House of Cards

[Totenkindly]

Oh, and I want to post this about the Episode 1 incident:

BIG TIME SPOILER, DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU'VE SEEN EPISODE #1

I watched the 20 minutes prior to Zoe getting thrown under the bus, and it's clearly telegraphed (at least, if you know what is going to happen) that after the edgy park meeting with Frank and Zoe, the Underwoods have discussed the reporter and Claire has left the decision up to Frank.

Frank goes to the BBQ place for ribs and that's when the unsettling story about the hog butchering occurs. I've seen the same reviewers express confusion about this anecdote, even while running on and on about Zoe's death -- well the hog story is what helps Frank make up his mind. If you kill the hog fast, it doesn't have time to squeal; but if you drag things out and it sees the end coming, it will scream and scream and draw a lot of attention. The "quick" death is said to be merciful and relatively painless, because it's over immediately with no time to prepare or fear. Peter was a 'slow death' and giving Zoe a 'slow death' will only draw a LOT more exposure than Frank cares to experience... and it's already clear Zoe is digging around and won't let up.

When you look at the murder in this sense, comparing Zoe to the doomed hog, Frank actually -- while being expedient and silencing someone who might expose him -- is actually being merciful from his perspective. She dies quick, she barely has time to realize that Frank's going to kill her before she's dead.

Also, Frank is obviously distressed by this. he comes in the house, climbs the steps, sees Claire waiting... and they say nothing to each other, just look. Then he moves past her, sits down, she sits down... and he quietly reaches out and snuffs out the single candle between them, basically relaying to Claire what he just did. She takes his hand and they sit there in the dark together.

Claire obviously knew, as the next day she's completely unsuprised at all the news reports of Zoe's death and just quietly goes on with putting on her makeup.

 

[NK258]

Oh, and I want to post this about the Episode 1 incident:

BIG TIME SPOILER, DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU'VE SEEN EPISODE #1

I watched the 20 minutes prior to Zoe getting thrown under the bus, and it's clearly telegraphed (at least, if you know what is going to happen) that after the edgy park meeting with Frank and Zoe, the Underwoods have discussed the reporter and Claire has left the decision up to Frank.

Frank goes to the BBQ place for ribs and that's when the unsettling story about the hog butchering occurs. I've seen the same reviewers express confusion about this anecdote, even while running on and on about Zoe's death -- well the hog story is what helps Frank make up his mind. If you kill the hog fast, it doesn't have time to squeal; but if you drag things out and it sees the end coming, it will scream and scream and draw a lot of attention. The "quick" death is said to be merciful and relatively painless, because it's over immediately with no time to prepare or fear. Peter was a 'slow death' and giving Zoe a 'slow death' will only draw a LOT more exposure than Frank cares to experience... and it's already clear Zoe is digging around and won't let up.

When you look at the murder in this sense, comparing Zoe to the doomed hog, Frank actually -- while being expedient and silencing someone who might expose him -- is actually being merciful from his perspective. She dies quick, she barely has time to realize that Frank's going to kill her before she's dead.

Also, Frank is obviously distressed by this. he comes in the house, climbs the steps, sees Claire waiting... and they say nothing to each other, just look. Then he moves past her, sits down, she sits down... and he quietly reaches out and snuffs out the single candle between them, basically relaying to Claire what he just did. She takes his hand and they sit there in the dark together.

Claire obviously knew, as the next day she's completely unsuprised at all the news reports of Zoe's death and just quietly goes on with putting on her makeup.

Omg! Lol!! That was an awesome narrative of that episode. I love this show! I ended up binging on it rather than pacing like I wanted to. I must admit I hadn't read into it about the latter situation mentioned in your spoiler. Honestly, I think you should be writing web content - movie reviews and articles. No lie! That was a good read! >.<

 

[Totenkindly]

Omg! Lol!! That was an awesome narrative of that episode. I love this show! I ended up binging on it rather than pacing like I wanted to. I must admit I hadn't read into it about the latter situation mentioned in your spoiler. Honestly, I think you should be writing web content - movie reviews and articles. No lie! That was a good read! >.<

I just posted that Note on my FB account, if you still have access. (Some people here do.)

Now I have a girl crush on Molly Parker. Arggg.

She is so awesome -- and on the show, Jackie Sharp is hard-assed without being sociopaths like Claire and Frank.

 

[swordpath]

It's all about True Detective. Haven't watched and HoC yet.

 

[Riva]

I liked the second season as much as I liked the first.

 

[Curtis B]

This is a great show. i've only watched up through season one, but the second one just came out. can't wait!!

 

[Lateralus]

Oh, and I want to post this about the Episode 1 incident:

I rewound the scene and rewatched it a couple times to make sure it really happened because it was so shocking in the moment. But in hindsight I agree that it was telegraphed.

I finished Season 2 a couple weeks ago and I like it, but it's not as good as True Detective. I think part of it is believability. I feel like it's just too improbable for anyone to actually pull off everything Frank pulls off in the first two seasons. Every plan of his that works is the equivalent of winning the lottery. The real political maneuvering inside the Beltway is more about incompetence and dumb luck than masterminding some grand plan.

