This review contains spoilers; please wait to read until you have completed watching all of season three of House of Cards.
When Netflix first debuted House of Cards back in 2013, the instant streaming service was unaware of the pop culture phenomena that they had on their hands. Netflix introduced the world to binge watching and Frank Underwood. Television hasn’t been the same. Now Cards is back for a third season and in true fashion, Netflix released all of the drama filled episodes at once.
Season one took fans into the world of politics that takes place on Capital Hill and introduced us to Frank Underwood, a scheming politician who has a master plan of advancing within the political hierarchy. Season two, detailed his political advance (to the highest office in the land) and now season three takes fans inside the lives of both Frank and his wife Claire as they occupy the White House.
Season one and two showcased the rise of Frank Underwood to President and was a television tour de force; season three is about living with ultimate power and the fact that only one can have supreme power.
Season three picks up with Frank as President and he is dealing with new pressures as the Commander in Chief. Despite being the sitting President, Underwood is finding out that he cannot get his job’s focused political agenda through Congress without taking extreme measures. All of these political chess moves, lead up to Underwood deciding if he should run for President again, with or without the support of the Republican Party. While the focuses never strays far from Frank and Claire, the audience also finds out what happens to Doug Stamper, most of episode one focuses on Stamper and his recovery after being attacked in the finale of season two, Remy Danton and Jacqueline Sharp.
The breakout star of season three was Jimmi Simpson, who plays Gavin Orsay, who is deeply entangled in Stamper’s web of lies regarding Rachel Posner. Simpson brings an element of humanity and also desperation, which is not felt by any other of the other characters. Orsay is not looking for power or sovereignty; he is looking for a way out and a fresh start. Simpson delivers an amazing and complex performance that is not only captivating but also humanizing.
This season of House of Cards features fan favorites, more intense and complex storylines and, of course, the arch of Frank Underwood going further into his own web of lies and obsession for control and power. Where this season shines is when the focus is on Claire and her own internal struggle. Without Claire, Frank would not be sitting in the oval office but she is now starting to realize that her own time in the spotlight may not arrive and that this team dynamic they have built within their relationship may be flawed. Robin Wright delivers a performance that is a master’s class in character development. She has subtly, power and emotion in every scene. She is the driving force behind season three.
Season three ends with a heartbreaking statement and the focus on Claire not Frank. Now fans are left to process those bone chilling words until House of Cards returns.
Even though this season is slower paced than one and two; it takes time to build and really develop the political world that Underwood is living in, but at this point in the series the show has recognized that character development and complex relationships are the most importance cards in this house that they have built. Without the character development and relationships, everything falls down.
Image of Kevin Spacey courtesy of INFphoto.com
Image courtesy of Peter West/ACE/INFphoto.com