Ep 1. Joint Session

Selina Meyer, the former Vice President of the United States, is now the President after her predecessor resigned. Season 4 of Veep starts with her administration preparing for her first joint session of Congress. Selina and her team are eager to showcase their achievements in office so far. However, things start to go awry when they learn that a drone strike in Syria has killed a key energy lobbyist.

Trying to make the best of the situation, Selina decides to visit the widow of the lobbyist, Barbara Hallowes, to offer her condolences. However, when she arrives at the Hallowes household, Selina discovers that Barbara is a staunch opponent of her administration and its policies. Barbara takes advantage of the situation to criticize Selina and to demand compensation for her husband's death.

Back in the White House, the Joint Session prep is in full swing. Selina's team is determined to make sure that her speech is a success, but they face several challenges. For one, they need to handle the media fallout from the drone strike. However, Selina is more focused on personalizing her speech so as to improve her approval ratings. She consults with her staff, and they come up with the idea of including a heartwarming and relatable anecdote about her daughter Catherine.

The speech rehearsal does not go as planned. Selina's delivery is awkward, and it is clear that she is not comfortable with the story they have chosen. This, combined with the ongoing controversy from the drone strike, leaves her feeling off-balance. Adding to her frustration, her ex-husband is back in the picture, and he wants to renegotiate their divorce settlement.

As the day of the Joint Session arrives, tensions are at an all-time high. Selina's team is frantic with last-minute preparations, and the President herself is struggling to keep her nerves in check. Meanwhile, the opposition party is waiting to pounce on any misstep.

The actual Joint Session gets off to a rocky start when Selina flubs her opening line. She recovers quickly, but her speech is peppered with several more mistakes. It is clear that the controversial events of the last few days have taken their toll on the President's composure. Afterwards, she goes backstage for a brief moment of respite. There, she is confronted by an irate Senator Doyle, who accuses her of misleading him about the drone strike.

The episode ends on a bittersweet note. Selina's team is forced to spin her underwhelming speech, but it's clear that this won't be enough to quell the controversies that have been dogging her administration. And yet, despite everything, Selina remains determined to leave her mark on history.

Overall, Season 4 Episode 1 of Veep is a high-energy episode that lays the groundwork for the season to come. With its razor-sharp wit, whip-smart one-liners, and political intrigue, this show is a must-watch for anyone who loves satire and comedy.