I agree Adam was a really lame plot point. It really went nowhere, and only served to remove Claire from Frank's storyline late in the season to add dramatic tension. It was a weak narrative. But I think the other elements are important for her character. They weren't "plot" scenes, so much as "reaction" scenes for her character imo. They show her grappling with hints of regret and indecisiveness about her direction in life, similar to how Lady Macbeth has a slow emotional breakdown. Adam was crap though. Fuck Adam. Lol.
House of Cards - S1 on Netflix - Spacey & Fincher - *UNMARKED SPOILERS FOR ALL OF S1*
- Thread starter Cornballer
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ThatObviousUser
ὠαἴÏÏιÏÏÎ¿Ï Ïαá¿Ï εἶ
I guess I can see that. More than anything I hope s2 does something with those scenes and her arc, and I'm not expecting to be disappointed. But going through just s1, they did feel like padding that wouldn't have made it if the show was 15-20 minutes shorter per ep.
finished the show. [everything spoilers]
wow those last two episodes were intense. very plotty but good. look forward to season 2!
overall i enjoyed it but i thought it was good yet not great. the characters were by and large entertaining. kevin spacey was excellent throughout and i loved his shakespearean francis underwood with all the asides. robin wright was also very good as the similarly manipulative and cold but slightly more vulnerable wife, i thought the scenes with them together (smoking by the window especially) were very effective though i was less fond of the overt origami symbolism. i loved russo too, he brought a lot of humanity to the show in his plotline and i felt for him despite his flaws. less positive about zoe barnes, i didn't find her character that convincing after a few episodes and felt aspects of it were half-baked. the atmosphere of the show was also top-notch, the use of night time, slick sets and the moody soundtrack complimented the dark themes of the show nicely. the director focused approach didn't quite work, i'd like to have seen fincher assert more executive control to keep things like texting or use of nudity consistent and to keep the standard as high as in the first two episodes, but generally the directors aped his style without too many seams though that kinda undermines the main purpose of giving them final cuts really.
my main concern is that i think the series could have been plotted much tighter. the first and last two episodes used a pace that i think more suits a show with its depth of characterization and were the show at its best. it spreads itself a wide net in the series with lots of strands that don't go far and while tonally it's nearly always spot on, there's not as much going on to merit it as i'd like. we only see francis given more depth with his visit to his old school, claire gets a few hints but lots of wasted storyline, zoe doesn't offer much for large parts of the show and her turning away from francis isn't very compelling to watch and results in the rushed journalism plot that should have been started earlier. i think this is either a great, gripping eight episodes or a slower, less over the top show like mad men and it doesn't quite straddle the line right.
that's a lot of rambling for some small complaints though. i enjoyed it, i love that there's another good politics show on tv that isn't ridiculous (after the thick of it/veep), i think it's a real success, love the netflix model and hope the talent that wasn't used to tv can improve with season 2. now to check out the original series to see how it compares and go to the gym so i can satisfy my urge to use a rowing machine.
overall i enjoyed it but i thought it was good yet not great. the characters were by and large entertaining. kevin spacey was excellent throughout and i loved his shakespearean francis underwood with all the asides. robin wright was also very good as the similarly manipulative and cold but slightly more vulnerable wife, i thought the scenes with them together (smoking by the window especially) were very effective though i was less fond of the overt origami symbolism. i loved russo too, he brought a lot of humanity to the show in his plotline and i felt for him despite his flaws. less positive about zoe barnes, i didn't find her character that convincing after a few episodes and felt aspects of it were half-baked. the atmosphere of the show was also top-notch, the use of night time, slick sets and the moody soundtrack complimented the dark themes of the show nicely. the director focused approach didn't quite work, i'd like to have seen fincher assert more executive control to keep things like texting or use of nudity consistent and to keep the standard as high as in the first two episodes, but generally the directors aped his style without too many seams though that kinda undermines the main purpose of giving them final cuts really.
my main concern is that i think the series could have been plotted much tighter. the first and last two episodes used a pace that i think more suits a show with its depth of characterization and were the show at its best. it spreads itself a wide net in the series with lots of strands that don't go far and while tonally it's nearly always spot on, there's not as much going on to merit it as i'd like. we only see francis given more depth with his visit to his old school, claire gets a few hints but lots of wasted storyline, zoe doesn't offer much for large parts of the show and her turning away from francis isn't very compelling to watch and results in the rushed journalism plot that should have been started earlier. i think this is either a great, gripping eight episodes or a slower, less over the top show like mad men and it doesn't quite straddle the line right.
that's a lot of rambling for some small complaints though. i enjoyed it, i love that there's another good politics show on tv that isn't ridiculous (after the thick of it/veep), i think it's a real success, love the netflix model and hope the talent that wasn't used to tv can improve with season 2. now to check out the original series to see how it compares and go to the gym so i can satisfy my urge to use a rowing machine.
