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[bob page]

That's not going to happen. Netflix is committed to releasing all the episodes at once.

Sure, it's better for viewers because they can watch at their own pace, not forget details, etc, but from a business standpoint, it doesn't really make any sense. They have a guaranteed base of users now and they'd be throwing money out the window by releasing them at once for season 2.

As they should be. Anyways, Netflix stands to gain nothing from staggering the release.

Several of my friends signed up for free trials just to watch season 1- they don't plan on renewing. If it was released on a weekly schedule or something, at least they'd have a few more months in the books.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Watching episode 4 now and enjoying all the back office wrangling so far.

I was in DC for a weekend last May and went to the BBQ joint that they modeled Freddie's on, the place where Frank goes to eat. The real place looks pretty similar and the food is spectacular. It is also not uncommon at all to have members of the Congress or the Superem Court drop by for lunch. I was there on a Saturday and before it opened, for a special tour, so there was no one there that day, but when I see Frank eating at the place on the show it makes me smile.

 

[Dark Knight]

Watching episode 4 now and enjoying all the back office wrangling so far.

I was in DC for a weekend last May and went to the BBQ joint that they modeled Freddie's on, the place where Frank goes to eat. The real place looks pretty similar and the food is spectacular. It is also not uncommon at all to have members of the Congress or the Superem Court drop by for lunch. I was there on a Saturday and before it opened, for a special tour, so there was no one there that day, but when I see Frank eating at the place on the show it makes me smile.

Out of curiosity, what's the name of that BBQ joint? I'm going to be in DC in March and want to check it out.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Sure, it's better for viewers because they can watch at their own pace, not forget details, etc, but from a business standpoint, it doesn't really make any sense. They have a guaranteed base of users now and they'd be throwing money out the window by releasing them at once for season 2.

If it doesn't make any sense financially, then why do you suppose they chose to do it this way for all of their future shows?

I'm sure that in the early days of planing out their original programming scheme, they considered releasing episodes on a weekly basis and I'm sure they predicted that a lot of people would sign up for the free month and never resubscribe. But for whatever reason this is the model that they chose to follow - the model that made the most sense for their subscribers and, I'd imagine, financially. Otherwise why would they do it?

 

[jtb]

I'd argue that the one-month-trialers don't really concern them either. Their business model already takes that into account with every other form of content they have, I don't think original content is any different. They just need to drive subscriptions in order to cover the costs. A person on a single month trial isn't really a lost sale, in the same way someone who pirates the show isn't a direct lost sale either. House of Cards alone isn't supposed to sell you on Netflix. It's House of Cards + the backlog they've built up + the new series, etc.

And if the one-month-ers really are hooked, then they're going to have to resub anyways for S2. That's why they're releasing a pretty steady lineup of new content, even if most of the non-Arrested Development stuff looks pretty poor.

 

[duckroll]

I doubt they'd have any problem meeting that from a production standpoint, but I don't know if there are additional commercial reasons why they'd want to wait (or not wait) until the new calendar year.

I'm not so sure about that. For the current season, each director was given 20 days to shoot their two episodes, while Fincher had like 26 days or something for his first two. If we replicate that schedule for season 2, and they start shooting in April or May, they'll only be done with filming towards the end of the year. Add a few months of post production and it starts looking like early 2014 is inevitable.

 

[jtb]

I'm not so sure about that. For the current season, each director was given 20 days to shoot their two episodes, while Fincher had like 26 days or something for his first two. If we replicate that schedule for season 2, and they start shooting in April or May, they'll only be done with filming towards the end of the year. Add a few months of post production and it starts looking like early 2014 is inevitable.

Hell, I hope they take their time. If there's one thing House of Cards has going for it over every other show, it's that you really see all that money on screen. The production values for this thing are through the roof. No need to rush it.

 

[etiolate]

I'm four episodes in and this show has a major problem:

I don't care what happens.

The characters have nothing to redeem them or make them sympathetic. The talking to the camera doesn't help the show. It only makes me think I'm watching Lester Burnham - U.S. Congressman. The wife is a soulless humanitarian. All the young women look like Avril Lavigne and act like I would expect an Aril Lavigne fan who never grew up would act. The other players involved are all so bleh that I don't care if the ploy causes them to lose face or lose their job. I don't care if Francis succeed or fails. The President is a non-factor so his legacy being ruined means nothing to the viewer.

