House of Cards (TV Series) Chapter 53 (2017) User Reviews

Excellent start to a beloved series

[Kingslaay · 9/10 · 6 June 2017]

This was an excellent start to House of Cards (HOC) season 5. Frank kicks things off in the ruthless and aggressive fashion we all love. The painful wait is finally over and we can get some answers to the nail biting state of affairs.

Some great new stories and depth was added such as seeing the mother of one of the ICO terrorists and later a huge twist that Frank had him under detention all along, a chilling reveal. There seems to be a new enemy in the form of Senator Romero who is a growing problem for the Underwoods. Frank requests a commission on war and wants the nation to declare war on ICO domestically and maybe even overseas. Frank and Claire also seem to have another few tricks up their sleeve such as using NSA inside man Aidan to disrupt things for the nation and relate it to ICO. Conway looks confident and is continuing chopping at Frank's heels.

Frank and Claire continue to perpetuate fear regarding ICO to sway the public. Two weeks now seems enough time for the Underwoods to pull off their schemes. However trouble does seem to loom and appear from within Franks cabinet and not just the public. Only time will tell if they succeed.

Overall an excellent start to the season.

The Foundation for Season 5, Still a Bit Muddled

[Samuel-Shovel · 7/10 · 3 June 2017]

This episode didn't seem to pack as much of a punch as I typically expect out of a HoC episode. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that this episode was primarily used to introduce new story threads and refresh us on cliffhangers from last season but still... something felt off.

The first time we see Frank, he comes barging into Congress and everyone makes a big ole hullabaloo about it. The scene felt a bit too melodramatic and over-the-top for my tastes. Most of the acting on this show is great but there was nothing in this particular episode that really stood out to me.

There wasn't any sense of development in this episode and some of the plot angles feel convoluted: What do those waterfalls signify on the computer? (Also, why did those people just let Aidan waltz into that computer room if his keycard didn't work?) Really, the entire social media plot thread of this show is losing momentum for me and I'm starting to forget what that whole thing is about. Why does the war committee have the authority to investigate Frank?

I'm still highly invested in HoC so hopefully all this will become more clear as the season moves along.

"Well, you know how the Republicans are. Anything but a decision. They mistake complaint for leadership"

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 25 February 2020]

Was a fan of 'House of Cards' for the first four seasons, which made for often incredible television and some of the most addictive as well. Seasons 1 and 2 are especially true to this. They were seasons where even the weakest episodes were still quite a lot better than the weakest episodes of a number of shows, even liked the controversial episodes. Was less taken by Season 5 personally when it was starting to lose what made the show so great, but it was better still than the disaster (widely considered so) that is the last season.

"Chapter 53" was surprisingly not a bad start at all for Season 5. It is nowhere near a 'House of Cards' high point, is a bit of a disappointment compared to what came before it and the decline was beginning to show, but it still made for one of the season's better episodes with one particularly brilliant scene and is quite good if judging it on its own two feet. Also doing well introducing and setting up what was to come for the rest of the season, and doing it with some promise.

The episode's photography is suitably stylish and in perfect keeping with the show's, and story's, tone. Likewise with the music. The political tensions and intrigue still remain, if not as much as before perhaps, and at its best it fascinates. The dialogue has not lost its thoughtfulness and didn't to me sound rambling or confused like later episodes did. This includes one of Frank's all-time great 4th wall breaks.

Which honestly did give me the chills. One of the most chilling and best moments of Season 5 and a great way to end the episode. There is strong character interaction throughout and the tension is definitely there. As well as great performances all round, especially Kevin Spacey for namely the end.

However, part of me did feel that with "Chapter 53" that the show was starting to get tired and running out of ideas. At least though it is not as convoluted or as ridiculous as later Season 5 episodes and especially the whole of Season 6.

Generally the character development has been much meatier in previous episodes, Frank being the only one properly of the characters to show much complexity or meat. At times the story is a little muddled from trying to do too much, it is busy events wise and it felt a bit crowded at times.

In summary, pretty good start for the fifth and penultimate season but 'House of Cards' was capable of much better. 7/10

The Same Old Show We Love - Exciting New Story Lines

[veikkohoffman · 30 May 2017]

The much-anticipated fifth season of House Of Cards opens with a strong and exciting premier, which promises a great direction for the season. The aftermath of the previous season's events, combined with the setup for episodes to come, build an entertaining and well- made season opener. The writing, directing and overall atmosphere of the show are the same as we know and love, with not too much changed. Still, it's clearly a new season and the story has a good direction.

With the election between Underwood and Conway not far ahead, tensions across parties start to boil. Without giving away any specific plot points, I can say that the tense relationship between Democrats and Republicans is portrayed well and fascinatingly in this episode. What each party wants to do in congress sets up two very intriguing story lines, and I can't wait to see how they play out.

The acting is strong as always. Kevin Spacey and company pull off great performances as the characters we know and love (or hate), and all characters fit into the puzzle naturally and all have a role to play. One of the most fascinating aspects in this show is how it portrays politics as a game, where our main character must progress through any given obstacle. Each episode has a sense of progression and evolving in the Underwoods' plan, and this one is no different. Watching the characters play each other is exciting, and moral ambiguity on all sides makes it hard to choose who to root for.

