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

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blah141 said:
So I guess my question is, what gives Frank the upper hand over Tusk? I haven't given it a second look yet but it I remember Frank noting that if he's not chosen, the president would only have four days to find a new VP.
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Absolutely that. They had already discarded every other candidate. There were only four days left. It was practically impossible to pick, vet and prepare a candidate in such a short time. Much less see if that candidate is amenable to their needs and as capable at passing shit through Congress as Frank. Frank knew that. That was his trump card. And he wasn't at all hostile to working with Trusk. Just not for Trusk. He just wanted to make clear the fact that he wasn't gonna act as their errand boy. Once he got that everything was fine.
 
I really didn't like episode 6, it seemed completely out of character.

the CNN thing was just ridiculous and unbelievable and then after doing a lot of build up and clever planning of how he is going to get out the teachers strike he just resorts to a cheap and implausible trick of getting the dude to hit him
 
panda21 said:
I really didn't like episode 6, it seemed completely out of character.

the CNN thing was just ridiculous and unbelievable and then after doing a lot of build up and clever planning of how he is going to get out the teachers strike he just resorts to a cheap and implausible trick of getting the dude to hit him
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Was the CNN thing part of his plan or did he really just fumble? If he fumbled, then I think that went a long way to humanizing him and showing us that Frank's not some demi-human. As for Marty hitting him, it's not implausible. Cheap, well yeah, that's the point. Frank admitted he was the one who set up the brick incident and he was continually harrassing him and got in his face. Not implausible at all, especially when Marty seeemed like one with a bit of a temper.

What I want to know is if Frank set up the shooting, I couldn't figure that out.
 
Bladenic said:
Was the CNN thing part of his plan or did he really just fumble? If he fumbled, then I think that went a long way to humanizing him and showing us that Frank's not some demi-human. As for Marty hitting him, it's not implausible. Cheap, well yeah, that's the point. Frank admitted he was the one who set up the brick incident and he was continually harrassing him and got in his face. Not implausible at all, especially when Marty seeemed like one with a bit of a temper.

What I want to know is if Frank set up the shooting, I couldn't figure that out.
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1. The CNN thing wasn't a set up. Frank just fucked up because he tried to ad lib with his wife.

2. No. Those three scenes with Stamper was Frank trying to find a juicy crime related to the fact that kids weren't in school that was:
a. Local and in the DC area.
b. Severe enough to warrant national press (that's why he waved off the first story Stamper brought back, which was like a car accident, I think).
blah141 said:
note: final episode spoilers.

What I dont understand is
in the scene @ freddy's ribs, during the meeting Tusk seems to give in to Franks speech about "working as equals" and agrees to recommend him as VP -- ie; Frank gains the upper hand (leaves his offer on the table and begins to walk out...).

So I guess my question is, what gives Frank the upper hand over Tusk? I haven't given it a second look yet but it I remember Frank noting that if he's not chosen, the president would only have four days to find a new VP.
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Yep, that's right. Frank had his "enemy" at his side this time: time. This was the same episode where he made his rant about time, too, I think.
 
Bladenic said:
Was the CNN thing part of his plan or did he really just fumble? If he fumbled, then I think that went a long way to humanizing him and showing us that Frank's not some demi-human. As for Marty hitting him, it's not implausible. Cheap, well yeah, that's the point. Frank admitted he was the one who set up the brick incident and he was continually harrassing him and got in his face. Not implausible at all, especially when Marty seeemed like one with a bit of a temper.

What I want to know is if Frank set up the shooting, I couldn't figure that out.
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I just thought the CNN blunder was way to big of a fumble, i don't know if its an american thing but i literally had no idea what he was talking about, it was like he was having a stroke or something. the hitting him thing seemed to just come out of nowhere to me. I find it really hard to believe you could goad someone into hitting you so easily when there are such obvious consequences

does it get better? I'm almost out just because this episode felt so off to me
 
Talon said:
1. The CNN thing wasn't a set up. Frank just fucked up because he tried to ad lib with his wife.

