House of Cards: Season 2
Ratings: 4.5/5
Creator: Beau Willimon
Executive Producers: David Fincher, Kevin Spacey, Eric Roth, Joshua Donen, Dana Brunetti, Andrew Davies, Michael Dobbs, John Melfi, Beau Willimon, David Manson, John David Coles, Robin Wright, Frank Pugliese, Melissa James Gibson
Genre: Political Drama/Political Thriller
Release Date: 14th February, 2014
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Star Cast: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Corey Stoll, Michael Kelly, Kristen Connolly, Sakina Jaffrey, Sandrine Holt, Constance Zimmer, Michel Gill, Sebastian Arcelus, Mahershala Ali, Boris McGiver, Nathan Darrow, Rachel Brosnahan
Plot:
The season premiere begins with the last season’s end: Frank and Claire out for a jog at night as Frank’s chief of staff Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) struggles to tie up loose threads surrounding the cover-up of Peter Russo’s murder.
In their ruthless rise to power, Frank and Claire battle threats past and present, and form new alliances, while old ones succumb to betrayal.
Review:
The season premiere begins with the last season’s end: Frank and Claire out for a jog at night as Frank’s chief of staff Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) struggles to tie up loose threads surrounding the cover-up of Peter Russo’s murder.
Season Two shifts focus from Congress to the White House. This can be an attempt to carefully pack all the story arcs from last season. Some major characters are panned out in the background, while others simply fade away far. Frank Underwood, through political manipulation (also a murder), is now the vice president of the United States.
While standing confidently at a podium, President Garrett Walker practices State of the Union speech, and there, the new Vice President frank Underwood seems to be up for fishy and dark and he goes:
"There are two types of vice presidents,” Underwood says to the camera as he presents his art, “doormats and matadors. Which do you think I intend to be?"
This season one can also witness the never-ending tension that arises between Francis and Raymond Tusk as the situation with China deteriorates. While a battle in the Senate pits Francis against the Republicans; Francis back-channels with a Chinese billionaire. Amidst an energy crisis, Francis and Tusk end their shaky alliance and all concluding into a scenario which points to an all-out war between Francis and Tusk.
Episodes this season are structurally or thematically are curbed. For example; ‘the Civil War re-enactment’ and the one with ‘the quarantine’. By the end of episode 10, all the pieces get settled and we’re treated to a three-episode miniseries that aggressively rolls down towards an almost satisfying conclusion!
