What I’m Watching: House of Cards

House of Cards: Season 2, Episode 9 “Chapter 22” (B+)

Frank is right to be terrified of his wife since she really is even colder than he is when she decides that someone only exists to serve her every whim, not capable or deserving of persisting in his or her own right. And so it goes for Adam, who provided the release she needed when Frank didn’t prioritize her needs, who got thrown under the bus when Claire lied about her relationship with him and then contradicted the very story that she had told him to feed to the press. It’s sad at the same time to see another casualty of connection to the Underwoods, Freddy, whose business went under as a result of a story about how he was an ex-con who served time for killing a man. Sure, he didn’t get the $90,000 he was promised but still ended up with $45,000, but this was a man who never cared about money and just liked cooking the best ribs that Frank had ever tasted in his small little shop. As Frank and Claire cut loose their former allies, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that Raymond is truly an enemy for them, wielding secrets and destructive truths and launching them via Remy to try to take down the man who singlehandedly damaged his rapport with the President. In the midst of other power struggles, it was interesting to see the usually quiet and unflappable Doug become irritated enough with Seth to lash out and put him in his place.