What I’m Watching: House of Cards (Season Finale)

House of Cards: Season 2, Episode 13 “Chapter 26” (B+)

It’s hard to believe how much has happened on this show, and to see the presidency practically handed to Frank on a silver platter. To think that Walker could be undone by the mere fact of seeking marriage counseling is incredible, yet there was far more work put into trying to unseat the president than just a simple recommendation. Frank writing a letter on his typewriter to Walker with a full confession to the crimes he had committed was the definition of bold, but of course he was really just daring Walker to leak it and let the chips fall. Watching Walker and Tricia walk away with no one paying attention to them after Walker delivered his resignation speech, all eyes turned on Frank, was very powerful and unsettling. Ending with Frank walking down the hallway and pounding his fist on the desk in the oval office was quite emphatic and foreshadows what is sure to be a volatile third season. There have certainly been casualties in this second year, particularly poor Doug, who panicked when Gavin tried to make a deal with him and ended up getting bashed over the head by Rachel, left to rot in the woods with no one knowing that he was even officially missing. To see Raymond Tusk pushed to the point of lying to implicate his old friend because he felt slighted by the withdrawal of his pardon demonstrates just how destructive Frank and those who associate with him can be. Compared with the first season, I think this slate of episodes was just as exciting to watch, even if the plot became much more soapy in nature. Molly Parker’s Jackie Sharp was a fantastic addition. I definitely enjoyed watching one episode per week and look forward to continuing that tradition going forward for all Netflix series.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Kevin Spacey