The show has little moments like the homeless man yelling on the streets, but the vast majority of each episode is beautifully shot and yet entirely forgettable.

 

[Seanspeed]

I'm four episodes in and this show has a major problem:

I don't care what happens.

The characters have nothing to redeem them or make them sympathetic. The talking to the camera doesn't help the show. It only makes me think I'm watching Lester Burnham - U.S. Congressman. The wife is a soulless humanitarian. All the young women look like Avril Lavigne and act like I would expect an Aril Lavigne fan who never grew up would act. The other players involved are all so bleh that I don't care if the ploy causes them to lose face or lose their job. I don't care if Francis succeed or fails. The President is a non-factor so his legacy being ruined means nothing to the viewer.

The show has little moments like the homeless man yelling on the streets, but the vast majority of each episode is beautifully shot and yet entirely forgettable.

I think thats largely result of everything working out so perfectly. Its easier to get emotionally invested in a character/plot when turmoil is involved and the show doesn't have much of that early on.

But that does change later. Perhaps later than I would have liked, but it does change and I found it makes a big difference to my enjoyment of the show.

 

[EightBitNate]

Aaand I'm done. Really wish there were more episodes now

 

[Maximus.]

I finished the season and thought overall the show was great. It took a while for anything super dramatic to happen, but I felt the pacing was good enough, esp with a second season confirmed. Cant wait to see what happens next!

 

[Fantastical]

I still think it was a bad idea for Netflix to put all their episodes up at one time. I think it's an even worse idea for Arrested Development.

It's a pain in the ass to talk about, not to mention people already watched all the episodes the same day it came out and they have to wait probably another year for a new season. I don't think it makes sense at all.

 

[Guevara]

This show is so good.

Also: you know that blue and orange movie poster thing? This show is all yellow and blue. Once you see it you can't un-see it.

 

[Garrett 2U]

I was surprised by the ending of Episode 4, but then even more surprised by the beginning of Episode 5.
This show is great!

 

[Steelyuhas]

Watched episodes 4, 5, and 6 tonight. Great stuff, especially the Schumacher (5 & 6) episodes.

 

[oatmeal]

I still think it was a bad idea for Netflix to put all their episodes up at one time. I think it's an even worse idea for Arrested Development.

It's a pain in the ass to talk about, not to mention people already watched all the episodes the same day it came out and they have to wait probably another year for a new season. I don't think it makes sense at all.

I agree that it makes it a LOT more difficult to chat about...kind of awkward, really.

 

[Empty]

episode 9 -

Spoiler

poor russo ;_; it was really painful watching him from the stump speech onwards knowing his crucial bill was being taken from under him despite his best efforts to win the campaign and that he was about to find out. i can only see it getting worse - my prediction is that zoe being annoyed at the incorrect vote count info from frank will get her colleague to investigate his boozing and she'll uncover the cocaine, hookers and doing it while congressman stuff. ugghhhhhh.

 

[ThisWreckage]

I'm four episodes in and this show has a major problem:

I don't care what happens.

The characters have nothing to redeem them or make them sympathetic. The talking to the camera doesn't help the show. It only makes me think I'm watching Lester Burnham - U.S. Congressman. The wife is a soulless humanitarian. All the young women look like Avril Lavigne and act like I would expect an Aril Lavigne fan who never grew up would act. The other players involved are all so bleh that I don't care if the ploy causes them to lose face or lose their job. I don't care if Francis succeed or fails. The President is a non-factor so his legacy being ruined means nothing to the viewer.

The show has little moments like the homeless man yelling on the streets, but the vast majority of each episode is beautifully shot and yet entirely forgettable.

Wait...are we talking about Mad Men now? That's exactly how I feel about that show. Well shot, well acted, and I still don't give a fuck.

 

[Empty]

episode 10 -

Spoiler

glad it's on netflix so i could pause my way through russo's drunk interview. damn. this show can be so grim in its portrayal of humanity, i feel dirty after watching it and can't do more than a couple of episodes a day.

 

[etiolate]

Wait...are we talking about Mad Men now? That's exactly how I feel about that show. Well shot, well acted, and I still don't give a fuck.

