Ep 5. Helsinki

Selina travels to Helsinki to attend an international conference on modernizing governments around the world. The conference is hosted by the Finnish prime minister, and Selina is excited to showcase her skill and expertise in governmental modernization. However, her hopes are soon dashed when she realizes that she's not alone in her ambitions. Her arch-nemesis, the Californian Democratic senator, is also in attendance, and she's just as keen on impressing the Finnish prime minister as Selina is.

As soon as Selina arrives at the conference, she realizes that her Finnish hosts have an unexpected surprise in store for her. The prime minister has arranged for Selina to take a dip in a traditional Finnish sauna, and she reluctantly agrees to go through with the experience, despite her misgivings. However, things quickly spiral out of control when the whole thing becomes a social media sensation, and Selina becomes the center of a viral meme.

Unwilling to be upstaged by the Californian senator, Selina sets about trying to prove that she's the more innovative and forward-thinking politician. However, her efforts are repeatedly thwarted by the presence of Jonah, who's been dispatched to Helsinki by Kent in the hopes that he'll stop causing trouble back in Washington. Jonah's antics quickly become a source of annoyance for Selina, and she's forced to come up with a plan to neutralize him.

Meanwhile, Gary is struggling to keep up with the Finnish language, and he's dismayed to realize that he's been pronouncing the country's name wrong the entire time. Amy is also having a tough time, as she's been tasked with translating Selina's speeches into Finnish. Her efforts are hampered by her lack of knowledge of the language, and she's forced to rely on Google Translate to get the job done.

As the conference progresses, Selina finds herself increasingly frustrated by the Finnish prime minister's lack of interest in her proposals. Her desperation to make an impact leads her to make a bold move, but the consequences of her actions are not what she was hoping for. In the end, Selina returns to the United States feeling more disillusioned than ever, and wondering if she'll ever be able to make a difference in the world of politics.

The Helsinki episode of Veep is a hilarious and sharply written satire of the world of international politics. Julia Louis-Dreyfus delivers another outstanding performance as the ambitious and flawed Selina Meyer, and the rest of the cast is equally strong. With its witty dialogue, biting humor, and expertly crafted characterizations, this episode is a standout in an already impressive series. Whether you're a politics junkie or simply a fan of smart comedy, Helsinki is not to be missed.