Stylistically, [Iannucci's] comedy exists in the sweet spot between nervy, semi-documentary realism (embodied by a jittery, hand-held camera) and archly stylized dialogue, à la Aaron Sorkin. In fact, one way to look at Iannucci is as Sorkin without the idealism. […] Veep is The West Wing purged of anything but pure, bristling ambition. Where Sorkin is narcissistically drawn to figures whose uncompromising brilliance is also their tragic flaw […] Iannucci is a chronicler of straight-up idiocy.
— Adam Nayman (The Ringer)
When dictator Joseph Stalin dies, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to become the next Soviet leader. As they bumble, brawl and back-stab their way to the top, the question remains — just who is running the government?