Mad Men has far more interesting or amusing characters. It also has far more trying ordeals for the characters. As despicable as some characters can be in Mad Men, they never reach the point of being soulless. I can't say the same of House of Cards so far. They're pretty one-note and pretty soulless. Five episodes into Mad Men you realize Draper is living a double life. There's risk in that. There's turmoil with his character. Francis just goes through these opening episodes doing whatever he does and there's little consequence, and if there is a consequence coming, it wouldn't seem to matter.

 

[Triple Oceans]

Mad Men has far more interesting or amusing characters. It also has far more trying ordeals for the characters. As despicable as some characters can be in Mad Men, they never reach the point of being soulless. I can't say the same of House of Cards so far. They're pretty one-note and pretty soulless.Five episodes into Mad Men you realize Draper is living a double life. There's risk in that. There's turmoil with his character. Francis just goes through these opening episodes doing whatever he does and there's little consequence, and if there is a consequence coming, it wouldn't seem to matter.

Sounds like the show is taking too long for you to establish some weight with the conflict/tension. I STRONGLY suggest you watch the season in full and reserve judgement until then. If it doesn't click with you by the end then its cool. This show isn't for everybody and that's ok.

 

[isoquant]

Finished it. Loved it.

I had a few questions though (that may have already been asked 50+ times in this thread).

Spoiler

Why exactly does Frank want to be VP? He starts the show by saying "that's how you devour a whale - one bite at a time." I figured the reason he engineered the VP move was to get closer to the president, so that one day he could exact his revenge. In the ballroom scene at the beginning Frank refers to Matthews being offered the VP position as Matthews being "put out to pasture". But the way he and Claire reacted in the finale, it was as if they were genuinely happy Frank had been awarded the role; as if it was a great achievement in and of itself. What I'm confused about is this: was the VP role the goal (after he missed out on SoS), or was it simply one part of his master plan to get back at the president?

What is the nature of the agreement between Frank and Tusk? Did Tusk relent to Frank's final offer - that Frank would be a sympathetic "equal" - or were we left hanging on that?

Was Russo self-destructing really part of Frank's plan? It was only when the watershed bill collapsed and Russo tried to defy Frank that Frank engineered Russo's death spiral. So what if Russo had been elected? What was the benefit in Frank having leverage over the Governor of Pennsylvania?

 

[duckroll]

Finished it. Loved it.

I had a few questions though (that may have already been asked 50+ times in this thread).

My take:

Spoiler

Why exactly does Frank want to be VP? He starts the show by saying "that's how you devour a whale - one bite at a time." I figured the reason he engineered the VP move was to get closer to the president, so that one day he could exact his revenge. In the ballroom scene at the beginning Frank refers to Matthews being offered the VP position as Matthews being "put out to pasture". But the way he and Claire reacted in the finale, it was as if they were genuinely happy Frank had been awarded the role; as if it was a great achievement in and of itself. What I'm confused about is this: was the VP role the goal (after he missed out on SoS), or was it simply one part of his master plan to get back at the president?

Spoiler

Frank wants to be President. He doesn't want to be VP. His only desire to be VP is because the VP becomes the president if the president resigns, which is what he will engineer in the next season.

Spoiler

What is the nature of the agreement between Frank and Tusk? Did Tusk relent to Frank's final offer - that Frank would be a sympathetic "equal" - or were we left hanging on that?

Spoiler

I'm less certain about this one, but it seems Tusk respects Frank enough to realize that the final offer Frank made was as good as he will get. So he recommended him.

Spoiler

Was Russo self-destructing really part of Frank's plan? It was only when the watershed bill collapsed and Russo tried to defy Frank that Frank engineered Russo's death spiral. So what if Russo had been elected? What was the benefit in Frank having leverage over the Governor of Pennsylvania?

Spoiler

Russo self-destructing was always part of the plan. Remember at the start of the plan when they first want Russo to run for governor, Frank reminds Doug that the vice president is also from Pennsylvania. That was always the endgame, to force the VP to resign and run to reclaim his seat. After the bill failed, when Russo started threatening Frank, he told Doug to accelerate the plan. It was always the endgame but they just needed to do it sooner. Frank probably never intended for Russo to actually win, just create the illusion that he could.

