Review: House Of Cards Season 2

BY A.J. KURZMAN

(Warning this article contains spoilers)

After Netflix released the second season of their critically acclaimed original series House of Cards on February 14, everything changed for me. Any rational person would have spaced the 13 new episodes to last them  until the next season, but I however,  am not one of those people and in just a few weeks I binge watched season one and season two in its entirety.    Now, with the show fully digested, it is clear that Netflix has a true hit in this series and season two does nothing but exceeding expectations.

The show follows Frank Underwood, a ruthless United States congressman who will stop at nothing to conquer Washington D.C. after being betrayed by his friend, who happens to be the president of the United States.  President Walker and his chief of staff (Linda Vasquez) decided to give the Secretary of State position to someone other than Underwood, despite Frank’s rigorous efforts to win Walker the election. He swore revenge in the first episode of season and as he swiftly executed his rise to the top of the governmental food chain, that revenge was delivered.

Season two starts off with a bang so to speak, as the now Vice President to be Frank Underwood tries to cover his tracks and remove his link to Peter Russo’s death.  When confronted with this reality, he’s forced to dispose and toss away someone he once cared for (no spoiler here!).  The little remorse and moral compass Underwood was able to show in season one is gone now, completely giving way to his insatiable lust for power.  Other season highlights include:

• · Frank makes enemies with Raymond Tusk by purposefully sabotaging the back-channel negotiations with the Chinese.  Tusk and Underwood feud for majority of season 2 as they go back and forth hitting one-another with scandalous media attention.
• · Frank continues to cover his tracks by hiring a hacker, Gavin Orsay, to set up journalist Lucas Goodwin in a cyber-terrorism plot that puts Goodwin behind bars.  However, this leads to Gavin gaining a critical advantage and him extorting the government.
• · After FBI investigations and a revoked pardon, Tusk states president Walker knew about the money laundering scheme which would lead to impeachment.
• · Doug and Rachel’s mysterious relationship is complicated as she leaves him left for dead in the woods.
• · Walker resigns, making Frank Underwood the 46^th president of the United States, as the season ends with him double knocking his class ring on the desk in the oval office before it cuts to black.

Season two came with the same strengths and weaknesses as season one, but those few weaknesses were completely overshadowed by the brilliant acting, superb character personalities/development, and a riveting narrative.  Although there isn’t much “action” so to speak, there is arguably more internal conflict in this show than any that preceded it.  As a person, you just want to despise all of Frank Underwood’s nasty characteristics and his ruthless ‘take no prisoners’ mentality, but the fact of the matter is he is too cunning and charismatic to not love.  His rise to the presidency is expected as a viewer but the journey there was not.  My only concern for season three is that as president, Underwood lacks upward mobility.  Frank has reached the ceiling, meaning it’s hard to see what direction the show will head it. However, with that said, I’m sure that whatever they choose to pursue next year, it will be very worth your while to watch.