary, and I look forward to The Good Wife milking the dramatic possibilities.

Finally, Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) continues to work for Lemond (Mike Colter) in a situation she should absolutely not be in. That Lemond has decided to get out of the drug business after his son is kicked out of yet another school doesn’t improve Kalinda’s position any. Now Lemond wants Kalinda and Alicia to protect him for jail, which will not be easy. I don’t think Lemond will find Alicia all that cooperative, no matter what he did for her campaign, and Kalinda is the easiest one to take his frustration out on. Even if Alicia doesn’t like Kalinda any more, I’m sure she’ll try to protect the investigator from harm. Will she be able to?

We still have half a dozen episodes in this season of THE GOOD WIFE, but “Red Meat’ is starting to build towards the finale, as have other episodes that have come before it. The story is extremely serial at this point, and it’s enjoyable to watch each unexpected new twist.

The only complaint I have about “Red Meat” is, where are Alicia’s children? Shouldn’t they be around while she’s waiting for the results, and certainly at the celebration after?

THE GOOD WIFE airs Sundays around 9 p.m. ET (depending on inexcusable sports overruns) on CBS.

THE GOOD WIFE Good "Source" For Drama

Article originally written for Seat42F.

This week’s episode of THE GOOD WIFE on CBS, “Open Source,” raises a timely debate in a very intriguing case-of-the-week, reminding us why this show alone has the talent to make formulaic stories feel like they’re not so. It also has one of the worst things a person has ever done on the series, and a rocky go for two couples. Needless to say, it is immensely enjoyable.

Let’s start with the case. Diane (Christine Baranski) and Finn (Matthew Goode) take on Nancy (Mamie Gummer) in a battle of wits over a tragic accident that occurred because of a 3-D printed gun. The courtroom battle in front of liberal Judge Abernathy (Denis O’Hare) goes back and forth, with the first and second amendment rights debated. THE GOOD WIFE doesn’t seek to answer whether such a gun’s designs should be freely available online, even though I believe it leans towards no, but instead lets both sides play out in an intriguing manner. When this show is at its best, it makes the audience think, and I hope last night’s episode did that for more viewers than just me.

Because this is about guns, Diane’s seldom-seen husband, McVeigh (Gary Cole), enters the picture. The two disagree vehemently on the politics of the issue, and there’s also the ghost of Will, who saved Finn’s life from a courtroom shooter, hanging over “Open Source.” Diane and McVeigh’s marriage is tense as she oversteps her role as a wife in order to do her job as an attorney and honor a friend’s memory. But again, rather than tell us exactly what each character is motivated by, the writers let the show speak for itself, presenting issues, then stepping back.

Diane and McVeigh are a terrifically delicious pairing. Their spark is strong, and even when Diane wrongs McVeigh, he understands why. As long as she is willing to apologize and promise not to do it again, which she does without prompting, he is willing to forgive and forget. Besides making for good drama, this is an inspirational look at how to make an on-paper mistake of a marriage work beautifully, both expanding their worldview for the other.

Alicia (Julianna Margulies) also has a romance with a man that is threatened by a tough decision. When Johnny (Steven Pasquale) urges Alicia to attack Peter (Chris Noth) alongside Prady (David Hyde Pierce), Eli (Alan Cumming) threatens to take away a promising next campaign from Johnny. At first, he caves, but once Alicia brings up their personal connection and Marissa (Sarah Steele – promote her to the main cast already!) scolds him, he rallies, sacrificing possible professional advancement for the woman he has feelings for. He is rewarded at her apartment later, so I guess his actions pay off, but it will be anything but smooth sailing for them. Though, this might open the door for Alicia to finally leave Peter, especially if she wins the election and they are both in the offices they want.

Sadly, on the other end of the spectrum, Louis Canning (Michael J. Fox) acts in the most despicable of manners. On his possible death bed, which ends up not being so, he plays on Alicia’s sympathies to hurt her reputation. That David Lee (Zach Grenier) is complicit is even worse, making me think this wolf in the firm will have to be dealt with sooner, rather than later. Still, Canning is the main instigator, and after Alicia rushes to his bedside, I can’t believe he’d be so callous as to do this to her. Hopefully, the results won’t be too big a deal.

