We are now in recklessness mode where Frank is going to let it all hang out, knowing that goof up along the way could really be destructive. He does an end run around the UN and instead of trying to appease the Russians who have threatened to arm Iran, he is going to beef up the borders and attack any effort to move arms. Claire is told by the Russian ambassador that she is incompetent. She delivers an ultimatum to him, sitting on the toilet in the lady's room. A really in your face statement. Doug is brought into Dunbar's fold by offering damning evidence of the first lady's lies, counting on Dunbar rejecting the use of this stuff. One of the conditions of the Russian thing is the release of a gay man whose partner is helping the Dunbar campaign. If Claire is given credit for the release, it neutralizes a good deal of the effect of Dunbar's efforts. Her being seen as a hero, as it were. Frank wants a book written and goes to a National Book Award winning author. Nothing ordinary for Frank. Meanwhile, he has fund money for the Washington, D. C. mayor to hire a slew of people to show how his jobs program works. Everything is show and he putting on a good one. Obviously, sustaining this is way too big for the whole country. Frank just wants to get elected and then let the chips fall.
3 Reviews
"No writer worth his salt can resist a good story, just as a politician can't resist making promises he can't keep"
TheLittleSongbird17 July 2019
The first season of 'House of Cards' was wonderful and remarkably consistent, its weakest episode "Chapter 8" still being good. The darker Season 2 was never less than very good with so many fantastic elements, though to me the second half of it was better than the first, the best episodes of the season all being in the second half of it and rivalling the best of Season 1.
'House of Cards' has not lost its solidity yet, which is great, with the show still being in its prime (Seasons 1-4, was disappointed in especially Season 6). Although this and the previous four episodes of Season 3 are not quite up to the same level as the best of Seasons 1 and 2, the intrigue and tension is more than there and all the episodes are very high in both. There is also a lot to admire about all the episodes up to this point of Season 3, the best elements wonderful, though apart from the excellent "Chapter 28" the story direction didn't feel completely settled.
"Chapter 31" is on the most part very good and actually very close to great, the strengths far outshining the couple of weaknesses.
Will be honest in feeling that Jackie was written more strongly in the previous season, with more force and steel and her subplots in Season 2 were more interesting and more relevant. Am not disparaging her and her writing here, this is in comparison considering she was one of my favourite things about Season 2 whereas here it has been more about the tensions and intrigue between Frank, Claire and other additional characters. With her subplot, found Remy, felt sorry for him actually, easier to get behind.
An awful lot is fabulous here though. The new characters are handled very well here. Thomas' introduction was very strikingly done, David Fincher would be proud and couldn't help being reminded of him looking at how it was shot. Did feel in a way though that it went on a little too long. Kate is also interesting, a smart character and charming too. Do not agree with the previous commentator regarding Kim Dickens being bad, thought she did a great job and it reminded me of the way she played her relatively similar character in 'Gone Girl'. Claire's sparring with the suave and enigmatic Russian Ambassador had the right amount of tension and showed Claire's increasing ruthless.
Frank continues to be a fascinating, increasingly unscrupulous character, with typically memorable lines and have always loved it when he breaks the fourth wall. Don't think he dominates too much, which was a criticism had with the first half of Season 2. The acting is terrific as always from all, Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright do not disappoint. The production values are slick and stylish and the writing distinctively sharp and biting. The story always compels and even if the political elements are not an awful lot new they haven't lost their intrigue or suspense. James Foley returns as director, and there was a reason as to why he was one of the show's most used directors, he paces things very well and his film experience shows too.
On the whole, very good. 8/10
'House of Cards' has not lost its solidity yet, which is great, with the show still being in its prime (Seasons 1-4, was disappointed in especially Season 6). Although this and the previous four episodes of Season 3 are not quite up to the same level as the best of Seasons 1 and 2, the intrigue and tension is more than there and all the episodes are very high in both. There is also a lot to admire about all the episodes up to this point of Season 3, the best elements wonderful, though apart from the excellent "Chapter 28" the story direction didn't feel completely settled.
"Chapter 31" is on the most part very good and actually very close to great, the strengths far outshining the couple of weaknesses.
Will be honest in feeling that Jackie was written more strongly in the previous season, with more force and steel and her subplots in Season 2 were more interesting and more relevant. Am not disparaging her and her writing here, this is in comparison considering she was one of my favourite things about Season 2 whereas here it has been more about the tensions and intrigue between Frank, Claire and other additional characters. With her subplot, found Remy, felt sorry for him actually, easier to get behind.
An awful lot is fabulous here though. The new characters are handled very well here. Thomas' introduction was very strikingly done, David Fincher would be proud and couldn't help being reminded of him looking at how it was shot. Did feel in a way though that it went on a little too long. Kate is also interesting, a smart character and charming too. Do not agree with the previous commentator regarding Kim Dickens being bad, thought she did a great job and it reminded me of the way she played her relatively similar character in 'Gone Girl'. Claire's sparring with the suave and enigmatic Russian Ambassador had the right amount of tension and showed Claire's increasing ruthless.
Frank continues to be a fascinating, increasingly unscrupulous character, with typically memorable lines and have always loved it when he breaks the fourth wall. Don't think he dominates too much, which was a criticism had with the first half of Season 2. The acting is terrific as always from all, Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright do not disappoint. The production values are slick and stylish and the writing distinctively sharp and biting. The story always compels and even if the political elements are not an awful lot new they haven't lost their intrigue or suspense. James Foley returns as director, and there was a reason as to why he was one of the show's most used directors, he paces things very well and his film experience shows too.
On the whole, very good. 8/10
Casting
VKintheUK-83-5527686 November 2018
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