House of Cards - S1 on Netflix - Spacey & Fincher - *UNMARKED SPOILERS FOR ALL OF S1*

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Finished it last night and gave the entire series a lot of thought on if I liked the ending or not; truth be told, I don't.

Zoe and her reporting team stumble upon everything too easy. Their detective work was convenient and rushed.

I liked the show and will watch season 2, but I hope they put the ship back on the right course since I felt the last two episodes were the weakest of the bunch.
 
I don't know if it's on Netflix USA, but after finishing this I decided to check out the original BBC series from the 90s - and Netflix UK has it. Worth a watch - enjoyable and very intriguing to see the difference 20 years and the Atlantic makes!
 
And I'm done.

I fucking love amoral characters, especially when they're in a show not interested in preaching. It's so much more interesting to watch sharks fight each other rather than going after seals.
 
Finished last night.

I wasn't sure that I really like it at first. It seemed interesting, but I didn't care much about any character. I am not sure when that changed, but I really like the show .
 
Caspel said:
Finished it last night and gave the entire series a lot of thought on if I liked the ending or not; truth be told, I don't.

Zoe and her reporting team stumble upon everything too easy. Their detective work was convenient and rushed.

I liked the show and will watch season 2, but I hope they put the ship back on the right course since I felt the last two episodes were the weakest of the bunch.
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Needed an episode or two more to give it some breathing space I thought. It does set-up the second season nicely, though.
 
Just started watching this.

This is awesome.

Kevin spacey playing Killzone 3 online, sporting the PlayStation Wireless Headset... Cool.
 
waypoetic said:
Just started watching this.

This is awesome.

Kevin spacey playing Killzone 3 online, sporting the PlayStation Wireless Headset... Cool.
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I found it funny that a 50+ year old congressman chills out in his basement and plays Killzone 3 on his Playstation.
 
Triple Oceans said:
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.
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I'll probably stick with the show to see it out, and see through the season's plot, but six episodes in and I'm still leaning on the meh side.
 
Tobor said:
It stands to reason, actually. Gaming is a mainstream pastime now. Why would government be immune?
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I didn't find it funny in that way. But he is a whip and whip's need to display a tough front, yet you have scenes of him at night chilling and playing games. I found it added a touch of 'normality' to this amoral person.

But going on your point about politicians shouldn't be immune, didn't a democrat congresswoman get ridiculed by the GOP because she was quite a keen WoW player? I know that it was mudslinging from the GOP, but we, as the public, still like to think that politicians are robots and that they don't have a life outside politics.
 
Biggzy said:
I didn't find it funny in that way. But he is a whip and whip's need to display a tough front, yet you have scenes of him at night chilling and playing games. I found it added a touch of 'normality' to this amoral person.

But going on your point about politicians shouldn't be immune, didn't a democrat congresswoman get ridiculed by the GOP because she was quite a keen WoW player? I know that it was mudslinging from the GOP, but we, as the public, still like to think that politicians are robots and that they don't have a life outside politics.
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I think she was state congress, but yeah.
 
Man I can't believe what just happened in episode 11!!

I really liked Frank as a character. A lot of the underhanded stuff he pulls off is amazing to witness but to actually kill someone??? That just takes it so far past the line I'm not sure what to think. Wow.
 
PSGames said:
Man I can't believe what just happened in episode 11!!

I really liked Frank as a character. A lot of the underhanded stuff he pulls off is amazing to witness but to actually kill someone??? That just takes it so far past the line I'm not sure what to think. Wow.
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What I loved about that scene, is I knew that's what was going to happen as they were driving back and Peter wasn't playing ball. Yet, I didn't feel like it was a forced moment. It played right into the whole amorality of Frank and his drive. While I knew he wanted to tank Peter for his own gain, I didn't think he considered just how down the shitter the man would go.

I'd feel bad for Cross, but him fucking up with his kids at the beginning of the season, pulling that shit with his GF, driving drunk to visit his kids outside his ex-wife's house... He didn't deserve to die, but I'm sure as hell not heartbroken for him.
 
PSGames said:
Man I can't believe what just happened in episode 11!!

I really liked Frank as a character. A lot of the underhanded stuff he pulls off is amazing to witness but to actually kill someone??? That just takes it so far past the line I'm not sure what to think. Wow.
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Go back and rewatch the premiere after you're done with the season.
Specially, rewatch the opening scene with the dog.
 
duckroll said:
My take:

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.

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.

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.
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Good explanation all round. Thanks.