 

[mr. puppy]

watched episode 3. still not convinced the show is good. really a stupid episode overall, and there is still absolutely no conflict for Kevin Spacey: he can just do whatever he wants and it always works

Spoiler

Never in real life would somebody get away with blaming a congressman for a big stupid statue that some bitch was looking at while texting. Especially from another politician who is clearly far worse at that job than Kevin Spacey. That whole plot is lazy writing and lazily implemented

and not to mention, the entire reporter characters plot is just stupid:

Spoiler

somebody took a photo and sent it to her. that person still hasn't been identified, but could easily be doing all of what the reporter could be doing right now if he/she/it/them wasn't so stupid

 

[BertramCooper]

Just finished it. Loved it. A few minor annoyances, but a damn good season of television.

Spoiler for S2:

Spoiler

"Doug, did the president call?"

"No."

 

[heliosRAzi]

Just finished it. Loved it. A few minor annoyances, but a damn good season of television.

Spoiler for S2:

Spoiler

"Doug, did the president call?"

"No."

I love Veep.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

I thought this was boring as shit until 3/4ths through Episode 1 (

Spoiler

the inauguration wave

).

I'm at 4 now and I still don't quite see how his wife's storyline ties into everything else (except in the ways in which

Spoiler

characters cross between those parts of the story

) in terms of actually mattering.

But the things I found annoying about Francis and Spacey's portrayal of him didn't take long to grow on me.

It is haplessly backwards about the newspaper side though and like "blogging" lol.

Overall, though, yes, great, more.

 

[Tobor]

I agree that it makes it a LOT more difficult to chat about...kind of awkward, really.

I don't understand what this means. We're all chatting in here no problem.

It's no different than discussing a novel.

 

[gdt]

Been loving this. Just finished Episode 11.....

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

I don't understand what this means. We're all chatting in here no problem.

It's no different than discussing a novel.

People get really chafed employing spoiler tags. Trust me, I grew up in a Comics thread.

 

[Cornballer]

I'm not so sure about that. For the current season, each director was given 20 days to shoot their two episodes, while Fincher had like 26 days or something for his first two. If we replicate that schedule for season 2, and they start shooting in April or May, they'll only be done with filming towards the end of the year. Add a few months of post production and it starts looking like early 2014 is inevitable.

I think they could get it done if they wanted to (Spring start date, slightly compressed shooting schedule, etc...), but I don't know if they have much incentive to do so. I suppose the real wrinkle here is that they have to lock all thirteen episodes by the premiere date whereas a lot of shows are still shooting the finale when they premiere.

 

[heliosRAzi]

Will they be getting the same directors for season 2 or will it be an entire new set? If it's the same, will the be in the same order as the first season? Because I would prefer if Fincher does the first and last episodes of the season.

 

[Cornballer]

Will they be getting the same directors for season 2 or will it be an entire new set? If it's the same, will the be in the same order as the first season? Because I would prefer if Fincher does the first and last episodes of the season.

I don't think that's been determined yet given how early they are in the process. Given how these things usually work, I'd imagine that some of them will be back and some will move on to new projects.

 

[Tobor]

I don't think that's been determined yet given how early they are in the process. Given how these things usually work, I'd imagine that some of them will be back and some will move on to new projects.

It's possible all of the directors were signed for both seasons, given that Netflix committed up front. Who knows, though.

 

[CrunchyFrog]

A lot of people have been dropping out after the first 3-4 episodes. I think people need to remember that this show/season was written and paced and advertised to be watched in quick succession and as a singular unit. The novel comparison I think is apt. It's like dropping out of To Kill A Mockingbird before the trial. You really need to get through the whole thing for the pay off, especially in a show as serialized as this, and the denseness of the material lends itself to viewing all in one fell swoop.

 

[Dark Knight]

Via Beau Willimon's Twitter:

Many have asked: When's Season 2? All I can say is that we're writing it & will start shooting mid-spring. Hang on!

 

[Triple Oceans]

A lot of people have been dropping out after the first 3-4 episodes. I think people need to remember that this show/season was written and paced and advertised to be watched in quick succession and as a singular unit. The novel comparison I think is apt. It's like dropping out of To Kill A Mockingbird before the trial. You really need to get through the whole thing for the pay off, especially in a show as serialized as this, and the denseness of the material lends itself to viewing all in one fell swoop.

I feel this post is incredibly accurate. I think when people watch this they're going to have to retrain themselves in how hey consume this form of drama. It was designed to be judged as a whole and not by each particular episode (even though that's obviously possible as well). Looking at HoC like one 13 hour continuous movie will really help your perspective/judgement of the show.

