With Netflix officially releasing House of Cards Season 3 on Feb 27, I figured this is the right time to start the discussion thread going.
House of Cards Season 3 (Discussion and Spoilers)
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With Netflix officially releasing House of Cards Season 3 on Feb 27, I figured this is the right time to start the discussion thread going.
Half way through.
Tame and dull.
Orange is the new Black kicks it's ass.
Tame and dull.
Orange is the new Black kicks it's ass.
A
Amaris
Guest
I'm on episode 1, and I'm actually encountering an odd issue where my Roku keeps showing me Spanish subtitles, even when I have them off.
Aside from that, I'm liking it, and can't wait to keep going.
Aside from that, I'm liking it, and can't wait to keep going.
I've just finished the fourth episode. I think you'll like the end of that one, J. 
Really great.
It's started off slowly and doesn't have the addictive draw of the previous seasons. And it's still too early to tell for me whether this season will show Frank's eventual downfall (as the third series of the original did) or whether he'll survive to scheme another day.
Really great.It's started off slowly and doesn't have the addictive draw of the previous seasons. And it's still too early to tell for me whether this season will show Frank's eventual downfall (as the third series of the original did) or whether he'll survive to scheme another day.
Episode 12.
"Elizabeth Marvel"
I love that name.
Nope, still a truck load of cottage cheese.
Although a little airbrusing of the season one stuff with Kate Mara and you can fake it that the Invisible Woman and lex Luthor are having a secret love affair.
"Elizabeth Marvel"
I love that name.
Nope, still a truck load of cottage cheese.
Although a little airbrusing of the season one stuff with Kate Mara and you can fake it that the Invisible Woman and lex Luthor are having a secret love affair.
Well, that was probably the most useless season so far. I wont spoil anything, but damn...
Yup, very useless.
I miss President Bartlett.
I also miss President Gichrist from 1600 Penn.
If Scandal could be measured in balls, then House of Cards would be 4 pubes plucked from Scandal's balls.
The resident ex spook cleaner from Scandal took a cheese grater to most of Portia De Rossi's back until she answered his questions because she played a small part in the abduction of the President's Mistress a few weeks back... AND SHE STILL WENT TO WORK THE NEXT DAY!
I miss President Bartlett.
I also miss President Gichrist from 1600 Penn.
If Scandal could be measured in balls, then House of Cards would be 4 pubes plucked from Scandal's balls.
The resident ex spook cleaner from Scandal took a cheese grater to most of Portia De Rossi's back until she answered his questions because she played a small part in the abduction of the President's Mistress a few weeks back... AND SHE STILL WENT TO WORK THE NEXT DAY!
I like House of Cards more than Scandal, but this season just seems so aimless
I haven't started it yet, but I was afraid of this. This season should have been the show's last. Instead they are going to milk it for a few useless seasons.
Well, there is a story to tell if they would like to do so, but the way they are selecting to go is not how I would have liked them to do it.
In the UK version, even in the 1st season of the US version, Francis had a long and complex winding plan that anticipated all resistance which he cunningly overcame, even if, and sometimes especially if it meant murder.
This season was all about Frank thinking that the hard work was over and that every one would just bend over because he is president. He wasn't clever or sneaky about anything because he thought he had enough power that he didn't need to do that anymore, so nobody bent over, and all resistance against President Underwood was far more successful than it had a right to be.
This season was all about Frank thinking that the hard work was over and that every one would just bend over because he is president. He wasn't clever or sneaky about anything because he thought he had enough power that he didn't need to do that anymore, so nobody bent over, and all resistance against President Underwood was far more successful than it had a right to be.
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A
Amaris
Guest
Yeah, I just finished the last episode for the season, and Frank is different here. In the first two seasons he's cunning, brilliant, and ruthless. Here he's just a brute beast, expecting everyone to bow to his will, and it just doesn't work as well as the previous seasons. Plus, holy shit, that last episode!
Yeah, episode 4 was solid, and it cemented my notion that Frank may be the devil.
Seriously, though, I agree with you about this season being slower, and I just find it doesn't have that same zing. I mean, I watched it with rapt attention, but not out of excitement to see what Frank does next, but out of concern because it's like one major car wreck in the making. I won't give away any details openly, but what I can say is that having watched the season, Frank is smarter than this. He's smarter, and he's just bludgeoning instead of finessing.
I was shocked to see that Doug murdered Rachel. All he had to do was let her live her new life! Just let her go! She wasn't going to do anything to him. I strongly dislike Doug now, and can't wait to see his downfall, and my heart hurts for Rachel, and what happened to her at his hand. Just awful.