2. No. Those three scenes with Stamper was Frank trying to find a juicy crime related to the fact that kids weren't in school that was:
a. Local and in the DC area.
b. Severe enough to warrant national press (that's why he waved off the first story Stamper brought back, which was like a car accident, I think).

Yep, that's right. Frank had his "enemy" at his side this time: time. This was the same episode where he made his rant about time, too, I think.
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Yeah that's what I figured. Just making sure.
 
panda21 said:
I just thought the CNN blunder was way to big of a fumble, i don't know if its an american thing but i literally had no idea what he was talking about, it was like he was having a stroke or something. the hitting him thing seemed to just come out of nowhere to me. I find it really hard to believe you could goad someone into hitting you so easily when there are such obvious consequences

does it get better? I'm almost out just because this episode felt so off to me
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Episode 6 is pretty bad. Don't let it stop you. The season improves greatly. The
Russo
storyline becomes the center of the show in the later half.
 
Episode 6:
The CNN fumble was great. They establish that Francis is a great debater. Marty, not so much. But Marty knows this and he prepares. Meticulously. Whereas Francis is overconfident and is simply caught off-guard when they turn the cameras on.
 
Episode 8 -
Did not see Frank being bi. But I liked that this episode made us see another side to him. I think it's important to do that.
 
Finished the season last night.

Episode 8 was pretty boring to me, such a filler episode.

Loved the show overall. Frank and Claire are amazing. The Zoe
turning detective stuff is a big boring. I like Frank though so I hope he manages to kill her off.

My guess is he kills her newfound friend (former-bitch-at-the-Herald) instead, and the death scares off her boyfriend. So she has to decide whether she wants to do this shit for real or not.
 
timetokill said:
Finished the season last night.

Episode 8 was pretty boring to me, such a filler episode.

Loved the show overall. Frank and Claire are amazing. The Zoe
turning detective stuff is a big boring. I like Frank though so I hope he manages to kill her off.

My guess is he kills her newfound friend (former-bitch-at-the-Herald) instead, and the death scares off her boyfriend. So she has to decide whether she wants to do this shit for real or not.
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In regards to your Zoe spoiler
I actually like that part of the show. It was the first time they actually showed that Zoe actually knows how to do some journalism and doesn't need to fuck someone to get a story you're probably right, Janine is probably dead.
 
I finished this series this weekend and can't say I liked it all that much, I had a tough time figuring out who I was supposed to like. Zoe maybe?
The incredibly naive and easily manipulated reporter who is willing to sleep with politicians just to get ahead? Although she did get more likable in the last couple episodes
Or maybe Frank?
The psychopathic politician with no actual values? Or maybe his equally psychopathic wife?
I don't know, I didn't hate it and I'm glad I watched it but I feel Fincher's directing was the only thing that keep me on board. He really knows how to make you feel extremely uncomfortable when he wants you to. I'm not saying there absolutely has to be someone in there you necessarily like, but there should at least be someone I want to root for, and I didn't get that from anyone.
 
BenjaminBirdie said:
Loved how this episode handled that. Totally subtle and real.
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It might be my favorite episode thus far. It was handled extremely well.
it seemed like his former classmate was the love of his life, almost. I think it's clear at this point that while Frank and Clair love one another in their own way, their marriage was never about attraction or love, which is why they don't care that they sleep with others.

And to the poster above, I highly doubt you're suppose to straight up like any of them. The most emotional and likable character thus far to me is Peter. Christina is likable too, she's probably the most decent one.
 
Episode 9

Really good episode. Was a little surprised that Claire went against Frank, I thought she was more open than that. If she was against Frank, I thought she would just tell him, rather than go behind his back like that. I guess Frank just isn't being reasonable at all at the moment though.

Also, the Zoe/Frank thing gets stranger. I didn't realise it would affect Frank so much, and that Zoe wouldn't want to give it a go on her own for longer.
 
I finished this show yesterday, and I loved it. Does anyone want to watch the original after seeing this? It is very strange watching this version, because in a lot of ways it is very similar. However at the same time, both shows have their own feel. After watching this, I am compelled to re-watch the first series of The House of Cards trilogy again.
 
