Chapter 36
- Episode aired Feb 27, 2015
- TV-MA
- 57m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
Frank needs to deal with Petrov one on one, while Claire tries to preserve the peace-keeping mission. Sacrifices must be made.Frank needs to deal with Petrov one on one, while Claire tries to preserve the peace-keeping mission. Sacrifices must be made.Frank needs to deal with Petrov one on one, while Claire tries to preserve the peace-keeping mission. Sacrifices must be made.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDoug Stamper's niece and nephew are played by actor Michael Kelly's children: Franke Kelly and Clinton. When Franke hugs Doug and knocks him over the resemblance is obvious.
- GoofsWhen Underwood arrives at the Russian base in the Jordan Valley one of the vehicles in the compound is an FV433 Abbot SPG, a British self-propelled artillery piece. Not something which Russian troops would be using.
- Quotes
Francis Underwood: Sometimes I think the Presidency is the illusion of choice.
Featured review
"Sometimes I think the Presidency is the illusion of choice"
Season 3 may not be as great or as consistent as the whole of Season 1 and the second half of Season 2, but for me it was still a solid season that really picked up from "Chapter 33" ("Chapter 28" though was excellent as well). Despite finding major faults with them, especially "Chapter 32", even the more divisive episodes of the season had enough to them to make me like them. For me, 'House of Cards' was yet to have a bad episode and "Chapter 36" doesn't thankfully make me feel any different.
"Chapter 36" at this point outdoes the excellent previous episode in being at this point the best episode of Season 3 and one of its best overall. And for pretty much for the same or at least similar reasons to it. Season 3 was yet to have an episode quite on the same level as the best of the previous two seasons, but its best episodes were still great on their own. Not just great as far as 'House of Cards' goes but it would easily pass as a great episode for anything.
Of the three plotlines, the political tension with Frank comes off the strongest. Then again anything concerning Frank at this point of 'House of Cards' was guaranteed to be seldom less than interesting. Tautly written with the necessary bite and with genuine tension, always holding my attention and never slipping. Frank is still a fascinating and increasingly ruthless character and Petrov is every bit his equal, matching him in the unscrupulousness (in this episode he's even more so). Lars Mikkelsen portrays him with authority, not always subtle but the role doesn't really call for that. Claire's role is handled beautifully as well.
Actually found Doug's storyline a good mix of intense and moving and it doesn't feel like in development or progression it's come to a standstill. Michael Kelly is affecting as to be expected, and have really liked too that Season 3 has seen a very different and more sensitive side to Frank in his genuine want to help Doug which has been unexpected and stops him from being one-dimensional.
Gavin's storyline comes off least in my view, but still compels and feels like there's progression going on. It just didn't the same amount of tension and emotion of the other two subplots, and Gavin is not as interesting a character yet compared to the above (early days though).
Production values are typically slick and stylish while the music neither feels ham-handed or inappropriate. The acting is without complaint, Kevin Spacey has yet to put a foot wrong and he is a major reason for the show being so brilliant when in its prime.
Summarising, excellent. 9/10
"Chapter 36" at this point outdoes the excellent previous episode in being at this point the best episode of Season 3 and one of its best overall. And for pretty much for the same or at least similar reasons to it. Season 3 was yet to have an episode quite on the same level as the best of the previous two seasons, but its best episodes were still great on their own. Not just great as far as 'House of Cards' goes but it would easily pass as a great episode for anything.
Of the three plotlines, the political tension with Frank comes off the strongest. Then again anything concerning Frank at this point of 'House of Cards' was guaranteed to be seldom less than interesting. Tautly written with the necessary bite and with genuine tension, always holding my attention and never slipping. Frank is still a fascinating and increasingly ruthless character and Petrov is every bit his equal, matching him in the unscrupulousness (in this episode he's even more so). Lars Mikkelsen portrays him with authority, not always subtle but the role doesn't really call for that. Claire's role is handled beautifully as well.
Actually found Doug's storyline a good mix of intense and moving and it doesn't feel like in development or progression it's come to a standstill. Michael Kelly is affecting as to be expected, and have really liked too that Season 3 has seen a very different and more sensitive side to Frank in his genuine want to help Doug which has been unexpected and stops him from being one-dimensional.
Gavin's storyline comes off least in my view, but still compels and feels like there's progression going on. It just didn't the same amount of tension and emotion of the other two subplots, and Gavin is not as interesting a character yet compared to the above (early days though).
Production values are typically slick and stylish while the music neither feels ham-handed or inappropriate. The acting is without complaint, Kevin Spacey has yet to put a foot wrong and he is a major reason for the show being so brilliant when in its prime.
Summarising, excellent. 9/10
helpful•54
- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 12, 2019
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime57 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
- 2.00 : 1
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