As for Claire leaving Frank, I tie it all back with Frank being a brute instead of his wildly intelligent self, but Claire's the one that surprises me. It just seems like she snaps. Next season will prove interesting, I hope.
As for Claire leaving Frank, I tie it all back with Frank being a brute instead of his wildly intelligent self, but Claire's the one that surprises me. It just seems like she snaps. Next season will prove interesting, I hope.
I've just finished the fourth episode. I think you'll like the end of that one, J.
It's started off slowly and doesn't have the addictive draw of the previous seasons. And it's still too early to tell for me whether this season will show Frank's eventual downfall (as the third series of the original did) or whether he'll survive to scheme another day.
Yeah, episode 4 was solid, and it cemented my notion that Frank may be the devil.
Seriously, though, I agree with you about this season being slower, and I just find it doesn't have that same zing. I mean, I watched it with rapt attention, but not out of excitement to see what Frank does next, but out of concern because it's like one major car wreck in the making. I won't give away any details openly, but what I can say is that having watched the season, Frank is smarter than this. He's smarter, and he's just bludgeoning instead of finessing.
I thought the Russian President was going to manhandle ( or worse?) Claire and then Frank was going to kill him. Imagine if the Final scene had been the US president holding a bloody knife, standing over the Russian president's corpse?
So much build up there to practically nothing.
I even briefly thought that Claire might have killed Dexter's brother when she was sleeping in his cell, but nope, nothing plotty, just another dead end.
So much build up there to practically nothing.
I even briefly thought that Claire might have killed Dexter's brother when she was sleeping in his cell, but nope, nothing plotty, just another dead end.
Yeah, I just finished the season myself. It certainly wasn't as riveting or interesting as the previous two seasons. The show is still fantastic - it features some of the most incredible acting, cinematography and direction I've seen in a serialized program. Although something felt "off" - like J. Allen said, it lost some of that "zing".
I will say this, though: Without getting into spoilers, I really love what they did with Claire this season. I think it was during an early episode but they revealed something about Claire's intentions that we haven't really seen before. I thought it was brilliant. For the longest time, I had major concerns about the longevity of the show - although this season did little to quell them. However, with that said, Claire's character is quickly becoming my favorite of the show. It's almost as if the writers know this - heck, even some of the voters on the show were quickly favoring Claire over Frank. I feel like that might translate to the viewers of the show as well. At least, it did for me.
I'd have no problem if the show eventually shifted its focus to Claire, but given the ending of the season finale it'll be interesting to see where things go from here. I still think the show has about a season or two left before it might overstay its welcome. I just hope next season captures some of the show's intrigue and suspense more. Honestly, this season focused too much on the politics in my mind - in previous seasons there seemed to be a healthy balance between the differing perspectives, such as Zoe's perspective and then Frank's political perspective. Like others have said, Frank also lost a bit of his brilliant, ruthless touch this season - it's almost as if he was struggling to regain leverage and power throughout the entire season. I'm sure that was somewhat intentional, but it just made for a slightly different angle for Frank.
I hope next season changes or fixes that - let's see Frank trying to gain the upper hand again. Something tells me he's going to have a lot of cards stacked against him - pardon the pun - so hopefully next season (providing we're getting a fourth season - I assume we are) will bring back some of the show's signature zing.
I will say this, though: Without getting into spoilers, I really love what they did with Claire this season. I think it was during an early episode but they revealed something about Claire's intentions that we haven't really seen before. I thought it was brilliant. For the longest time, I had major concerns about the longevity of the show - although this season did little to quell them. However, with that said, Claire's character is quickly becoming my favorite of the show. It's almost as if the writers know this - heck, even some of the voters on the show were quickly favoring Claire over Frank. I feel like that might translate to the viewers of the show as well. At least, it did for me.
I'd have no problem if the show eventually shifted its focus to Claire, but given the ending of the season finale it'll be interesting to see where things go from here. I still think the show has about a season or two left before it might overstay its welcome. I just hope next season captures some of the show's intrigue and suspense more. Honestly, this season focused too much on the politics in my mind - in previous seasons there seemed to be a healthy balance between the differing perspectives, such as Zoe's perspective and then Frank's political perspective. Like others have said, Frank also lost a bit of his brilliant, ruthless touch this season - it's almost as if he was struggling to regain leverage and power throughout the entire season. I'm sure that was somewhat intentional, but it just made for a slightly different angle for Frank.