Bladenic said:
Episode 8 -
Did not see Frank being bi. But I liked that this episode made us see another side to him. I think it's important to do that.
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I must not have being paying attention very well during this episode, lol
I never picked up on any of that, and just assumed they were old college buds
 
- A few comments on HoC from the All Things Digital conference today via The Verge:
Netflix is trying to change the face of television, and it's the toast of the internet with successful, original shows like House of Cards and the upcoming season of Arrested Development. Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, is understandably pleased with all the attention.

He said today that House of Cards is "the most-watched thing on Netflix right now." He wouldn't give specific ratings, however, arguing that it was an "apples and oranges" comparison to networks. He believes that viewership of the show will only grow over time, too, despite it's unconventional release schedule. He says that even though Netflix put all of the episodes out at once, "it's still watercooler" chatter. It creates "a whole other etiquette" around discussing shows and potentially spoiling plot points. "We're not encouraging people to binge," Sarandos says, but thinks the show works better when watching one or two at a time.

Asked about HBO's decision not to drop an entire season in one go, Sarandos defended Netflix's decision. It means that there is less need for "exposition and catch-up and fake cliff-hangers" that provide context for viewers who haven't watched the last episode for a week. He compared the season to music albums or books, which are also released in a single spot. Sarantos says that he's not trying to "dismantle" television, but to evolve it. "What we're doing is radically different than any [other] kind of television, including HBO."
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Finished Episode 11.
HOLYYYYYY SHIIIIT WHAT???? Did not see that coming, speechless. I'm devastated, Peter was my favorite :((((
 
soul creator said:
I must not have being paying attention very well during this episode, lol
I never picked up on any of that, and just assumed they were old college buds
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Try watching it again! They spell it out pretty clearly, basically in the scene where
Frank and his classmate are alone in the one room of the old library and are doing pushups together, and then finish the rest of the bottle of whatever they were drinking.
 
Just finished. I need Season 2 ASAP. Amazing series, I expect a wealth of awards. Kevin Spacey is a lock for BA, while Robin Wright should be getting a lot of nominations too. Corey Stoll is most deserving of Supporting Actor. On the Supporting Actress front they're probably gonna push Kate Mara but I think I preferred Kristen Connoly a little more.

Also I read up on what happened in the original UK series, and now (don't read unless you know what happens in the OG series and have seen the whole season)
I'm worried though expecting that Zoe will be killed off at some point next season. The ultimate shock would be if they do it in the first episode of season 2.
 
- Empire Online: David Fincher Exclusive: The Making Of House Of Cards
The director talks process, politics and not knowing...

The latest issue of Empire (March 2013, issue 285) includes an exclusive set visit to House Of Cards, detailing the making of the sly political drama, which has premiered to great acclaim on the streaming site Netflix.

Empire spent four days on set in Baltimore with David Fincher - as he directed the first two episodes - and then interviewed him a couple of times back in Los Angeles, while he oversaw the series as executive producer. Below is an extended extract from one of those interviews, conducted in his Hollywood offices in October, 2012. Fincher talks about the inception of the show, working with other directors, and the essential qualities of his cast. He also goes into detail about his process on set and how he has changed, as a director, over the years.

The show was still being shot and there are some minor spoilers. But, really, you should have watched it by now.
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Finally finished the season. Enjoyed every episode except 8 I believe (the school one).

Curious to see how things play out. Not sure I like that Underwood gets almost everything he wants though.
 
Yeah, I quit with episode 10. I think there's an interesting study between people who are evil and people who are just bad within this show, but that doesn't make up for how meaningless and inconsequential every outcome feels. Everything is too easy for Frank. There's not enough questioning of Frank's motives or moves by people who should be questioning them. The only way the show works is if everyone in the white house and administration is cunning and conniving enough to all be in on these sort of shenanigans, and yet at no point do the people question Frank's play in all of this. They're clever and political one moment, but then become trusting naive dimwits around Frank.
 