BenjaminBirdie
Banned
Oh dang look
my boy adam warrock's ill house of cards rap made the times
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2...congress-a-hip-hop-tribute-to-house-of-cards/
gonna listen and eat ribs
my boy adam warrock's ill house of cards rap made the times
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2...congress-a-hip-hop-tribute-to-house-of-cards/
gonna listen and eat ribs
fuzzyreactor
Banned
While i love this show, i can't help but feel it peaked in the first 2 episodes. On episode 7 now, , does it reach that tier again?
i think it does with episodes 12 and 13.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Finished it yesterday. [Episode 13]
I wasn't really a fan of the way they ended the season. Felt like they were building towards a climax and then the episode just ended without any resolution. I was hoping season 1 would be a little more self contained, but I guess not. Ah well, the wait for season 2 begins...
Not surprising when Netflix commissioned 26 episodes, it does leave a lot of plot points open for the writers to explore in the second season which I like.
Yep. I love to see how Frank deals with the court case, his name is going to be dragged into it because it's his wife, will that cause friction between him and her, also she is having second thoughts about children and Frank has made it clear he hates them.
im on episode 8 now, holy shiiiiiiiiiit this show is fucking amazing!!! love the writing and everything
kevin spacey should get nominated for emmy,golden globe or whatever!!
show is very addictive too!!
i never thought in a million years i would get so hooked on a political drama!
kevin spacey should get nominated for emmy,golden globe or whatever!!
show is very addictive too!!
i never thought in a million years i would get so hooked on a political drama!
I finished the season last night, and I was pretty satisfied.
Episode 10-13 spoilers:
Episode 10-13 spoilers:
Was anyone else completely annoyed by Gillian's meltdown? It would've been perfectly understandable if she knew that the favor included tanking the watershed bill, but she only thought that it was a few promo photos in exchange for saving $200k in equipment. I'm guessing green activist viewers are more sympathetic toward her than I am. 
I finished the season last night, and I was pretty satisfied.
Episode 10-13 spoilers:Was anyone else completely annoyed by Gillian's meltdown? It would've been perfectly understandable if she knew that the favor included tanking the watershed bill, but she only thought that it was a few promo photos in exchange for saving $200k in equipment. I'm guessing green activist viewers are more sympathetic toward her than I am.
What gets me is that she has a baby on the way and she is prepared to risk losing a court battle which, as it will be high profile, make her less employable because people would know she lied to to sue her employer. I could understand if it was just her and she was sticking to her principles.
Jim Harbaugh
Banned
Love this show
NullPointer
Member
Finished this up the other night and loved it. Its got some pacing problems and a few scenes were stilted and robotic, but on the whole the oppressive style and gravitas and machinations and humor and lies were great fun to keep up with.
I'm down for season two.
BTW - That theme song gets stuck in my head. Not sure I've heard anything else quite like it.
Actually thought the second or third to last episode was the season ender, as it seemed to wrap things up nicely. The actual ending leaves you hanging almost mid-breath.
BTW - That theme song gets stuck in my head. Not sure I've heard anything else quite like it.
Some really good cinematography in that opening sequence.
Joel Was Right
Member
Just finished this excellent season. Quick point.
I don't know what to feel about Underwood anymore after he killed Russo. I got the impression this show was about greys, rather than black and white morality. In that sense, I actually liked Francis, but now I'm uncomfortable with him being a villain.
Cornballer
Member
Please tag your spoilers.
Oppo
Member
I've had the main theme from this playing in my head for like three days now.
I even tried listening to it, to exorcise it from my head. It didn't work. However I do recommend that you try listening to it while you make some sort of momentous decision. Makes everything seem really important.
Also can someone point me to a good GIF maker? I think I need to make a series of those pointed-gaze-at-camera-fourth-wall-breaking things that Spacey does.
I even tried listening to it, to exorcise it from my head. It didn't work. However I do recommend that you try listening to it while you make some sort of momentous decision. Makes everything seem really important.
Also can someone point me to a good GIF maker? I think I need to make a series of those pointed-gaze-at-camera-fourth-wall-breaking things that Spacey does.
ThatObviousUser
ὠαἴÏÏιÏÏÎ¿Ï Ïαá¿Ï εἶ
I found it fairly generic and boring really, and the theme song was much less catchy than I imagined it from the trailer. It's kinda like they wanted to do Damages' amazing opening but made it too subtle.
It's also a bit long for a series that demands marathoning.