“Open Source” is yet another example of an excellent episode of THE GOOD WIFE, of which there are many. Most of its arcs are fairly self-contained, other than some relationship stuff, and yet it never feels that way. The show has done such a great job of building this world that even stand-alone cases seem like part of a larger fabric, rather than procedural. If the show relied too much on them, it would suffer, but the writers never do, making it much more about the characters than any short-sighted stories. THE GOOD WIFE deserves its high esteem as the best regular-season show currently airing on the broadcast networks (Hannibal may arguably beat it, but it’s a summer series).

THE GOOD WIFE airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

VEEP No More

Article first published as TV Review: 'Veep' - 'Crate' and 'New Hampshire' on Blogcritics.

HBO’s Veep is good in its first season, great in the second, and really finds its stride in the third year, which completed its run last night with two-part episodes “Crate” and “New Hampshire.” Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) finds her presidential ambitions slipping away again as one screw up after another by her inept team and herself keeps getting her into trouble. But when the POTUS decides to resign in order to spend more time caring for his wife, who recently attempted suicide, Selina suddenly finds herself in the highest position in the land, the first woman to hold the office, woefully unprepared.

A major draw for Veep, and the source of much of its humor, is the way in which Selina constantly and hilariously fails. When considering this, many viewers may wonder why the Vice President could suddenly achieve her goals, rising to the Oval Office, without starting to bleed some of the loser spirit. Veep pulls it off, though, maintaining the same tone and humor at the characters’ expense by making Selina’s ascension accidental and full of flubs such as an overly expensive crate and squeaky shoes. Selina may be president now, but she may just be worse at that than being the veep, and isn’t likely to stay in the office long.

Will Veep stick with the development next season, changing the premise slightly, or will she soon be vice president to one of the primary opponents, still beating her in “New Hampshire,” despite the fact that her election campaign is now a re-election battle? It’s understandable that Selina’s biggest competitor doesn’t drop out of the race, even though it would be customary to do so in the real world, since he is pretty darn clueless, and Selina is definitely vulnerable. There’s a sense of unease and instability as Veep‘s third season draws to a close, and its hard to tell yet just where the writers are going with it.

Yet, there is little doubt that wherever they want to take us, viewers will stay on board. The wry wit and tight pacing keep the show entertaining, constantly upping what’s already been established. It seems like these days the characters can be taken even further, building upon what we already know about them and deepening it. With a top notch ensemble, there are no shortage of directions to play the cast from here.

In “Crate” and “New Hampshire,” each player gets their chance to shine. Mike (Matt Walsh), quite surprisingly makes an awesome press secretary, until he doesn’t. Ben (Kevin Dunn) begs Selina not to make him chief of staff, but she does so anyway. The chemistry between bitter rivals Dan (Reid Scott) and Jonah (Timothy Simons) is excellent as Dan tries to use Jonah and Jonah stays arrogant, in spite of his precarious position. They are matched only by Kent (Gary Cole) and Sue (Sufe Bradshaw), now exes who must share the workspace. Gary (Tony Hale) is under-valued again, feeling bad for himself, while Amy (Anna Chlumsky) is passed over again, trying to grin and bear it.

What’s great is the way that the group passes the ball effortlessly from person to person, taking turns. All the actors take these situations and milk them for every laugh they’re worth, expertly entertaining, being way more important to the show than any detail or joke. They all rise to the occasion when they get their focus, but don’t steal the spotlight from any of their co-stars. The talent here is so thick that any weak link would immediately stand out, but there is none to be found, a casting coup that is appreciated each and every week.

