Frank declares war on Congress to jump-start his jobs program. Claire spars with the Russian Ambassador.Frank declares war on Congress to jump-start his jobs program. Claire spars with the Russian Ambassador.Frank declares war on Congress to jump-start his jobs program. Claire spars with the Russian Ambassador.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen talking to Thomas Yates, Frank Underwood states he prefers shoot 'em up video games because he needs the adrenaline, he is seen playing violent video games throughout the series but this could be a reference to Kevin Spacey portraying the main antagonist in the hugely successful action game Call of Duty (2003) in 2014.
- GoofsDuring the phone call between the car and homeland security the camera shifts to the touchscreen. During the scene the car is driving but in this shot the speedometer reads zero.
- Quotes
Francis Underwood: No writer worth his salt can resist a good story, just as a politician can't resist making promises he can't keep.
- ConnectionsFeatures The Meredith Vieira Show (2014)
Featured review
"No writer worth his salt can resist a good story, just as a politician can't resist making promises he can't keep"
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
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Jul 17, 2019
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- Runtime52 minutes
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- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
- 2.00 : 1
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