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

House of Cards: Season 5, Episode 1 “Chapter 53” (B+)

I wasn’t expecting this show back on a Tuesday, not that it really matters, and I’m happy now to add it to my weekly lineup on that night. After a weak start to season four, this show found itself as it wrapped up, and now I think it knows exactly what it wants to be. This has always been a sensationalized, overdramatized version of real life, and I’m sure that there will be endless comparisons to the current administration especially considering creator Beau Willimon’s tirade against Trump when he got elected. Frank is definitely facing a hostile government and citizen population, but unlike the guy currently in charge of policy in the United States, he knows exactly what he’s doing and is making moves to incite chaos just because he can. Going in to triumphantly address Congress when he wasn’t authorized to and demanding a declaration of war was a formidable play, and it was reminiscent of the way political courts from the olden days are portrayed in movies and on television with lots of ruckus and shouting. Opening with Claire appearing to address the audience and ending with Frank turning to the camera and telling us that we have nothing to be afraid of was enormously effective, and I now find this style appealing even though I didn’t like it all that much at first when the show began. Claire appearing on television opposite Tom was intriguing, and Doug learning that an investigation into Frank’s ethics is underway is a disconcerting development that’s sure to provide plenty of exciting drama. I’m glad to see that Conway is still an active part of the show, and I’m eager to see what comes next in the battle for the soul of America that Frank is determined to crush.

What I’m Watching: Jane the Virgin

Jane the Virgin: Season 3, Episode 9 “Chapter 53” (B+)

I’ll admit that, while I’m following what’s going on, it’s very easy to be confused about just who is in league with who and if anyone at all isn’t lying about something. At the start of this episode, Petra was plotting to get revenge on Rafael, who had been working against her with Scott, and managed to enlist the aid of Catalina by showing her how Rafael talked about her with Jane, who Petra definitely doesn’t like. Catalina agreed to help Petra but then actually bonded with him and spilled the beans about what she was up to. Rafael had the upper hand against Petra, who apologized when confronted, but it turns out that Scott is actually in league with the real Anezka and, more maliciously than Petra’s twin sister, is getting ready to blackmail Rafael with what Petra wanted to use to bury him in the first place. As our narrator would say, “Oh boy!” If nothing else, it does make for good TV. Jane and Michael being at each other’s throats was always a temporary diversion since they’re able to get over small stuff like that, and I enjoyed Jane freaking out about Mateo’s future success as part of all the stress. Xiomara is always going to get in the way of Rogelio’s prospective romances – because they belong and will surely end up together – but kudos to Darci for being totally and completely honest, not to mention mean, to her would-be baby daddy before deciding to give him a chance even though she really wasn’t sure they were right for each other.