Of course, the queen of the series, Louis-Dreyfus, is even better than the rest, which is truly a feat. Julia makes Selina–who should not be likeable in the slightest–sympathetic. Selina isn’t a good person, she lacks compassion, has a severely broken moral compass, and will gleefully play the political game, allowing her opinion to be swayed as the polls dictate. Yet, there’s a desperation and vulnerability under the surface that makes her incredibly compelling. Selina is narcissistic, to be sure, however we can see her dreams and desires and feel her frustration with every set back. She just wants what she thinks she deserves, and those who achieve it instead of her are no more worthy. It’s a fascinating performance, a career-defining role from an actress who already proved herself numerous times before now, meaning no one needed or expected this much from her, and its easy to be impressed that she’s done it again.

Veep has been renewed (thankfully) and will likely return in 2015 to HBO.

"Departure" of Another ARCHER Season

Article first published as TV Review: 'Archer' - 'Archer Vice: Arrival/Departure' on Blogcritics.

FX’s Archer ended season five this week. Subtitled Archer Vice, it is a huge, splashy showdown, and a return to normalcy. The dictatorship in which the team is hiding collapses into itself, and probably would have even if the U.S. government hadn’t been bearing down on it, which it is.

At the same time, Lana (Aisha Tyler) goes into labor, of course, dividing the attention of Archer (H. Jon Benjamin), who has made the effort to become a doula and wants to be supportive in this situation. Archer and Lana’s romantic arc has been more funny than sweet. They are definitely in love with one another, but Lana is a tough broad, hating to allow any emotion to crack through her hardened exterior. Archer, by contrast, is an immature man-child who can be faithful, but tends to not act like an adult most of the time. Luckily, both have slowly gotten better, keeping enough of those cores to stay true to the characters and remain funny, but also exhibiting a level of growth over the course of the past few seasons.

This comes at an opportune time because Lana’s baby is also Archer’s. Not the result of a sexual hook up, Lana learned a cache of Archer’s sperm was frozen and she took some to make her child. It makes sense because, despite their issues, Archer is a fine physical specimen, and he’s someone Lana cares about. But one gets the sense in this episode that Lana did not intend to tell Archer the truth until she does, a raw moment for her after giving birth, and seeing that Archer is trying to be there for her.

Can these two move forward as a couple? Maybe. Archer doesn’t have to worry about the messy baby wrangling on set, being an animated series, and clearly the writers are going to find fun ways to use the infant, such as when she holds up a single finger to put Archer off while breast feeding. Archer is not a procedural and usually not stuck in any type of mold, so season six could find new territories to explore when two top spies have a baby on the hip.

It does look like they will return to being spies. In this season finale, Malory (Jessica Walter) blackmails Special Agent Hawley (Gary Cole, Veep) into cooperating, thus ensuring ISIS, absent during almost the entire thirteen-episode Archer Vice run, will return to form. It has been kind of cool to leave ISIS, this season being a big ol’ road trip with our favorite characters, who are always best when forced to spend lots of time together. But it will be great to get back to the office, as Archer is as much a workplace comedy as it is espionage adventure.

While I do note that Archer does kowtow to convention, this final episode of the season, more than most, actually doesn’t. A shoot-out as a regime falls and a main character giving birth at the same time feels very sitcom staple-y. Huge events are always mashed together inconveniently, especially at the close of a year. Yet, Archer‘s trademark humor and charm remains firmly in place, so while the story may seem dumbed down a smidge, the characters and dialogue do not.

The focus this week is on Malory, Archer, and Lana, all of them wrapping up their various threads, but that doesn’t mean the supporting players are ignored. Cheryl (Judy Greer) discovers she doesn’t have a chip in her brain, and her country music stardom, which she is likely to give up because she gets bored easily, comes from within. Pam (Amber Nash) gets a few last cocaine jokes in, but her withdrawal symptoms are starting to show, indicating a break away from the new her, too. Cyril (Chris Parnell) loses his position of power. Krieger (Lucky Yates) gets and protects a biological weapon. Ray (Adam Reed) has a few nice ne-liners, and recurring guest stars Slater (Christian Slater, Mind Games) and Juliana (Lauren Cohan, The Walking Dead) don’t go out quietly. The ensemble is well served.