Cornballer said:
- Empire Online: David Fincher Exclusive: The Making Of House Of Cards
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Thanks for posting, very interesting.

etiolate said:
Yeah, I quit with episode 10. I think there's an interesting study between people who are evil and people who are just bad within this show, but that doesn't make up for how meaningless and inconsequential every outcome feels. Everything is too easy for Frank. There's not enough questioning of Frank's motives or moves by people who should be questioning them. The only way the show works is if everyone in the white house and administration is cunning and conniving enough to all be in on these sort of shenanigans, and yet at no point do the people question Frank's play in all of this. They're clever and political one moment, but then become trusting naive dimwits around Frank.
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You should finish the series.
 
etiolate said:
Yeah, I quit with episode 10. I think there's an interesting study between people who are evil and people who are just bad within this show, but that doesn't make up for how meaningless and inconsequential every outcome feels. Everything is too easy for Frank. There's not enough questioning of Frank's motives or moves by people who should be questioning them. The only way the show works is if everyone in the white house and administration is cunning and conniving enough to all be in on these sort of shenanigans, and yet at no point do the people question Frank's play in all of this. They're clever and political one moment, but then become trusting naive dimwits around Frank.
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You should keep watching.
 
I keep hearing that everytime I say I am not digging the show. At 10 episodes, the show has pretty much established itself and I still don't find it interesting.
 
etiolate said:
Yeah, I quit with episode 10. I think there's an interesting study between people who are evil and people who are just bad within this show, but that doesn't make up for how meaningless and inconsequential every outcome feels. Everything is too easy for Frank. There's not enough questioning of Frank's motives or moves by people who should be questioning them. The only way the show works is if everyone in the white house and administration is cunning and conniving enough to all be in on these sort of shenanigans, and yet at no point do the people question Frank's play in all of this. They're clever and political one moment, but then become trusting naive dimwits around Frank.
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Echoing the other 2, stuff does actually happen in the last 3 episodes.
 
etiolate said:
I keep hearing that everytime I say I am not digging the show. At 10 episodes, the show has pretty much established itself and I still don't find it interesting.
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In this case, I'll be more explicit than everyone else: The last 3 eps directly address your concern.
 
The problem is that there's more problems with the show than just that. Namely, the characters are one dimensional and there's a lack of variety to them. There's also no sympathetic characters. This makes Carrie's plotline boring as hell because she's just another soulless person in the show. Their marriage doesn't matter to me as a viewer. What she does doesn't matter because of that.
 
Claire. But yeah, I can see where you're coming from (even if I disagree). I'm not saying you should continue or be obligated to like the show; I was just saying that if those were your big gripes then you might as well finish off your time investment since you only have three eps left and it's not gonna cost you anything.

Personally, I love that there are no sympathetic characters. Fuck likable characters.
 
jtb said:
Claire. But yeah, I can see where you're coming from (even if I disagree). I'm not saying you should continue or be obligated to like the show; I was just saying that if those were your big gripes then you might as well finish off your time investment since you only have three eps left and it's not gonna cost you anything.

Personally, I love that there are no sympathetic characters. Fuck likable characters.
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This "no likable characters" nonsense is getting annoying. When it's thrown at sitcoms, I can understand it. When it's thrown at some dramas, okay. But when it's thrown at a political thriller that is about corruption, I kind of roll my eyes.

And I wouldn't say House of Cards has absolutely 0 likable characters. I think it does a pretty good job of making us care for Peter's ordeal, and Christina herself is a pretty likable character.

*shrug*
 
Likeable characters =/= nice characters.


I'm up to episode 9 and really loving this so far. It's been a while since I've seen the original, but I'm not even thinking about comparing them - this stands on it's own as great TV.
 
Red Liquorice said:
Likeable characters =/= nice characters.
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Exactly my view. They don't have to be nice. They just need to shed a bit more humanity and be far more three dimensional than the characters on House of Cards are. They need to be more interesting. If this is a House of Cards then every card in this show is just another number of the same suit.
 
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