The episode touches on multiple topical issues, including terror, tension and hatred between political parties, and conflict between government and media. Whether or not this season has drawn inspiration from real-life events, it creates interesting parallels to current US politics. Hats off to this show's writers for coming up with a political drama almost as dark, brutal and full of twists than the one we really have. I'm excited to see how the rest of this promising season unfolds.

He's back!

[s-iqbal · 10/10 · 31 May 2017]

Wow what a performance delivered by Kevin Spacey absolutely outstanding. What I love most about House of Cards is how fast paced it is and this first episode of the season delivers by getting us right in to thick of it from the get go.

This season seems darker and this first episode sets the tone for the rest of the season. This is drama at its finest, astonishing, astounding and sensational to say the least is an understatement. All hail Underwood!!

Don't Turn Your Back on a Cobra

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 21 June 2017]

The election is coming up and Frank and Claire aren't going to stop at anything to get elected. The two of them stare into a crowd of everyday people through a borrowed gun scope. What a great symbol. Frank has decided that fear and trembling is his greatest asset, playing on the execution of the family man by a terrorist. He needs people to begin to mistrust and to suspect their neighbors. He's going that isolationist route that our current President and his ilk are promoting. What is interesting here is the ugliness of the pair and their meanness. Power is everything and many know what he is up to, but he is playing it to the hilt. He also has polarized the Congress and the Senate. Frank is pure evil and that makes this hard to watch at times. Conway, the opponent, is in for some rough times.

A Good Start!

[LucasHC_ · 10/10 · 25 June 2017]

At the beginning of the episode we can see an Underwood desperate to divert attention to other things, good or bad. I believe that your attitude within the Congress was an outbreak, since everything is valid to draw attention to what really matters, its various crimes. One who honestly tries to denounce it is passed on as the fool, the bully.

Then we have the scene of his press officer choosing, as if he were exposed to a showcase, tragedies of his fellow citizens. To his taste, his wife chooses the best (worst) situations in which benevolence of the Underwood could be seen, mere politics. Would it be naive for Conway to speak in respect of the dead and the living, while Underwood goes there for pure politics? I will only know in the next episodes.

So, almost the whole episode, Underwood making us dumb, he shows his true face, the Machiavellian man who has everything in his hands, ready to be used. Now he manipulates the situation from within the White House. The use of journalists was not helpful, at least not in this episode.

One fear to rule them all

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 26 April 2021]

Frank pushes for a declaration of war.

This is a strong episode depicting politicians using fear to manipulate voters.

The plot continues where series four left off and shows Frank and Claire at war with enemies looking to bring them down. I can't say that it offered me anything particularly new other than Frank turning off the smarm and steamrolling his way through everything in sociopath mode.

Fear is one of the greatest weapons powerful people use to control the masses and Frank and Claire attempt to wield it with impunity for their own self-serving purpose. I have always admired the cynical approach from the writers of House of Cards and have no doubt that real world leaders and the media constantly use this strategy.

As ever, the visuals are beautiful and the performances of the lead stars are excellent.

We Thought We Knew Him (#5.1)

[arsamana · 15 June 2017]

Frank Underwood is back, and he's here to stay. The episode's opening five minutes, in which Frank thwarts republicans' plan to investigate his crimes (as reported by Tom Hammerschmidt) asks the congress for a formal declaration of war on ICO, quickly sets the tone for the season. political intrigue, Frank's cheeky attitude toward laws, and his tenacity in the face of opposition coalesced in his retort to the House Speaker, who insists that the President yields the floor, "I will not yield, I will never yield."

After the session is adjourned (the Secret Service has to step up to protect the POTUS against the Sergeant at Arms), Frank leaves for the funeral of the beheaded dad, where he confronts the flustered wife and the defiant daughter. "You killed him," the daughter tells Frank, "I wish you die and Clair becomes the President," Foreshadowing or not.

The odd-ball data scientist is still around. He was the one behind the algorithm that manipulated search results to favor the Underwoods. Now he believes NSA is figuring him out, and wants out. LeAnne (Neve Campbell) tells him that the Underwoods will survive, and that he has to help them win the election if he wants to survive too. He sneaks in NSA and steals a manifold of Zero-day exploits ("waterfalls"). I can't tell where this story-line is heading, but it seems to be "Fake News" themed.

Frank and Clair take on a new initiative to "dial up the terror." The news cycle is fixated with the terrorist at large, and Claire takes advantage of an accidental explosion to warn the American people of their families and coworkers. She is thrown a ball of black paint and called "War whore", still she remains insouciant, also "Tom is waiting" for her.

In a remarkable surprise, it turns out that the terrorist is already captured. "Did you think I didn't already have him? I thought you knew me." Tortured and broken in a super-max prison, he is being taunted by Frank, just for the sake of it- "Get rid of the asset, get some good, usable footage of his killing," Frank tells his haunch-man, Agent Green. He wanders into the night to shake the hand of his subjects, gathered in front of the white palace in fear or in protest. We learn that republicans want to use Frank's "war on terror committee to investigate his crimes, and we are left wondering what the King is doing next.

Casket was draped wrong

[daves-23397 · 23 June 2017]

When draping a Closed Casket: When the flag is used to drape a closed casket, it should be so placed that the union (blue field) is at the head and over the left shoulder of the deceased. It was draped the wrong way with the union at the feet. This was pointed out while on site and was told it would be edited in the final version.