Which means all there is left to do now is wait impatiently for another batch of one of the most consistently funny and original comedies on television. While no premiere date has been announced, Archer should be back in early 2015.

VEEP Learns How "D.C." Works

Article first published as VEEP Learns How "D.C." Works on TheTVKing.

HBO's Veep ends its second year with "D.C." Selina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is ready to announce she won't run for re-election with the president in two years, and so lets her staff go. Then, learning the president is resigning, she asks them all back to gear up for her own run, only to have it fall apart as rumors spread around Washington and the president decides to campaign after all. Of course, none of that matters when the president comes to Selina and announces he's done, so she can try for the presidency.

I have a feeling these back and forth types of situations go on all the time in Washington D.C. It's a city of wheeling and dealing, and one where betrayals happen frequently if someone things they can further their own career. With so many power-hungry, ambitious people in one place, there is bound to be lots of drama.

Veep makes these attitudes hilarious somehow. Even as Selina's staff scrambles to find a life raft off of her sinking ship, we root for them. Selina is a mess, as is very clear in almost every scene in which she appears. Because of this, one can understand and sympathize with those wanting to find a more stable environment where they won't constantly be putting out their fires.

Well, it's easy to pull for most of the staff, anyway. Dan (Reid Scott) jumps ship early and with gusto, even sharing a speech he writes for Selina with Chung (Randall Park, Larry Crowne). I don't know if it's because he doesn't have the history working for Selina, and so never seems as loyal as anyone else, or because he shows so few scruples in his interactions, but Dan is the most unforgiveable of the bunch. Unfortunately for him, this gaff either proves the others are rubbing off on him, or he is just as much of a mess as everyone else, and so belongs there.

It's interesting to see the parallels in "D.C" between Selina and Andrew (David Pasquesi, The Mob Doctor) and Amy (Anna Chlumsky) and Ed (Zach Woods, The Office). Amy hates seeing how Andrew affects Selina, and how they use one another. Ed and her aren't quite so passionate, but they do use each other, much as Selina and Andrew do. Perhaps Amy is emulating her boss more than she thinks.

The plot that doesn't really work for me this week is Gary (Tony Hale) being torn between Selina and his girlfriend, Dana (Jessica St. Clair, Best Friends Forever). It not only feels too much like Hale's character from Arrested Development, but also doesn't really fit the persona of Gary, whom we've only seen worship Selina. Perhaps it's believable that he would latch onto someone else, but we didn't see that evolution, and Dana's interest in Gary doesn't come across as realistic.

Overall, though, Veep really works in the most unexpected of ways. Louis-Dreyfus is a comic genius, surrounded by other heavy weights. Each nuance and tick lands, and even the most pathetic becomes funny in their capable hands. It may be the earnestness with which the cast plays, which also includes Matt Walsh, Timothy Simons, and Sufe Bradshaw, commits to every situation and moment, or the level of authenticity they bring to their selfish screw-ups, but there are usually several things to laugh out loud at each and every week.

This has only been helped more by bringing in Kent (Gary Cole) and Ben (Kevin Dunn) this season. Like when Parks and Recreation added Ben and Chris, having two established, talented actors expand the world of the show, as well as compliment the core group in their every scene, only makes the series better. I credit them both for season two being a marked improvement over season one.

I don't know what season three will look like, exactly. We may actually get to see Selina run for office, which will be cool, since Veep begins after she loses the first race. With the set up the series has provided, there are a myriad of directions and possibilities to explore, and each has their advantages.

Whatever the reason, Veep is doing very well, and I can't wait to see it come back next spring for a third go-round.

Veep Back in the (Not Quite White) House

Article first published as VEEP Season 2 Premiere Review on Seat42F.

