What's This?
Image: Netflix
2014-02-18 04:42:46 UTC
Editor's Note: Beware of spoilers. This is part three of Mashable's three-part review of season two. Part three covers episodes 8 to 13. Read part one and part two.
It's not what you'd anticipate a U.S. vice-president saying, even if just in private: "Come and visit me when I'm in prison," Frank Underwood told his equally conniving wife Claire, when she asked what she could do to thwart exposure of their corruption.
More vulnerable than ever in the final six episodes of House of Cards ' sophomore season, the Underwoods are coping with the threat of their downfall with dark humor, a surprising sexual outlet, as well as intensified plans to use enemies and allies as political scapegoats.
Bills, pills and chills. Those three words sum up the major moments in the Netflix series' chapters 21 to 26. Beautifully — and at times shockingly — the pace quickens in House of Cards' final four episodes after journalist Ayla Sayyad's digging unearths skeletons from Frank and other key characters' pasts. Her investigation leads to interrogations, and exposes the season-defining scandal about whether foreign money was traded for political favors.
We see Frank and Claire like never before. Frank is scared. Claire cries. And yet, their brief show of fragile emotions only serves to refuel their retaliatory spirits.
"When you're fresh meat, kill and throw them something fresher," Frank said, breaking the fourth wall to address Netflix viewers about his ruthless impending strategy.
Kevin Spacey (middle) and Robin Wright once again impress as Frank and Claire Underwood.
Image: Nathaniel Bell/Netflix
House of Cards' season two thrives, just as ABC's Scandal does, when tackling timely multi-episode arcs. Showrunners have weaved in cyber spying, government shutdowns, right of asylum and — to no one's surprise — political malfeasance.
For example, reporter Lucas Goodwin was imprisoned for cyberterrorism. However, his subplot continued when hacker Gavin Orsay worked with the FBI and someone in the White House to use Lucas' cyberterrorism efforts to obtain phone history of AT&T customers.
The cyber storyline more than hints at the National Security Agency's real-life, top-secret PRISM electronic-surveillance program, which was revealed by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.
True-to-life scenarios such as this keep the viewer captivated — and grounded in some semblance of reality — while binge-watching this escapist lark.
Small business owner Freddy Armstrong (Reg E. Cathey) gets caught in the crosshairs of a political battle.
Image: Nathaniel Bell/Netflix
Amid those realistic narratives, writers have been careful to not bog down the speed of storytelling with too much political lingo, remembering to infuse the season with personal tales of demons and hardships facing the stellar-acting supporting cast.
BBQ maestro Freddy Armstrong, owner of the restaurant Frank frequents, is just one of many bystanders or allies who finds himself caught in the crosshairs of the VP's messy war against billionaire investor Raymond Tusk as both big shots work to cover their criminal tracks.
The Frank vs. Raymond conflict sends everyone around them scrambling for safety and power to avoid becoming the next fall guy a la Claire's former secret lover Adam Galloway.
Loyalties are put under microscopes, influencing — as with every worthwhile political thriller — power shifts that strengthen insecurities from those feeling slighted.
Former alcoholic and current VP Chief of Staff Doug Stamper questions his diminishing oversight when Frank starts relying more and more on his seemingly sketchy press secretary, Seth Grayson. Inexperienced House Majority Whip Jacqueline Sharp feels the heat from Claire and military sexual-abuse mouthpiece Megan Hennessey. Meanwhile, lobbyist Remy Danton, who finds it difficult to follow Raymond's commands amid his love fest with Jacqueline, upsets Raymond far enough he breaks a bird's neck in frustration.
What will become of Rachel Posner, the accomplice in Congressman Peter Russo's death in season one?
Image: Nathaniel Bell/Netflix
All the while, President Garrett Walker struggles with reviving his stagnant marriage with therapy (and pills), as his White House staffers Linda Vasquez and Christina Gallagher fall victim to Frank and Claire's oh so clever manipulation.
As the season progressed, it's easy for any attentive viewer to predict Frank and Claire's end goal, which is to eventually replace Garrett and Patricia Walker as president and first lady.
Tougher to guess, however, is whose lives will be destroyed or benefitted along the way and will the Underwoods get what they want like they always so sneakily do.
We won't spoil the final outcome, but the ending leaves some burning questions leading into the show's already announced season three. Will the repercussions of the Underwoods' merciless power trips explode in their faces as journalists continue seeking the truth? What will cyber expert Gavin do with his database of phone records? Will security guard Edward Meechum's intimate actions come back to haunt him? What will become of ex-prostitute Rachel Posner, the accomplice in Congressman Peter Russo's death in season one?
Season two's finale and these unanswered questions will have viewers wishing season three would arrive next weekend, instead of next year, for another round of binge-watching.
Until then, let the butchery ... sink in.
Topics: Entertainment, house of cards, netflix, reviews, streaming tv, Television
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