NullPointer
Member
(spoilers from the season overall)
I have a feeling
the everybody in this show is a villain. *Everybody* is lying to get ahead, to get an angle on things. Everybody has weakness that a silver tongue like Underwood can exploit, and I love how he goes about explaining each of those weaknesses in turn.
Maybe my favorite aspect of the show is
when Underwood gets serious and loses his folksy accent entirely. Wonderful stuff.
ThatObviousUser
ὠαἴÏÏιÏÏÎ¿Ï Ïαá¿Ï εἶ
I thought that
it was pretty obvious they're setting up Frank as the big bad villain and Zoe as the good guy who takes him down. Everyone on the show is gray of course, but there was no going back after Russo.
Joel Was Right
Member
Almost every post will be blacked out though. Why not just add 'SPOILERS' into the title until the month is done?
Cornballer
Member
We talked about it in the previous HoC thread and decided this was the best way to ensure everyone can participate in discussion regardless of where they are in the series. There's more information in the OP here, too. As always, I'm open to other ideas as to how we handle shows like this in the future if people are finding this extremely problematic.
smokeymicpot
Beat EviLore at pool.
Finished it up this morning I am down for a next season. Dam it was really good hope they win some awards for this.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
There are 13 episodes.
Some people want to discuss episode 5 before they've finished episode 13.
No spoilers for this part because I'm talking in generality.
A lot of shows do episodes like this -- episodes which take the main character and put them in an entirely different set of circumstances than usual with entirely different characters around them. It's a useful technique; you get deeper insight on the individual character, you get to see if some of who they are is a veneer or if it's the real them (especially if the place where they are is from their past), you often get to see how their environment has changed them.
Here are some other TV episodes off the top of my head that do this:
Girls - 1x06
The West Wing - 4x13
Mad Men - 2x11/12
Pay very close attention to Spacey's behaviour in this episode and you'll see differences. Someone earlier in the thread noted that he speaks to the camera a lot less than usual, I think that's an interesting tweak, because it allows you to question why he speaks to the camera at all.
Plus, there's a pretty major character piece in that episode (8 or so)
When Spacey is talking to his old college buddy and we get the ambiguous dialogue which implies they may have had a homosexual relationship--people are paying too much attention to this, Frank's sexuality is clearly a means to an end for him. The more crucial dialogue exchange is Frank basically laying bare his only motivation in life. This is a man who sees something, and knows that he MUST have it. People have critiqued the whole season for doing an inadequate job of explaining his motivations, but there they are. This is a man who is completely and utterly unable to let his fixations go. Power is both a means and an end itself as part of that process.
Another thing I noticed that I thought was poignant... when Frank briefly has breakfast with the three friends, one of his friends gives him a business card and says "If you ever need a money manager". Frank demures. We see in the exchange that a) That friend looks up to Frank, thinks he's a big deal, is star-struck -- in a way that the main friend is not. b) Frank basically does the bare minimum social politeness in terms of seeing him again. This is a pretty big contrast to the genuine emotions Frank has when he talks to the main friend.
I thought that was surprisingly true to life, for me at least. I valued many of my old friends who have drifted away, but there's a real distinction between the ones I run into and say "Oh, how have you been? We had good times. We should see each other more often" and the ones where it really breaks my heart a little that I don't see them more often.
Another thing I noticed that I thought was poignant... when Frank briefly has breakfast with the three friends, one of his friends gives him a business card and says "If you ever need a money manager". Frank demures. We see in the exchange that a) That friend looks up to Frank, thinks he's a big deal, is star-struck -- in a way that the main friend is not. b) Frank basically does the bare minimum social politeness in terms of seeing him again. This is a pretty big contrast to the genuine emotions Frank has when he talks to the main friend.
I thought that was surprisingly true to life, for me at least. I valued many of my old friends who have drifted away, but there's a real distinction between the ones I run into and say "Oh, how have you been? We had good times. We should see each other more often" and the ones where it really breaks my heart a little that I don't see them more often.
Despite loving the show, two things bugged me.
Episode 13
Episode 8-10
Episode 13
Zoe's contact would have been easily figured out. Stand next to her place at night and wait for the obvious dark SUV to drop off Frank off. The security guard who stands outside the SUV for hours is quite blatant.
Episode 8-10
Wouldn't it have been easier to just cancel the radio interview? i don't know if it was explained but politicians delay and cancel interviews all the time. Russo could have easily bumped it back to the afternoon.
They wanted him to go through with it.
Steelyuhas
Member
Just finished episode 9, I dropped a serious OHHHHH SHIIT at the end of the episode.
Show is so good.
Show is so good.
Episode 13: No one had any reason to do so.
Episode 8-10: It was always supposed to happen this way.
