House of Cards (TV Series) Chapter 11 (2013) User Reviews

Demons from the past

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 11 April 2019]

"Chapter 11" comes from the period where 'House of Cards' was in its prime, when it was a show that was brilliant and easily addictive. Actually considered it one of the best shows on television. Which is why it is so upsetting and irritating that the decline in the last two seasons, especially Season 6, was so drastic (one of the largest declines for any show along with the likes of Seasons 7 and 8 of 'The Walking Dead') and so far removed from before.

Season 1 of 'House of Cards' has episodes that range from very good to brilliant. Of which "Chapter 11" is one of the best, the first one to really get to me emotionally and wrench my gut. Not that the previous ten episodes of the season didn't have emotion and tension, they certainly did especially the latter, but "Chapter 11" has even more so than before. Carl Franklin directs his second of four episodes, and again does a very good job. Not cinematic quality, but always at ease and control of what is going on and always makes the storytelling engaging and emotionally investable.

There is nothing to complain about with the production values. As always the photography is stylish and full of atmosphere, as well as always being cohesive, likewise with the way it's lit. The music The music knew when to have presence and when to tone things down to let the dialogue and characters properly speak, with again some very clever sound quality.

Once again, there is plenty of sharpness, bite and probing thought in the writing. The story never drags, even when deliberate. The characters and storytelling really advance and the interactions and character writing blister. The episode does such a wonderful job with Peter, he always was an interesting character but here he is at his most poignant and his exit is just heart-wrenching. For me, up to this point "Chapter 11" was the most emotional episode of 'House of Cards'. Claire and her subplot are not quite as meaty but it still intrigues hugely.

Frank too continues to be fascinating and his dialogue have a lot of bite. Cannot fault the acting, Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright are on top form but Corey Stoll steals the show in a truly powerful performance that stays with one forever.

In conclusion, wonderful episode and one of Season 1's best. 10/10

To the Nth Degree

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 27 January 2015]

Frank shuffles off a liability in the most vicious of ways. We hearken back to the opening scene of the series as the senator has no trouble putting a badly injured dog out of its misery. Frank has made a horrible bed but seems to be wallowing in it. Claire has gone away for a while and Frank is dealing with his anger. He now sees the disruptive influence of his chosen gubernatorial candidate and must compromise. He lies and says that he had really chosen a different path all along. The final scene is so gut wrenching, it would have made a perfectly satisfactory finale. But there are still two episodes left for the first season. His ambition defies humanity.

Chapter 11

[alfieharvardharrisons · 10/10 · 25 April 2022]

Sorry but I had to binge at least the next episode... man, what a tragic and sad episode. This episode was great from start to finish and house of cards is quickly becoming one of my favourite shows. R. I. P Peter Russo, you were my favourite character.

House of Cards Chapter 11

[dalydj-918-255175 · 12 February 2013]

The episode can only be talked about as shocking especially the conclusion of Peter then he was practically killed by Francis even though everyone believes it to a suicide done by a desperate man. It's sad this episode was the end of Stoll's performance but he left out on a bang with such a riveting performance that was quite moving in his scene on the phone with his young daughter who did not want to speak to him because of the scandal showing at the end of his life he was truly alone. Last week Adam and Claire seemed in paradise together but affairs never seem to work out perfectly for everyone involved. The fight between Adam and Claire was both true and honest and her decision to stay the first time seemed to confuse me. Francis was for the first time honest in the episode especially when speaking of his goals for the vice presidency to Linda and telling Jim to run for the governor position especially since he is the current vice president. The relationship between Francis and Doug seems very interesting since they basically kept a murder secret they will hold. As I mentioned sad to see Stoll got but he gave such amazing performances on the show. Wright once again played all her scenes so well. Great writing and quite an emotional episode for the shocking death on the show.

EPISODE GRADE: A- (MVP: Corey Stoll)

One of the best tv episodes ever made

[hchitsaz · 10/10 · 24 September 2021]

Absolutely one of the best tv series ever came to our screens.

One of the first season's best

[stillworkingfortheknife · 29 March 2014]

It could have almost passed off as a finale for House of Cards' season number one, but no, the intense, main-character-dispatching eleventh chapter is merely a set-up for the last two instalments in the Netflix series's first year, proving an interesting thing once again: that it's all about Frank on this show.

And he, played perfectly by Kevin Spacey, does some stuff in this episode that I believe to exceed the routine actions of the average American politician. Killing a man, for example. The seven minutes the conversation between dead drunk Peter (pardon) and vicious Frank takes up are intense to watch and excellently constructed, part of that being because of its length – I can hardly think of any other scene lasting as long in House of Cards' first season, which shows the emphasis that is laid on these seven minutes – but also because of the downright phenomenal acting performances by Spacey and Corey Stall. The first, examining his location for every little detail before he makes his deadly move and lulling the second, dozing off on the passenger seat while slurring apologies, to sleep in the style of an insanely creepy meditator, establishes himself as a pure villain with this move and sets up a great storytelling opportunity for the following episodes. The final events in Peter's life are of similar sad greatness, his drunken goodbyes to the people he loves most are painful to watch and make his demise even more tragic.

Whenever the episode cut away from this story arc though, to show Zoe using her new boyfriend Lucas as a psychiatrist or Claire and Adam photographing strangers in the park and hoping they don't catch them (if they do, it still makes for a phenomenal shot), I couldn't help but feel out of place. Romantic sub-plots are simply bound to turn pale in comparison to the series's heaviest moments yet and even if these scenes aren't bad filmmaking at all, they were not what I wanted to see when watching the episode. Other than that, chapter eleven excludes big flaws and is a well-written, thrilling hour of filmmaking.

Memoranda: • It must be fun to set up an apartment as if it had just been rearranged by a drunken man if you're a set designer. • Whenever Britons and Americans converse, I feel as if they're subliminally teaching the other how to correctly pronounce the words they are saying. • What a great change of roles from the last episode with Frank and Stamper discussing the current events in the Underwood residence. • "Pick up.", "Answer me." – Maybe Frank should try smileys in his text messages to persuade his wife of returning home. • Who sleeps with necklaces and bracelets on? Probably no one but Adam Gallaway. • I've always considered her to be one of the most three- dimensional and interesting supporting characters in the series and Rachel's reaction to Peter's death is by far the most touching. • No "hearts going out" to Christina in Frank's press statement about Peter's death at the end of the chapter? • Best quote: "I make a habit of considering all trajectories in any given situation." – His wonderful way of expressing himself is really one of the few positive features of Frank.

Sad it Ended ???

[kashif815 · 19 August 2013]

So sad they eliminated the star(at least in my opinion) Stoll(Russo) & for the first time I hated this show, such an amazing and deeply emotional acting before his departure.

Would also like to mention, the loneliness when his girl cried... AHHH ... those scenes that makes you so sad and you want to do something about it.

Loved Spacey throughout the show with his cunning plans & brilliant acting but the moment was stolen by Russo in 11th.

People comparing this show with other look alike but I don't think so there are others look alike, it has its own unique flavor.

& by the way anyone else noted the Star ???