Grade: 94%

HBO’s VEEP is back for a second season just in time for “Midterms.” Selina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and staff anxiously await the results of their party’s fate as the votes are counted for Congressional seats. Selina looks for a way to use the numbers to her advantage to gain more power on the Hill, while others hope to thwart her, in a way, although, as usual, Selina’s own worst enemy is herself.

There are so many fantastic elements to “Midterms” that it’s hard to figure out where to start. VEEP, which is a little rocky in season one, definitely seems to understand itself by the second year. Not only do all of the main players get perfect little bits this week, but there’s room to bring in a wealth of fantastic guest stars, all pulling their own weight.

Among the new characters we are introduced to are: an important member of the President’s staff (Kevin Dunn, Luck, Samantha Who?); a numbers cruncher who has returned to help the President rebound from his big losses (Gary Cole, Office Space, The Good Wife); and a percentage-obsessed nerd (Kumail Nanjiani, Franklin & Bash, Portlandia). Plus, we get the return of Ohio’s Roger Furlong (Dan Bakkedahl, Legit), who has never liked Selina, and never will.

I guess what is surprising is that Dunn and Cole’s characters don’t hate Selina. Selina still manages to offend Cole’s guy, but neither are actively trying to see her fail. They may work for the President, but unlike the President’s liaison with his veep’s office, Jonah (Timothy Simons), the whole White House camp isn’t against Selina.

Which proves what some have suspected, that Jonah is just a jerk. Yes, the President frequently blows Selina off, but Jonah’s dismissive attitude isn’t true of everyone in his office. It’s a power play by someone who wants to take advantage of every ounce of influence they are given, and he isn’t given much. Some people like and respect Selina, which is probably why she’s been around as long as she has.

Between the core cast, which is, without exception, phenomenal at this distinct type of groaning humor, and these guest stars, VEEP soars. It’s hard to define exactly why I am enjoying the show so much, but every single actor on screen just nails their roles. Their line delivery is flawless, the writing is tight, and the show knows exactly what it is, with no wavering in tone or presentation.

A look around at the ensemble supports this conclusion, each with their own bits in “Midterms.” Amy (Anna Chlumsky) balances a dying father with her professional responsibilities. Dan (Reid Scott) fights with Furlong. Sue (Sufe Bradshaw) lays the smack down. Mike (Matt Walsh) tries to unload a leaky boat he foolishly bought. And Gary (Tony Hale) not only has a lipstick emergency, but is part of the biggest kerfuffle in the entire half hour, which hilariously unfolds in the Oval Office itself.

I am somehow not disappointed that the President has yet to make an appearance, even in an installment where he is frequently known to be just around the corner. I feel like the idea of him, painted in the small details we get from other characters, is greater than any actor could actually perform the role. Should VEEP decide down the line to bring in the POTUS himself, it would take absolutely perfect casting to nail the role. Instead, I feel he is better off remaining a legend and a myth, only talked about, never seen, his absence always making Selina seem less important than her job title would lead one to believe.

In the end, Selina actually does get what she is asking for in “Midterms,” or at least part of it. And as fans might expect, it’s not what she bargained for. The President actually calls for her (which NEVER happens), but to ask her to do some difficult stuff, some of which involves shouldering part of the blame for awful midterm elections, which really aren’t her fault.

Louis-Dreyfus is brilliant, making this unlikable woman just a smidge charming enough that viewers can understand how she got where she is. She isn’t nice and she isn’t sharp, well, not entirely, yet she worked her way up to V.P. somehow. It actually makes sense almost solely because of Louis-Dreyfus’s nuanced and carefully thought out portrayal.

And she is matched by everyone else on screen. It’s her show, but it wouldn’t work without the right balance of support the others bring, keeping her the star and the focus, even while servicing their own stories. Excellent work, all around.

If you only sort of enjoyed season one, “Midterms” is worth a shot because I feel the game has been kicked up a notch. If you’re already a fan, this is VEEP at the top of its game, and you should be very satisfied with its return. And if you’ve never watched the show, give it a try. “Midterms” is accessible to anyone, even the brand-new watcher.

VEEP returns this Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.

