House of Cards (US)

[jsteffe]

Oh man, I got bad news for you: the first couple episodes are probably the best of the season

Damn!

[DarkImbecile]

The Whole Damn ThingShow

I managed to finish the latest season last night and, like most I've spoken to or read, am getting seriously diminishing returns out of the show, largely because it seems to have fallen into the trap of so many initially successful series that start out with a clear focus and then begin to meander once the creators realize they have something of value that they may be able to extend beyond its natural lifespan.

In this case, the most frustrating part of the show is that it seems to want you to forget for long stretches the fact that its protagonist is a ruthless, murdering sociopath and instead invest yourself in the turbulence of his marriage or whether his policy initiatives are failing or succeeding, when really we're all watching to a) see him ever more savagely scratch and claw his way to ever greater power and b) see how it all comes crashing down. There's a slim chance that what we saw in the last three episodes of this season - Underwood ever more isolated and (needlessly) aggressive to even his close allies - is the beginning of b), but I have a hard time believing Netflix will actually allow their flagship show to come to an end next season, as dramatically appropriate as that might be. And while the few glimpses of a) we got were entertaining, it's far less interesting than when he was an underdog (as much as the majority whip of the US Senate can be an underdog). Even in the White House, Underwood never seemed to bring the full force of the presidency to bear on his many antagonists, which could have been really fun to watch. For example, it would have been ridiculously ballsy for the show to do, but I was honestly hoping that when Petrov/Putin demanded his wife's resignation that Underwood would literally start a war with Russia instead of dumping her as ambassador.

[swo17]

I think the question we're all really wondering is: Is President Obama disappointed with the new season of House of Cards?

Season 2Show

And also, is he willing to state publicly that he is a better president than Frank Underwood?

[domino harvey]

House of Cards continues its 90s actor rehab as Neve Campbell joins the series as a regular for season four

[flyonthewall2983]

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[flyonthewall2983]

Renewed for fifth season, but showrunner Beau Willimon will not return for it.

[Ribs]

Literally the best news I could even imagine.

[Luke M]

Surprised by tone of that article, I thought season 3 was universally recognized as the weakest season.

[domino harvey]

It is, no idea where the author got the idea otherwise

[flyonthewall2983]

Trailer

[domino harvey]

Someone who recognizes how bad season three was, please let us know if this season is even worth the effort

[flyonthewall2983]

I didn't think S3 was so godawful, but this is definitely an improvement.

[cdnchris]

So, do I actually have to finish season 3 before moving on to season 4?

[domino harvey]

You haven't truly experienced the correct "Fuck this show" response til you've watched that last episode of season three

[flyonthewall2983]

Give the first four episodes a chance.

[Luke M]

I'm only two episodes into the new season but it seems light years beyond last season. Ellen Burstyn at 83(!) acts with a sense of bravura and gives the show extra dramatic weight and Cicely Tyson at 91(!) is remarkable - both ladies are the highlight so far.

[flyonthewall2983]

They use an interesting technique of cutting between Frank preparing a speech backstage and delivering it in a couple episodes that I found pretty clever. I'm sure it's a technique that's been done several times before but here it almost has a documentary-feel to it which was refreshing.

[AK]

I'm only two episodes into the new season but it seems light years beyond last season. Ellen Burstyn at 83(!) acts with a sense of bravura and gives the show extra dramatic weight and Cicely Tyson at 91(!) is remarkable - both ladies are the highlight so far.

You've restored my interest for the fourth season, which was close to non-existent after the third. I was foolishly thinking they'd actually wrap it up. Should have known better. As has been pointed out by several people already, the show seemed to run out of steam and never quite realize it, instead just pushing forward without much to say. We'll certainly give it a try.

[flyonthewall2983]

Anybody make it to the end? I'm kind of itching to discuss the finale, black boxes and all.

[therewillbeblus]

I finished last weekend, really liked the season overall.

SpoilerShow

I especially enjoyed how events from the first and second seasons came full circle, with nearly every character from those seasons making an appearance. The show is reminding me more and more of Breaking Bad albeit Frank doesn't get more evil as the show progresses, but in regards to the theme that all actions have consequences and his actions continue to rise to new extremes. After the finale, I don't see how he can go any farther than this.

[barryconvex]

i raced through it last weekend too. big thumbs up..

[flyonthewall2983]

So...the end of the last episode

SpoilerShow

Who else thinks it was staged?

[Luke M]

So...the end of the last episode

SpoilerShow

Who else thinks it was staged?

It definitely crossed my mind and I wouldn't be surprised if it was revealed next season.

[flyonthewall2983]

SpoilerShow

It crossed my mind once the family was taken hostage, and it snowballed until the end.

A more pressing question is if that scene also means Claire will be speaking to us as well.

[flyonthewall2983]

Bingeing this back-to-back with S2 of Daredevil has created an almost irrational need to see a crossover

SpoilerShow

Frank vs. Frank