I hope next season changes or fixes that - let's see Frank trying to gain the upper hand again. Something tells me he's going to have a lot of cards stacked against him - pardon the pun - so hopefully next season (providing we're getting a fourth season - I assume we are) will bring back some of the show's signature zing.
"I should never have made you ambassador."
"I should never have made you president."
This exchange at the very end of episode 6 is the very essence of season 3. The major focus of this season was as much about the politics or the scheming as it was about the power dynamics of the relationship between Francis and Claire. The exploration of those dynamics were always there, but there were more in the forefront this season, switching roles with the scheming. The way things ended this season helped curve off any worries I had about the next season playing out in a predictable fashion (primary mid-season, general finale), but with Claire walking out on Francis, his life has just become extremely difficult. I don't see how he'll be able climb out of that hole, even with Doug back at his side.
Speaking of which, the Doug storyline focused on his road to recovery, not just from his injuries from Rachel's justified attack and his subsequent relapse into alcoholism, but also from his obsession with Rachel. I thought his relationship with Sharon, his physical fitness therapist, was going to play on that obsession (because of their physical similarities) but it didn't go anywhere. The whole storyline played out quietly and very nicely in the background. That being said, I was very disappointed he decided to turn around and kill Rachel in the end. He was always despicable but now he's redeemable with that act.
Kim Dickens and Paul Sparks are fine additions to this season's guest cast, but I was ultimately disappointed in the resolution of their joint storyline. I expected Kate to become interested Thomas' failed novel and set up the two of them working together expose the truth about the Underwoods (albeit for different reasons). Maybe this will still happen, jointly or not, but it felt like a sudden non-starter at the end. Either way, I hope both of them return next season.
"I should never have made you president."
This exchange at the very end of episode 6 is the very essence of season 3. The major focus of this season was as much about the politics or the scheming as it was about the power dynamics of the relationship between Francis and Claire. The exploration of those dynamics were always there, but there were more in the forefront this season, switching roles with the scheming. The way things ended this season helped curve off any worries I had about the next season playing out in a predictable fashion (primary mid-season, general finale), but with Claire walking out on Francis, his life has just become extremely difficult. I don't see how he'll be able climb out of that hole, even with Doug back at his side.
Speaking of which, the Doug storyline focused on his road to recovery, not just from his injuries from Rachel's justified attack and his subsequent relapse into alcoholism, but also from his obsession with Rachel. I thought his relationship with Sharon, his physical fitness therapist, was going to play on that obsession (because of their physical similarities) but it didn't go anywhere. The whole storyline played out quietly and very nicely in the background. That being said, I was very disappointed he decided to turn around and kill Rachel in the end. He was always despicable but now he's redeemable with that act.
Kim Dickens and Paul Sparks are fine additions to this season's guest cast, but I was ultimately disappointed in the resolution of their joint storyline. I expected Kate to become interested Thomas' failed novel and set up the two of them working together expose the truth about the Underwoods (albeit for different reasons). Maybe this will still happen, jointly or not, but it felt like a sudden non-starter at the end. Either way, I hope both of them return next season.
I did notice one thing that I loved: It's a small detail but Frank's hair gets progressively more gray as the season progresses. It's a nice touch how all President's look visibly older and have more gray hair as their term progresses.
The season sure does lack the same level of gritty tension the other two did. Making Francis President limits the scope and the ability for the writing staff to stretch his characters believability in terms of outrageous behavior though. e.g. The Prez couldn't get away with pushing someone in front of a subway car, nor as easily have multiple affairs.
The third series of the UK version is about how Francis fearing that his legacy is going to be forgettable moves heaven and earth to trick some moron little country into attacking them and therefore giving Britain an easy and quick victory.
Frank could have played savvy against equals if his opponents where all world leaders.
Frank could have played savvy against equals if his opponents where all world leaders.
Finished this. I actually loved what they were trying to do, but I did enjoy it a lot less. Seeing
was the natural progression of where we ended last season, and probably my preferred storyline. It was well-thought and had the same attention to the detail and the twists and turns of the previous seasons, with a serious amount of well-written political commentary that was even a bit better. But it was as if all was done without the audience in mind. When all the surprises came, the emotion wasn't there. It had powerful sequences, but little to stand out.
But I think the main problem comes down to
Frank Underwood self-inflicted downfall in his own delusion
But I think the main problem comes down to
me connecting with that son of a bitch Underwood. Seeing him knocked down step by step is not as entertaining as seeing him knock down the world around him step by step. And that's fucked up.
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