Deep in the 'Hart of Dixie'

Hart of Dixie's latest installment is "Heart to Hart." Zoe's (Rachel Bilson) dad, Dr. Ethan Hart (Gary Cole, The Good Wife, Office Space), comes to town to perform surgery. Zoe is determined to tell him off for his boorish behavior towards her, but is thrown off balance when he suggests that they be friends, since he is not her biological father. This doesn't go well, erupting at a dinner that Lemon (Jaime King) throws the pair in an attempt to befriend Zoe, thus keeping her enemy close.


What makes a father? Is it DNA, or being there to raise a child? Most people would probably say the latter, but there is no denying that this is a complicated issue. Zoe and Ethan have to deal with it head on in "Heart to Hart." He still feels paternal instincts towards her, but is deeply hurt by his wife's betrayal. Zoe has also been lied to, and it is unfair for Ethan to take his anger out on her. But Ethan's behavior can somewhat be forgiven for the pain it causes him to see Zoe, and what she reminds him of. So the two just have to talk through things, and try to redefine their relationship based on what each wants and can handle.

Zoe and Ethan decide to try to keep their father/daughter bond intact. After all, neither one of them are to blame for what happened. Maybe Ethan doesn't handle the news well, but he's certainly trying to make up for it in "Heart to Hart." After all, he did fly across the country to do Zoe a favor, and that says a lot about how much he cares for her. And she will forgive him because he is the father she grows up loving, and that isn't something easy to shake.

The only possible complaint about Cole being cast in this role for Hart of Dixie is that his schedule may not stay open enough for frequent appearances. Cole is an in-demand actor for a reason, and has recurring parts on several series already. It seems like it can only be a matter of time until he finds a starring role. He definitely deserves one. And that would leave Zoe missing her daddy a whole heck of a lot in the future.

Lemon's plot to make Zoe her best friend fails miserably, not least because Zoe sees right through it. She's not stupid. What Lemons fails to realize is that her best-planned schemes rarely work in Hart of Dixie. Genuine sincerity has much better results, and perhaps an honest discussion of her concerns with Zoe would be the right move. Lemon may not like Zoe's answers, but at least each would know where the other stands, and there would be no need for trickery.

Might Lemon and George's (Scott Porter) engagement really be threatened by Zoe? That depends, but it's not because Zoe is trying to steal George away. Sure, she's interested in him, but she is not making any moves, not trying to ruin anything. If George dumps Lemon for Zoe it will be because he wants to, not because he was manipulated. And that is something that Lemon can't guard against. All she can do is love and take care of George and hope that is enough for him. If his heart belongs to someone else, does she truly want him anyway?

That's easier said than done. Lavon (Cress Williams) is also struggling with a similar problem, being in love with Lemon, who wants to marry George. He keeps trying to get Lemon back, and it's just not going to work. Like George, Lemon will marry who she wants to marry. She cannot be talked into switching men, and Lavon's attempts to do so are useless. The best that he can do is confess his feelings and hope she returns them. If she doesn't, well, that's her loss.

Of course, now that George has seen Lavon kiss Lemon, much will be out in the open. Will George still want Lemon once he learns of her past relationship with Lavon? That might just change George's perspective, leaving many of the relationships of the series more fluid than before. Given that Hart of Dixie is a drama largely made up of various romantic entanglements and developments, the makeup of couples is bound to be different before the series heads into season two.

Another player in this tangled web is Wade (Wilson Bethel), who sits out of the game in "Heart to Hart." He has some real feelings for Zoe, and she may like him back, but the two have yet to connect. Wade seems a bit rebellious and untamed, but he is a good guy with some serious heart, and that should serve him well in the end. Considering that girls often go for the bad boy, it's kind of interesting that Zoe hasn't started something with him yet, especially given how much fun she has when they clash. But a pairing between the two will surely happen soon enough.