Russo wouldn't have done it. He was feeling cocky and wouldn't want to dissapoint Frank. He would fear that by admitting he fell of the wagon Frank would drop him.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
I don't quite understand what you're saying here. [Episode 8]
Francis' (college/high school) homosexual relationship with his old friend was just a means to an end?
Someone who wasn't happy about leaks or a jealous coworker could be reason enough. And reason enough for a congressman with everything to lose to be more conspicuous than that.
8-11
What if he recognized the girl and freaked? What if he stayed sober? What if the opportunity to off him didn't materialize
Joel Was Right
Member
For some reason, I really dislike Zoe - more so than Francis
TDLink
Member
Finished the series and liked it quite a bit. Excited to see where they go with Season 2 but a few potential things they are setting up don't seem to make sense. Full season spoilers...
Why would Zoe betray Frank? This really doesn't make sense to me. They seemed to both settle into a professional relationship after a certain point and he was even continuing to feed her stories (to his ends, but still) to the very end. She wants to give all of that up for what? Potentially a huge conspiracy story? That doesn't make sense to me either. Once Frank gets even a whiff that she has been snooping around (which I suspect would be at the beginning of Season 2 as even though it was set as a cliffhanger no reason why Frank can't just call Stamper back after seeing the missed call and then find out everything) why wouldn't he utilize the blackmail he has? Ie, the nude picture Zoe let him take of her? It would completely tank her career and ruin all of her credibility (as mentioned earlier in the series had happened to another reporter who slept around with congressmen). Did she forget she let him take that picture? I know Frank wouldn't hesitate to use it, especially to quash such a story. Due to all of this I don't really understand Zoe's motivation here or how the apparent setup of Zoe uncovering the truth, or whatever, is going to work in Season 2. Someone help me out with this, please. Also, to set this whole thing up for next season the little band of reporters conveniently and quickly pieced it all together pretty easily in like an episode's time. Seems a bit off to me when so much else in the show seems so on.
She's just an annoying, whiny character. Probably the worst character (not in terms of good or evil) of the main cast, but Mara is hot so I'll tolerate it.
I wouldn't be 100% sure that Zoe is gonna turn into some crusader. Two or three episodes into season 2 I expect her to pay a visit to Frank and go "This is what I have. What are you willing to give in exchange mister Vice President?" And as for the photos these are not the fifties. Nude photos will be forgotten in a few months. Frank actually performing a coup not so much. Not to mention the new questions it would raise about Russo's death.
The Dutch Slayer
Member
House of Cards = done bring on the next season!
It was awesome
It was awesome
Bl4ckSunsh1n3
Member
Agreed. She irritates me. On a side note, is it just me or does she always look like she has snuff in her lower lip? Like it's too tight or something...
I do like Francis though (given his role),
even though killing Russo kind of struck me as a really stupid move. He was self destructing anyways.
After being set up with Remy, the recent set back of the bill, and a chance to promote a new, albeit poor response to the now defunct watershed jobs proposal this was Russos chance to try and fix many of the things working against him and gain favor. Remember this is a man who in his mind was risking everything to become something greater. The set up for Russo is so heartbreaking because while he really was just a means to an end for Frank, he was still a man who was flawed but wanted to do the right thing. Having Frank hurt him politically, then fix him just to tear him down made for a great dynamic in my mind because it shows not only that Frank is a cold heartless fuck, but also so one who plays the long game. It made me question many of his actions that weren't explicitly told to the viewer because alot of things that seemingly worked against him during the lead up to the car scene seem to go right along with his endgame.
This makes me wonder how things will play out in season 2 with the reporters and how much of the game Remy will be playing either against or with Frank. I get an almost Deathnote feel from this series where I know what the protagonist is doing isn't right and in many instances down right horrible, but I can't help but root them on when a plan comes together as the right at the buzzer.
This makes me wonder how things will play out in season 2 with the reporters and how much of the game Remy will be playing either against or with Frank. I get an almost Deathnote feel from this series where I know what the protagonist is doing isn't right and in many instances down right horrible, but I can't help but root them on when a plan comes together as the right at the buzzer.
Cornballer
Member
- James Poniewozik for Time Magazine: House of Cards Watch: I Ate the Whole Thing (spoilers for all of S1)
That was the motherfucking nuclear option. One of the few times a show made me facepalm in real life.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
This show is such a slow boil.
Last night I made it through the sixth episode, hoping to knock off most of the rest this weekend. Looking forward to some payoffs on all of the things they've been setting up.
Performances are all around very good and production values are high considering this is coming from a non-network. I hope this trend continues.
Last night I made it through the sixth episode, hoping to knock off most of the rest this weekend. Looking forward to some payoffs on all of the things they've been setting up.
Performances are all around very good and production values are high considering this is coming from a non-network. I hope this trend continues.
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