After nearly seven seasons of lies, flip-flops and hypocrisy, I still find myself wanting Selina Meyer to succeed — but why?
For most of Veep‘s run, my take on Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) has paralleled my opinion of many real-life politicians on the left side of the aisle: I can’t say I like her and I won’t defend all of her actions, but I’m with her because, overall, I agree with what she stands for.
The way I see it, pretty much every elected official with any power does terrible things. I’d just prefer they do it in service of progressive causes, as opposed to conservative ones.
Even with all the shady stunts Selina’s pulled throughout the HBO comedy’s almost seven seasons — such as lying about campaign data breaches, selling out her own core beliefs and treating just about everyone as subhuman — I’ve rooted for her on her quest for the Oval Office.
But now, during the series’ final season and Selina’s latest bid for the presidency, I’m not so sure I want her to succeed anymore. Or at least I’m questioning myself more and more for rooting for her.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep. Photo: Colleen Hayes/HBO
As of the most recent episode, “Pledge,” Selina has become a complete monster driven by equal parts populism, misogyny and white feminism. In a debate, she privileged-white-lady-splains to her opponent, woman of color Senator Kemi Talbot (Toks Olagundoye), that, as a young lawyer, she “didn’t have to remind everyone I was a woman every 10 seconds because they never let me forget it.”
Selina suffered through all sorts of sexism and harassment and managed to come out the other side. “So how about giving a little thanks to the women like me who built the ladder that you use to get up onto your soapbox?” Selina snaps. “How about for once in your life you stop whining, you stop complaining, and just man up?”
Politically, it’s a strong move that wins the debate. Character-wise, it underlines how much Selina has devolved as a person since Veep‘s pilot. She never had much faith in humanity (can’t blame her there) and was always uncomfortable capitalizing on her gender — which is understandable, because once you do that, especially in politics, you’re only seen as a woman.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep. Photo: Colleen Hayes/HBO
However, for the bulk of the series, Selina has been fairly steadfast in her dedication to progressivism. Remember the Clean Jobs bill and the corn starch utensils from season 1? Her plan to mention universal childcare when announcing her presidential run and her legislation supporting single parents and low-income families in seasons 3 and 4, respectively? Her “If men got pregnant, you could get an abortion at an ATM” comment in season 3?
Until the fiasco of a General Election at the end of season 4 and its season 5-long aftermath, Selina often –but not always — made morally dubious choices in pursuit of a left-leaning agenda. She made back-door deals, broke promises and enraged allies and enemies alike by trying to stay true to her fundamental principles.
Then Tom James (Hugh Laurie) came alone, threatening her throne, and she began exclusively scheming to cultivate power and bolster her legacy. Sure, she may truly have been committed to peace talks in the Middle East or freeing Tibet, but when she made those overtures in later seasons, it was for the accolades and photo opportunities more than anything else.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky – Season 5, Episode 9. Photo: Prashant Gupta/Courtesy of HBO
And then there’s Amy (Anna Chlumsky), Selina’s chief of staff turned campaign manager turned general advisor. These two used to have the most interesting dynamic on the show. They were brutally honest with one another, but there was always a sense of mutual support and trust. The fact that they’re both women in a male-dominated space only deepened their bond. Selina could be mean to Amy, but always valued her opinion above everyone else’s.
Now Selina bullies Amy about her weight and sex life. It’s a similar downward trajectory in Selina’s relationship with her daughter, Catherine (Sarah Sutherland). In the beginning, it was clear Selina loved Catherine, even if she didn’t always understand her. At this point, the former prez can’t seem to find a nice thing to say about her only child.
Considering all of this, I’m slightly disgusted with myself for feeling happy when Selina wins at the end of “Pledge.” She just demeaned an idealistic senator she considers a protégée and attacked Catherine (and all millennials) for, you know, acknowledging identity politics as a thing.
Tony Hale, Sam Richardson, Reid Scott, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Gary Cole (Season 7, Episode 1). Photo: Colleen Hayes/HBO
On the other hand, part of me agrees with the remark Selina makes in the season 7 premiere: it’s her turn to lead. She’s been humiliated, underestimated and passed over for too long. She didn’t just blaze a trail for other women: she blazed it for herself, too. And it does seem unfair for her — like someone else we know — to sit on the sidelines while others reap the rewards of her hard work.
Plus, Selina’s in good company. Everyone, give or take a Richard (Sam Richardson), is fairly terrible in Veep‘s universe. If you’re even semi-competent at your job, you’re a garbage person. Even Senator Talbot, who at this point is the least cynical politician on the show, double-crosses Selina before announcing her presidential campaign. After all, one of the main arguments Veep has made over the years is that the higher a person rises in politics, the less concerned they are with actual ideology.
So, in spite of everything, I guess I’m still with Selina Meyer.
She’s a crummy person without any real integrity, but that’s pretty much par for the course on Veep. Her fellow Primary nominees and ideological opponents are all just as power-hungry and petty as she — and let’s not forget the male politicos get less flack for it because they’re men.
Somewhere underneath Selina’s narcissism, rage and entitlement, there’s a person who cares about healthcare, socioeconomic justice and women’s rights. And she has cared about these things for a long time, way before it was trendy to care. Selina’s probably not the best person for the presidency, but she does deserve it — and I mean that in every sense of the word.
Let’s hear it for Meyer 2020, everybody.