 

[EJCC]

Now that I've finally finished the show, here's my big question/musing:

If Frank and Claire had the capacity to claw up to the Presidency so quickly, why didn't they do it before? Why wait until it could be justified as "revenge"?

Come to think of it, how much of this is really about power? Frank can talk about power in his 8-ish way as much as he wants, but is that really what this is about? Clearly he's an extremely petty person. Probably the pettiest in the series. So...?

The more I think about it, the more I think that Frank doesn't see power as something you gain and keep, but something that temporarily flows through you. Escapism, kind of. Like his violent video games. Like dominant sex with Zoe. Like his Civil War models.

p.s. On a related note, I love the contrast between his video games and the war scene. One is purposeless except for catharsis, and one has an ultimate end goal in its brutality.

As for what's coming up...

Frank and Claire have nowhere to go but down. I can only hope the collapse of their "house of cards" is as beautiful as their brutal construction of it.

It's been so foreshadowed, though. Consider Remy's line about power being temporary. Hell, the best foreshadowing of it comes from my favorite scene in the series so far: When Frank stands in front of the votive candles at the church, lights one, then blows them ALL out. Including his own. Man, that scene gave me chills.

 

[EJCC]

Also a quick thought on Doug:

I wish I didn't have so much affection for that man. Creeper that he was, I related to him in so many ways.

And I found it heartbreaking, for some reason, that he didn't think to fight back in his final moments. Watching it almost felt like watching a mercy killing.

 

[Nicodemus]

True love (possible spoiler):

 

[lue]

Also a quick thought on Doug:

I wish I didn't have so much affection for that man. Creeper that he was, I related to him in so many ways.

And I found it heartbreaking, for some reason, that he didn't think to fight back in his final moments. Watching it almost felt like watching a mercy killing.

Agreed. Loved him so much.

 

[lue]

She is so awesome -- and on the show, Jackie Sharp is hard-assed without being sociopaths like Claire and Frank.

Agreed.

 

[EJCC]

Agreed. Loved him so much.

Glad someone agrees with me. I've been judged pretty hardcore for it by a lot of people.

Then again, Doug = The Creeperest of Creepers...

 

[Totenkindly]

It's true: She really rocked his world.


BWA HA HA HA HA

 

[lue]

Glad someone agrees with me. I've been judged pretty hardcore for it by a lot of people.

Then again, Doug = The Creeperest of Creepers...

Really?? Well, yeah he was creepy with that whole Rachel thing. I thought it was kind of sweet though (weird but sweet). I always thought it would be smarter if they just got rid of Rachel. He was great, if you needed something done, he did it.

 

[EJCC]

Really?? Well, yeah he was creepy with that whole Rachel thing. I thought it was kind of sweet though (weird but sweet). I always thought it would be smarter if they just got rid of Rachel. He was great, if you needed something done, he did it.

Nothing sweet about their weirdly controlling relationship, IMO. Nothing sweet about watching someone have sex from outside their apartment and then coercing them into breaking up!

My sympathy for Doug related to the fact that all he seemed to have in the entire world was the Underwood family, and the one time he reached out to someone else, it became this horrible, twisted thing -- a sign of psychological distress that his only friends, the Underwoods, could do nothing about.

It's true: She really rocked his world.


BWA HA HA HA HA

Yeah, poor guy really hit rock bottom.

 

[Totenkindly]

It's true: She really rocked his world.

Yeah, poor guy really hit rock bottom.

He was stoned out of his mind.

 

[lue]

Nothing sweet about their weirdly controlling relationship, IMO. Nothing sweet about watching someone have sex from outside their apartment and then coercing them into breaking up!

My sympathy for Doug related to the fact that all he seemed to have in the entire world was the Underwood family, and the one time he reached out to someone else, it became this horrible, twisted thing -- a sign of psychological distress that his only friends, the Underwoods, could do nothing about.

To me it kind of was in a sad puppy dog way (still creepy). I think part of the controlling was the nature of the relationship (he had to keep her hidden). I didn't see it that way, I saw it as him really liking her and longing for a connection with her, and because of his issues and the nature of their relationship, it turned into creeper status.

 

[EJCC]

SEASON 3 STARTS/ENDS ON FRIDAY

Got predictions?

Here's mine:

 

[Totenkindly]

I'm three episodes in so far and partway through the fourth.

The opening scene for the season left me laughing -- it's so vintage Frank.

The most harrowing episode so far was the S3e3 (to me), where he's dealing with the Russian president. Just ... wow. And I don't know who that actor is, but he was quite intimidating.

Was kind of surprised at one plot twist that retcons something I thought had happened in the past... but hey, I think it makes for a great show. So I'm on-board, it's been interesting so far.

Also

Frank, man, seriously? you're seriously blackmailing a SCOTUS justice to resign by threatening to leak the fact he has alzheimers, after you encouraged him to stay originally and he now wants to do that? Oh Frank. I'm not surprised. But... your Grinch factor just doubled.

Also, "good" characters on the show are few and far between... but I do really like Kathy, the Secretary of State. She's one savvy, classy lady... and it's surprising she hasn't been backstabbed horribly yet considering the vipers she is hanging out with.