It makes sense that Frank genuinely wanted the watershed bill to pass in order to give Russo's candidacy some credibility, only to destroy him shortly afterwards. And I do recall Frank telling Stamper it was time to "accelerate things" as soon as he got off the phone with Russo.

Caspel said:
Finished it last night and gave the entire series a lot of thought on if I liked the ending or not; truth be told, I don't.

Zoe and her reporting team stumble upon everything too easy. Their detective work was convenient and rushed.
Click to expand...

I agree. It was all a little too tidy - like Lucas conveniently waiting outside the car that picked up the prostitute after her confrontation with Zoe.

Looking back, the biggest jaw drop moment for me was when Frank
ordered Russo into the bath and handed him a razor
. Brutal.
 
BertramCooper said:
Go back and rewatch the premiere after you're done with the season.
Specially, rewatch the opening scene with the dog.
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Nice catch.

Just finished the last episode and goddamn this show was amazing.
The way Frank masterfully turned the tide on Tusk at Freddy's was a work of art. The one thing I don't understand is why would Zoe all of a sudden turn on Frank and want to dig up all this stuff on him? If it wasn't for him she wouldn't be where she is right now. Plus she hated that other female reporter (forget her name). Why go through all this to assist her?

Does anyone know when the next season is slated to return? Hopefully we don't have to wait a full year. Shit is about to hit the fan.
 
APZonerunner said:
I don't know if it's on Netflix USA, but after finishing this I decided to check out the original BBC series from the 90s - and Netflix UK has it. Worth a watch - enjoyable and very intriguing to see the difference 20 years and the Atlantic makes!
Click to expand...
Had no idea this was a remake, huah
 
BertramCooper said:
Go back and rewatch the premiere after you're done with the season.
Specially, rewatch the opening scene with the dog.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that wasn't too much like Old Yeller for him. More like changing a lightbulb.

And as for the
investigation, Zoe was the person most inside Frank's plans and mind afterhis wife and Stamper. She has much more stuff to start with than someone from the outside looking in. And she's not an idiot.
 
PSGames said:
Just finished the last episode and goddamn this show was amazing.
The way Frank masterfully turned the tide on Tusk at Freddy's was a work of art. The one thing I don't understand is why would Zoe all of a sudden turn on Frank and want to dig up all this stuff on him? If it wasn't for him she wouldn't be where she is right now. Plus she hated that other female reporter (forget her name). Why go through all this to assist her?
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Ego I guess. For the most part she
was fucked by Frank as much as everyone else not to mention literally.
 
Finished the last ep.

On the one hand I'm really glad I was able to marathon it. I would have definitely forgotten a TON between episodes.

But that said, now it's over. The next 13 probably won't hit until next year (and there's no way this isn't getting "renwed," my only question is if Fincher will continue to spearhead.) While that would have been true regardless, if this show was on "TV" it would have taken over three months from start to finish, and we'd be that much closer to new episodes.

It's an interesting format to be certain. Netflix isn't wrong when it says that marathoning shows is what it's userbase wants to do. Personally, I think there's still merit to weekly installments (in the vein of the Whedon Rule of Television -- "Never give them what they want.") But this new format has benefits too. I can't say for sure what I would think if every show were to switch over. I think shows like Lost would have lost a lot of cultural impact, but it's also giving control to the viewer which I can't go against.



As for the show itself, it isn't perfect. It feels like the eps would be better at 30-40 minutes, but it's still very good. It's about as smart as The Newsroom wishes it was.

I liked Spacey's exchanges with his wife but I REALLY don't care about her plotlines. Like what it the point of any of it?
"Oh no some crazy lady yelled at me! See, I'm not THAT cold, I got a little spooked!" "Oh no I had to fire an old lady! Boohoo, I'm so conflicted!"
Give me a break.

Guevara said:
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.
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Ever see Alien 3/Seven/Fight Club/Social Network/Zodiac? The yellow tint is kinda Fincher's thing, lol.

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

Spoiler for S2:

"Doug, did the president call?"

"No."
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This needs to be a real crossover. Or reference.

If it doesn't happen my life will be senseless and incomplete.
 
Andrex said:
I liked Spacey's exchanges with his wife but I REALLY don't care about her plotlines. Like what it the point of any of it?
"Oh no some crazy lady yelled at me! See, I'm not THAT cold, I got a little spooked!" "Oh no I had to fire an old lady! Boohoo, I'm so conflicted!"
Give me a break.
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Frank Underwood is Shakespeare's Richard III. Claire Underwood is Lady Macbeth. That's the point.
 
episode 11:
russo nooooooooooo :( like others i totally saw that scene coming when they were in the car talking about taking responsibility. i thought he was a really good character. it would be easy to make the human collateral damage character perfect to so clearly demonstrate the true evil of the schemers around him but to have him as this incredibly flawed but still engaging and likeable despite his many weaknesses made him very human and worked well. i liked him from the opening lick my balls scene and watching him fall apart - rebuild - then fall apart through the series at francis' will was really painful.
 