 

[Tobor]

Via Beau Willimon's Twitter:

That soon? Wow. Maybe they can make a fall release?

 

[Triple Oceans]

Via Beau Willimon's Twitter:

Wow that's pretty cool. Thanks for sharing.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

I feel this post is incredibly accurate. I think when people watch this they're going to have to retrain themselves in how hey consume this form of drama. It was designed to be judged as a whole and not by each particular episode (even though that's obviously possible as well). Looking at HoC like one 13 hour continuous movie will really help your perspective/judgement of the show.

While I like the show, it doesn't lend itself to this kind of argument when new problems arise at the top of an episode and are resolved by the end of it, completely unlike a 13 hour movie, or even a great actual example of what people are claiming this show is (but so isn't), Treme.

 

[Fattony12000]

I just mainlined chapters 1 through 11.

God damn, don't they make politics look fucking sexy?

I choose to believe that both this and The Thick of It taken together, represent nearly the entire spectrum of insane shit that goes through the modern political mill these days (as in, from about the 20th century onwards).

I love all the iPhone clicks and tones.

 

[Acheron]

To be honest I don't get a lot of the criticism regarding

Spoiler

Frank's "ease" at moving up.

The whole series is about that, the original series was about that. If you wanted him to spend the whole season barely plodding forward

Spoiler

his elevation to VP would be bizarre, or he wouldn't be elevated which would just mean nothing went anywhere.

It's a bit like asking why can't people just get off the Island in Lost, or why doesn't CTU ever have it's shit together in 24. It's only really a problem when it becomes annoyingly common and predictable, and HoC has Frank running into setbacks and trouble multiple times

Spoiler

the strike, the CNN debate, Tusk, the water bill, Zoe turning on him and arguably the entire Peachoid/Speaker of the House detours.

 

[BertramCooper]

That soon? Wow. Maybe they can make a fall release?

Seems feasible. And the eligibility window for the 2014 Emmys starts June 1, so they won't need to worry about the seasons both falling within the same Emmys.

 

[Triple Oceans]

While I like the show, it doesn't lend itself to this kind of argument when new problems arise at the top of an episode and are resolved by the end of it, completely unlike a 13 hour movie, or even a great actual example of what people are claiming this show is (but so isn't), Treme.

I get what your saying as far the resolutions you see by the end of some of the episodes. But what you're seeing early on with HoC are several scenarios playing themselves out to a much bigger picture for the characters that ultimately affect your view of the show as a whole. Since you're only on the first few episodes I'll say this, not every single resolution you see is completely done with.

 

[Bo-Locks]

I wonder how politics and modern civilization functioned before smartphones.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

I get what your saying as far the resolutions you see by the end of some of the episodes. But what you're seeing early on with HoC are several scenarios playing themselves out to a much bigger picture for the characters that ultimately affect your view of the show as a whole. Since you're only on the first few episodes I'll say this, not every single resolution you see is completely done with.

Neither is the action of an episode of Justified, but it still follows a traditional 3-act/resolutional structure, which Treme disregards pretty much completely in the pursuit of creating a more novelistic structure.

 

[Triple Oceans]

Neither is the action of an episode of Justified, but it still follows a traditional 3-act/resolutional structure, which Treme disregards pretty much completely in the pursuit of creating a more novelistic structure.

Point taken. But I'll say this, to me this show deserves to be seen in its entirety to receive the most satisfaction out of it.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Point taken. But I'll say this, to me this show deserves to be seen in its entirety to receive the most satisfaction out of it.

Most shows do, but you should be allowed to make qualitative judgements on it based on individual episodes.

Simon famously called out critics for doing that for Treme, Seitz tried it out and agreed with him. I don't think you could do that with this show.

 

[Aiii]

If people don't get enjoyement out of watching the show and give it a fair shot by watching several episodes, than who am I to tell them they're wrong?

Tastes are different, after all.

 

[Triple Oceans]

If people don't get enjoyement out of watching the show and give it a fair shot by watching several episodes, than who am I to tell them they're wrong?

Tastes are different, after all.

Trust me I'm COMPLETELY fine with this. To me it seemed like there were people who had only watched the first few episodes and had problems with it. They seemed to be on the fence about whether or not they should continue. My point was there is a worthwhile payoff for staying with the show. But really it's their choice.