In "Heart to Hart," instead of chasing Zoe, Wade participates in a cocktail contest at the Rammer Jammer. He is an expert mixologist, at least according to Lavon, but Wade throws the game and lets Shelley (Deborah S. Craig) win. He tells Lavon that it's to preserve his best recipes for when he's ready to open his own bar, but there's some doubt about that. Perhaps Wade would like to start his own business, which he would probably be good at, even though he doesn't express an interest in such a thing until now. Or perhaps he's just a nice guy who sees how desperate Shelley is for a victory. Or maybe a bit of both.

Only slightly confusing is why George and Wade are so attracted to Zoe. Bilson is a competent actor, but doesn't have a great deal of differentiation in her expressions, which makes her character kind of hard to like at first. Sure, she's smart and somewhat charming, but her severe face isn't exactly every man's dream.
And after all, Lemon can be warm, and tries hard to make her man happy. Hart of Dixie has made Lemon sympathetic, too, because she is part of the ensemble, and being pure evil is boring. It would be folly to not develop Lemon as a complex character. But because Lemon has been allowed this growth, is Zoe such a better catch?


Because of its charm and humor, as well as heart, Hart of Dixie has become a must-watch prime time soap. Catch it Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on the CW.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Catch up on streaming episodes of Hart of Dixie. Article first published as TV Review: Hart of Dixie - "Heart to Hart" on Blogcritics.

Suits gets in a "Dog Fight"

     USA's Suits marks the end of their freshman run with "Dog Fight." In "Dog Fight," Harvey (Gabriel Macht) attempts to free a man he wrongly put away after Harvey's old mentor (Gary Cole, Family Guy, The Good Wife) buried evidence. Unfortunately, the district attorney (Chi McBride, Pushing Daisies, Human Target) doesn't make it easy. Mike (Patrick J. Adams) does what he can to help, but getting Rachel (Meghan Markle) involved is complicated, because of Mike and Rachel's falling out after their kiss. They eventually come though and Harvey wins the case, but only after resorting to Mississippi Burning tactics. 
 

     One has to respect any series that uses Mississippi Burning as a reference point throughout an entire episode, rather than the more pop culture-friendly films. Suits has its share of fluff, but the main characters are also very intelligent, and they are allowed to show it. A movie as high quality as Mississippi Burning deserves to be used more in television.

     The contest between Harvey and the DA (or assistant DA, I'm not sure) is an interesting one. The DA won't go out of his way to help Harvey. In fact, he continually makes things more difficult, rather than "doing the right thing," as Harvey asserts. Yet, he is just doing his job as a member of the legal system. And while he does call Harvey on his illicit activities, knowing what Harvey must do to win the case, he doesn't report or go after Harvey, either. This leads Harvey to declare he likes the guy at the end of "Dog Fight." It's a brutal battle, but both men respect each other, and neither is upset when justice is served, no matter how they get to that point.

     Equally neat is the relationship between Harvey and his assistant, Donna (Sarah Rafferty). Harvey is furious at Donna for turning on Harvey's mentor in the previous episode. But Donna does so to save Harvey, a noble cause. Harvey would go down with Donna's actions. It takes Jessica (Gina Torres) to make Harvey see just how lost he would be without Donna, which leads to him forgiving his assistant, and even apologizing. As he right should.

     Donna and Rachel get a little drunk and start talking about men in their lives. Donna reveals that she has never once hooked up with Harvey, but the conversation gets her thinking, especially after Rachel asks, "Why not?" Sure, it could threaten the perfect work relationship they have after many years. But it could also enhance that relationship, strengthening it. They already know each other very well. Why not consider taking things to the next level?

     Mike is torn between Rachel and Jenny (Vanessa Ray). Who can blame him? But Rachel rejects him so many times that he chooses Jenny, and only then does Rachel realize what she's missing. Whom will Mike ultimately choose?  Obviously, Jenny, for now. But Rachel is a main character and Jenny isn't. However, Jenny knows a different side of Mike, which keeps his character more interesting. It's a real conundrum. It's likely Mike will go back and forth, at least for awhile, or until the writers write Ray out of the series.

