House of Cards (TV Series) Chapter 28 (2015) User Reviews

The Underwood's Establish Their Long and Messy Goals

[r-kerr0992 · 9/10 · 3 March 2015]

OVERVIEW The stress on the Underwoods thickens. Frank's cabinet is questioning his ability to run due to his unpopularity through congress and in the view of the public, and they have recommended he does not run for presidency in 2016. He also has the Solicitor General putting pressure on him from the mistakes of the previous president where an American citizen was injured in a zone strike. Claire is also shown in weakness as her questioning for UN Ambassador backfires, what Frank expected. Doug is still being pushed out with no contact from Frank.

What proceeds is the true start of Frank's push to take the bull by the horns and stay i the White House, trying to receive funding from as many entities as possible, and trying to sway members of the doubtful leadership, with little or no return. Claire mirrors his effort as she scrambles to achieve the senator's approval for UN Ambassador position after the media slammed hearing. This is the central premise of the episode, and its interesting to see both characters' grasp of frustration and their extensive means of political persuasion. With a passionate and strange toned sex scene between Frank and Claire it sparks the turning point in their endeavours, both coming to a conclusion for their current problems.

PERFORMANCES Kevin Spacey yet again takes the cake. There are a few scenes yet to mention but he's just great at the part. Again, not much changing in regards to supporting cast, with Robin Wright being solid, and Mahershala Ali (Remy) getting more screen time, but still unable to show his abilities. I always get the impression that it will always boil down to two performances, Robin Wright and Kevin Spacey. With the feeling of a somewhat Shakespearian play, it seems like these two will always be the grand front of the series, and the support cast are just minor story telling tools. A majority of the emotional impact is in the hands of the Underwoods.

NOTEWORTHY MOMENTS Two scenes in particular really made me engaged. The first was the realisation that Frank comes to in regards to downplaying his run for presidency. He decides to tell the leadership he will not run, but for his own sake to leave a legacy, the America Works program. What follows is a fantastic monologue of Frank fixing his condition to stepping down for 2016, that he wants America Works to be passed within the next 18 months. Its such a great scene filled with passion and frustration that is depicted in both the leadership's thought of his lost cause and Frank's ambition to be a remembered President.

Without knowing the cabinet's stance on the proposal, he delivers what I believe is a fantastically accurate and real perspective on countless government social systems, that 'We are entitled to nothing'. The government should provide the tools to thrive and build our lives and business ambitions, and we can only help ourselves with the support of governance. It's such an engaging speech and I personally feel the most relative I have been to the show in it's never ending catalogue of thought provoking dialogue.

VERDICT This episode establishes the plans for both Clair and Frank, with Claire being re- nominated for UN ambassador by Frank, and himself nominating that the best way forward for his presidential aspirations, America Works success, and making piece with the Justice System over the civilian injury is by adopting an honest policy. Things are looking bright at the moment for the President and the First Lady, however, the skeletons are still in the closet, ready to come out. Lets hope that happens soon.

Beginning of the "New Masterplan"

[surajkanugo · 9/10 · 11 April 2020]

This episode shows us that the Underwoods have hit the rock bottom. Frank is asked not to run for President and Claire was not elected as US Ambassador for UN. They have never been this powerless as seen in this episode. But here comes the turning point. Frank was sobbing and Claire returned from her Run. To help him get out of the despair, agony and pain; Claire simply removes his pants and hers and starts making love. This is probably the first time that the Underwoods were shown making love to each other without the presence of a third person. This is their most powerful moment as a couple in the entire series. From here on Frank gets satisfied; is relieved of all the stress and gets back to Action. The plan from hereon is pretty simple to predict: "Hunt or be Hunted".

"We are entitled to nothing"

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 26 June 2019]

'House of Cards' was a prime example of a show that started brilliantly and then declined rapidly in the last two seasons. In Seasons 1-4, all the episodes ranged from solid to brilliant. Season 6 however was especially disappointing and in my mind one of the worst final seasons for any show, feeling like a different show and enough to make one want to give up on the show. Have said this more than once in the past, but it is worth reiterating as it is something that there are strong feelings for.

Found the Season 3 premiere "Chapter 27" to be a promising start for the season, not everybody was completely taken with it and one can understand, as the story direction didn't always feel settled (unusual for 'House of Cards' at this point of its run). Personally though did find much to admire and thought the focus on Doug was done very compellingly. "Chapter 28" is a better episode however, the story feels much more settled, the dynamic between Frank and Claire is the most interesting and most tense it was up to this point of the show and things feel more advanced in storytelling and characterisation. One can see more where things are going and it establishes things very well.

It doesn't quite have the same amount of tautness as the very best episodes, but there is so little to fault. "Chapter 28" is a great episode and among the better episodes of Season 3.

The writing is some of the best of the show up to this point. The dialogue as ever bites and the intelligence and sharpness has not been lost, quite the opposite. This is especially apparent in the writing for Frank, the monologue and speech writing here being extremely powerful in a way that wasn't as passionate or engaging before. The ones regarding his run for presidency and on the government social systems (that one really hits home and hard, also still very relevant today) are indeed the highlights.

Everything politics-oriented, and it is rightly heavily focused upon, intrigues and unsettles without beating around the head. Both Frank and Claire's subplots are equal in the tension and emotional impact and it is not a case of one being more interesting than the other. Both are great characters as well, Frank always was one of the most fascinating lead characters on television and Claire's icy demeanour and unscrupulousness (almost as much as Frank's) is more than believable, doing so with each episode.

Also love the chemistry between them, almost like the Macbeths-like and focused on just as much. Subtle it's not, the "love" scene being an example of this, but was not expecting that in all honesty. The tension between them scintillates and makes for truly absorbing drama, more layered than it seems too, despite the lovelessness and sexlessness the mutual respect is always there.

"Chapter 28" looks great visually, very slick and stylish and the music complements well. John David Coles' direction is alert and sympathetic, with some of his most effective direction visually seen in one shot where Frank talks about his plans and the focus on Kevin Spacey's face and eyes in the reaction to what is said.

Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright are both brilliant, especially Spacey whose delivery of those two scenes aforementioned especially helped make them stand out in the way they did.

Overall, great. 9/10

They Got What They Wanted but ........

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 27 February 2015]

The Macbeths (Excuse me, the Underwoods) have a bad day. Frank calls in the leadership to familiarize them with his jobs bill. Before he can lay it out to them, they tell him they don't believe he should run in sixteen months. They feel because he is not an elected President and his ratings are so poor, he would be a detriment to the ticket. Frank decides, however, that he is not going to listen to advice and to run anyway. Claire wants the position as Ambassador to the United Nations, but she loses her temper at the hearing and loses face. It seems that Frank may be relieved by this result.

Frank gets an idea. He calls in the leadership and tells them he will not run, but he will insist that they support his no-entitlement bill. This is an earth shattering announcement. Meanwhile, Doug is drinking, filling a syringe with bourbon and squirting it into his mouth. I suppose it allows him some control. Frank won't see him but sends an emissary instead. Claire asks Frank to use a strange precedent and put her in as the UN Ambassador. It's obvious that he is against it, but he agrees to do it. She gets visibly sick. This is such a great series because we know, as does Doug, that Frank is going to run.