PSGames said:
How so? She came on to him. She approached him.
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She did.
At first it probably was Kissinger's old "Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac" which then turned into "I let you fuck me and you feed me stories" on Frank's insistence as their whole "Whore" discussion made clear. Frank had an ulterior motive and she viewed it as a breach of their deal.

hamchan said:
Zoe isn't a very good person either.
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That too.
 
Episode 5

man I hate this kind of bs where the couple agrees that the other can fuck around if it is to their advantage. just seems so unrealistic.
 
Andrex said:
But that said, now it's over. The next 13 probably won't hit until next year (and there's no way this isn't getting "renwed," my only question is if Fincher will continue to spearhead.) While that would have been true regardless, if this show was on "TV" it would have taken over three months from start to finish, and we'd be that much closer to new episodes.
Click to expand...

It's probably coming this year, and Fincher will almost certainly remain involved.

They've been very clear about the long-term prospects of this show: there are none. It's two seasons. Twenty-six eps. Then it's over.
 
BertramCooper said:
It's probably coming this year, and Fincher will almost certainly remain involved.

They've been very clear about the long-term prospects of this show: there are none. It's two seasons. Twenty-six eps. Then it's over.
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I've seen no evidence that it's coming out this year. They say they're not shooting until mid-Spring. If it's coming this year, it's coming out right at the end of this year, which isn't that different from a year from now anyway.
 
duckroll said:
I've seen no evidence that it's coming out this year. They say they're not shooting until mid-Spring. If it's coming this year, it's coming out right at the end of this year, which isn't that different from a year from now anyway.
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It's all up to Netflix, obviously, but it wouldn't shock me if it's out by this fall. It appears it will definitely be ready by fall, at the very least.
 
jey_16 said:
so it was Tusk who wanted the president to withdraw the sectary of state offer to underwood?
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Yes. He wanted to get the president to pass a a bunch of pro nuclear energy stuff and he thought they needed Frank in Congress busting balls instead of the state department.
 
BertramCooper said:
It's all up to Netflix, obviously, but it wouldn't shock me if it's out by this fall. It appears it will definitely be ready by fall, at the very least.
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I suppose it's possible. They start shooting in say... May, 4+ months of shooting, an extra few weeks for post-production on the final set of episodes, release in late October? I wonder what Netflix's plan is though. Obviously, the sooner the better, but I don't want them to rush production either.
 
I just finished Ep 10 last night, this series is good. Kevin Spacey is awesome in it.
I can't believe how naive Russo is. I want to like the guy but, come on man. You couldn't see that girl was a set up?
 
duckroll said:
I suppose it's possible. They start shooting in say... May, 4+ months of shooting, an extra few weeks for post-production on the final set of episodes, release in late October? I wonder what Netflix's plan is though. Obviously, the sooner the better, but I don't want them to rush production either.
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I think the production rush is probably due to folks like Spacey and Fincher, who are very much in-demand outside of television. I don't doubt their commitment to the project, but it seems logical that they would want to get this wrapped as soon as possible.

But yeah, the actual release is totally up to Netflix. Since a lot of people are going to be watching the series over the course of a few weeks instead of a few months, it might be in their best interests to get the second season out as soon as possible to keep anticipation and awareness high.
 
I'm only 3 episodes in and I'm really enjoying it. I have to keep forcing myself to hold back until I can watch it with my girlfriend since she was also hooked from episode 1.

How long do you think it will take before it becomes clear on whether this new model of TV is the wave of the future, or if this is just a neat little experiment that will fade out before long?
 
duckroll said:
Frank Underwood is Shakespeare's Richard III. Claire Underwood is Lady Macbeth. That's the point.
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Sure, but Lady Macbeth's storyline was always directly involved in the main plot. Many of Claire's scenes just came off as padding.

Although, I guess the definition of "padding" is up to taste for shows that are highly character-focused. I just didn't think Claire's were very interesting.

To be clear, I'm not talking about her enviro-group. That tied in several times to the main plot. I mean the
yelling lady, taking Russo's kids, the homeless origami dude, hell even Adam was a bit of a waste of time to an extent.
 
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