     Finally, there is a whale of a cliffhanger when Trevor (Tom Lipinski), Mike's oldest friend and Jenny's ex, finds out about the two of them. Trevor, who knows Mike's secret, that he's not actually a lawyer, goes to Jessica. But is Trevor cruel enough to destroy everything for Mike? What will he tell Jessica? This is not revealed. My money is on Trevor reporting that Mike and Rachel kiss, a frowned upon practice in the workplace, rather than screwing up Mike's whole story. After all, what would the series be if that Trevor exposes Mike so early on?

     Suits also stars the wonderful Rick Hoffman.

     Suits will return next summer to USA.

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There's a "Motherfu*ker" on Entourage

     This week's episode of HBO's Entourage is censored in many places, including TV guides and HBO's official website. The fact that it appears differently in each, seems to indicate the real, intended name. Let's go with "Motherf***er," for the purposes of this review, and it's likely you will understand what it really is.

     In "Motherf***er," Sloan's (Emmanuelle Chiriqui) ex-step mother Melinda (Melinda Clarke, Nikita) approaches  Eric (Kevin Connolly) for representation. Eric is a bit torn; he is not over Sloan, and isn't sure he should represent Melinda because of that. Melinda assures him it will be a good idea, gets a drink with him, and Eric and Melinda end up sleeping together. Which is exactly what Melinda plans, and Sloan calls to warn Eric, too late.

     Longtime fans of Entourage may still be rooting for an Eric-Sloan reunion before the series comes to a close. With only three episodes to go, this now appears more than a little unlikely. Sloan is still angry with Eric, and she doesn't even know yet about his hookup. Of all the mistakes Eric could make, sleeping with Melinda is surely one of the least easily overcome ones. Why would the writers throw such a huge, horrible curve ball with so little time left in the series? It's disappointing, to say the least.

     Luckily, not all of "Motherf***er" is such a let down. Jeremy Piven, who already has multiple Emmys for the role of Ari, is having his best season yet, by far. Usually an arrogant, loudmouthed, SOB, Ari takes a softer side as his marriage to Mrs. Ari (Perrey Reeves) falls apart. Despite talking a big game, Ari is in love with Mrs. Ari, and never cheats on her. But she is tired of him choosing his job over family. This season, Ari doesn't put work first, almost ever, but the few times he does, such as in this episode, Mrs. Ari is right there to catch him at it and berate him for it. It's not fair, and he deserves a second chance.

     But does Ari even need her? Sure, he would still go back to Mrs. Ari in a heartbeat, and that's probably how the series will end. Yet, at nearly the last minute, Ari's long-ago love Dana Gordon (Constance Zimmer) returns and they strike up a renewed relationship. Dana understands the situation, and likely won't fight for Ari should he be allowed to return to his family. But she also offers Ari unconditional love for who he is, and provides an alternative should the marriage not be saved. Piven kills with the subtleties involved in the whole mess. He keeps Ari on the edge, letting his professional life slip in the name of happiness. It's a tour de force that deserves one more gold statue. And perhaps a happy ending with Dana.

      Elsewhere, Drama (Kevin Dillon) is on the verge of a successful career. Despite his worry that his new animated show will fail without Andrew Dice Clay (himself) involved, Andrew Klein (Gary Cole) assures Drama that he is the one the studio intends to build the series around. Could it be possible, or is Klein just stroking Drama's ego? One hopes the former, as Drama has suffered enough ups and downs, mostly downs, in his career. While it's hard not to believe Drama's insistence that the series sucks with Dice's replacement (Jamie Kennedy, Ghost Whisperer), perhaps Klein is right. Certainly Entourage won't end with Drama on a such a sour note?

     It's hard to see how the show can wrap things up neatly with only three weeks left, but they haven't let fans down yet. The final season of Entourage, which also stars Adrian Grenier and Jerry Ferrara, continues Sundays at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO.

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Article first published as TV Review: Entourage - "Motherf***er" on Blogcritics.