Ep 1. Morning After

In the fifth season premiere of the hit political satire series Veep, titled "Morning After," we find the usual cast of characters back in action. Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns as Selina Meyer, the former vice president of the United States who is now serving as the president following a tumultuous decision by the electoral college. The episode picks up right where season four left off, with Selina waking up in the morning after the night of her swearing-in ceremony.

From the outset, it's clear that Selina is suffering from a hangover – both literally and figuratively. Despite being the leader of the free world, she's still grappling with the same personal and professional challenges that have plagued her throughout the series. Her staff is still bickering and backstabbing each other at every turn, her approval ratings are in the toilet, and she's still trying to balance her personal life with her responsibilities as president.

One of the primary plotlines of "Morning After" involves Selina trying to deal with the fallout from her surprise decision to appoint her former rival, Tom James, as her vice president. James, played by the always-entertaining Hugh Laurie, is just as conniving and calculating as ever – and Selina is struggling to figure out exactly how to handle him. She's torn between wanting to keep him close so she can control him, and worrying that he's going to undermine her at every turn.

Meanwhile, Selina's staff is dealing with their own issues. Amy (Anna Chlumsky) is still trying to claw her way up the ladder, and she's convinced that the best way to do so is by becoming Selina's new campaign manager. Dan (Reid Scott) is off trying to secure himself a new job, while Mike (Matt Walsh) is dealing with some unexpected, and hilarious, personal problems. And Gary (Tony Hale), as always, is hovering around Selina like an overeager puppy.

The episode is chock-full of the witty one-liners and biting satire that fans have come to expect from Veep. Some of the highlights include Selina's hilariously profane reaction to her new approval ratings, and a classic exchange between Dan and Amy about the merits of "toxic feminism." There's even a subplot involving a cat that manages to be both absurd and strangely poignant.

Ultimately, "Morning After" sets up a promising new season for Veep – one that promises to be just as hilariously biting as its predecessors. While it's clear that Selina Meyer is still facing an uphill battle when it comes to running the country, it's equally clear that she's not going down without a fight. And with her usual band of misfits by her side, there's no telling what kind of comic chaos she's going to unleash next.