Chapter 41

Claire starts to put her plans in motion and Frank makes his state of the union address.

This is a strong episode with the first skirmish in what feels like an upcoming war between the Frank and Claire. As you can imagine it involves two-faces and plenty of backstabbing. We have reminder of the ruthlessness that both Frank and Claire possess, particularly Claire in one scene towards the end.

There is the welcome return of Petrov to the storyline with another diplomatic situation on the cards for Frank to deal with, which bodes well for the upcoming episodes as their exchanges are always entertaining.

The cinematography is as excellent as ever, particularly some of the interior shots. There is one scene involving two people in a hotel room that is beautifully framed and coloured.

All performances as great as ever, particularly Kevin Spacey who not only makes a powerful speech but in a different scene delivers a great monologue whilst making a peanut butter sandwich. Ellen Burstyn also stands out as Elizabeth Hale and has some memorable moments.

How could two such bloodthirsty people find each other? Frank and Claire are ready for the face off of the century. Of course, Frank was never elected President, so he must campaign in the primaries and caucuses. He is not doing well and because of his megalomaniacal treatment of Claire, he is starting to not look so good. He is also manipulating, or attempting to manipulate, the Russians. Frank does his State of the Union address and makes alliances that sabotage Claire's wish to become a Congresswoman. Frank is getting desperate and puts everything on a teeter-board, realizing how close to the edge he has become. He is banking on people doing a poor job of observing the political climate. Frank makes this incredible speech about a boy who refuses to come down from a tree, despite everyone cajoling and begging him. Frank has the solution and it's typical Frank. This is priceless. Things are boiling. There is also a plea to Claire's dying mother, trying to get a million and a half dollars from her.

"Chapter 40" was a very promising start to Season 4 of 'House of Cards', doing very well in its purpose to setting things what is to come and in making one dying to see more. It was a little unbalanced on the political and personal elements of the story, with a little too much of the latter, but a vast majority of what made 'House of Cards' such a great show in its prime was there in the episode.

This second episode "Chapter 41" is even better, as expected, building upon what was starting to be set up in the previous chapter and advancing it, like one sort of expects when a season moves forward rather than it feeling like filler. It further makes the newly introduced story elements and new characters interesting and has a better balance of political and personal, with more of a focus on the former rather than the personal lives dominating a little too much (a mistake with the previous episode).

It may slightly lack the tension and emotion of the very best episodes, but there is not really that much wrong here.

Visually, the slick style is here as is the class. The music is a good complement and the direction is alert, providing the necessary tension with Petrov, yet has breathing space in the necessary moments. The political elements here are sharp and have bite and edge, with Petrov managing to do the impossible in being more ruthless to a malevolent degree than Frank (and Frank is bloodthirsty-ruthless here), proving to be more than a match for him and Frank has to do a lot to come close to him. The more personal aspects don't dominate and intrigue just as much, one of the best lines coming from Elizabeth when talking about Frank and summing him up perfectly. The dialogue reflects all of that, and do agree that Frank's speech is incredible (some of his best writing in a while).

As for the acting, that's on point too. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright are dynamite as always, while Lars Mikkelsen relishes playing the increasingly malevolent Petrov and Ellen Burstyn again is a scene stealer, particularly fantastic in the scene where Claire threatens to sell the house.

Summing up, wonderful. 9/10