Veep: The Complete Second Season

HBO's 'Veep' is becoming one of the funniest television series on cable right now. With two seasons under its belt and one on the way, it's no wonder that more and more fans are clamoring to watch the hilarious political show that stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, the vice-president of the United States. This show is very different from Netflix's 'House of Cards' and even 'The West Wing', but has some of the same tones.

While 'House of Cards' only shows the negative and shady dealings of politicians, the ones that cause grief, betrayal, and even murder, 'Veep' focuses more on the lighter notes, while still showcasing the inept and crazy bureaucracy that goes into politics in Washington D.C. But what 'Veep' does exceptionally well is give us a very realistic account of the relationship of politicians and the press in these modern times. More often than not, the press is more interested in finding out who someone slept with, what drugs they took, or if these people are wearing underwear or not, than actually discussing important issues. And unfortunately, this happens in politics as well nowadays.

'Veep' sheds some light on these spinning stories, poking fun at our own media politicians, and it makes for a great thirty minute show. The cast of quirky characters all return for this second season including Dreyfus as the vice president, Tony Hale and Matt Walsh who hilariously give Selina advice on how to present her self and represent her country, and Anna Chlumsky and Reid Scott, who are polar opposites who do their best to make the vice president succeed, while trying to further their careers.

In this second season, you can look out for cameos from Kevin Dunn, Gary Cole, and the amazing Alison Janney, who steals the show. Some big story arcs in season two include a hostage crisis in Uzbekistan, a government shutdown, a high-priced dinner, and some not-so-kosher people and instances from the staff's lives popping up. You can add to this some very personal and volatile questions from some ridiculous reporters to shake things up in the vice president's office as well.

These ten episodes perfectly set up a potentially great season three as most of Selina's staff are looking for new jobs and she herself wonders about her own future in the White House. With 'Veep's quick wit, hilarious dialogue, and zany yet brilliant characters, I have no doubt you'll be laughing from start to finish with this show's second season. 

'Veep' Season 2 comes with a great 1080p HD transfer presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Much like the first season, the detail and colors are very similar. The detail is alway sharp and vivid with some well-defined closeups of each actor. You can make out all two hairs on Matt Walsh and Tony Hale's head perfectly. And when characters sweat, you can easily see the drops running down their faces. Props and costumes also show some fine textures as well.

The colors are very regal with a ton of browns, whites, and some occasional blues and reds thrown in. The colors are well-defined but don't shine, with the exception of some of the well lit exterior shots. Contrast is also well-balanced for the most part. The skin tones are natural and the black levels are deep and inky. There isn't much in the way of depth as we're usually inside a government building or room, but HBO has made it look very good.

This release comes with a very good lossless DTS-HD 5.1 audio mix. As this is strictly a dialogue driven comedy show, don't expect tons of sound effects our loud and robust noises pouring from the surrounds. The dialogue is always crystal clear and easy to understand. There are no instances of any pops, cracks, or hissing.

There are some sound effects here and there, but they sound muted or more realistic than what you would get in a horror film or action movie. The LFE is good and dynamic range could be a bit wider, but this show doesn't offer the type of sound where it needs tons of highs and lows. For a dialogue driven show, HBO has done a great job with his audio presentation. 

Audio Commentaries: There are four commentary tracks on four different episodes. The cast and crew give a very light hearted and hilarious commentary on each one. There are some great stories, anecdotes, and funny jokes told while on set. Sometimes, the anecdotes overshadow the actual making of the series, but at least it's funny. 

Deleted Scenes (HD, 40 minutes) - There are over forty minutes of deleted scenes, which is more than one episode of the show. Each scene is hilarious and worth watching. You can choose to watch these in each episode or as a play all option. 

The second season of 'Veep' is just as good as the first season, if not better. And I have no doubt that the third season will be even crazier and more comical. Each character is just a pleasure to watch on screen, and each of them have come into their own dynamic. This might be the funniest political show ever made, and it's quickly becoming one of the funniest series on television. The video and audio presentations are very good with a couple of solid extras. HBO treats their Blu-ray releases as well as it shows. Highly recommended.