Jackson Ball reviews the Season 3 premiere of House of Cards…
For better or for worse, the Underwoods are back! Yes, nearly a full year since the release of the last season, new episodes of House of Cards have finally found their way back on to Netflix. Whatever this season has in store for us, one thing is for sure: things at in the White House will never run smoothly.
Warning! Spoilers Ahead – You have been warned!
We return to Frank Underwood’s (Kevin Spacey) story pretty much in the same place that we left it at the end of season 2: the Oval Office. After all the manipulation and underhanded deeds we’ve seen him commit in the past, Frank’s finally got the presidential power he’s always craved.
But what sort of president will he be?
Somehow, I don’t think the answer is ‘compassionate’.
In the opening scene of this episode, and indeed this season, literally involves Frank urinating on his own father’s grave. Talk about sending a clear message to the audience. To be fair to the fictional POTUS, he does explain to us the troubled relationship he shared with his dad. Nonetheless, his actions are extreme and provide a striking image to open the series.
If Frank relieving his bladder onto his father’s headstone was not a big enough shock for you, then there was an even bigger one right around the corner. House of Cards has made a name for itself in its ability to ruthlessly dispatch it’s supporting cast members; who could forget the shocking exit of young Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara) in the opening of season 2? Given that knowledge of the writers’ nobody-is-safe attitude, combined with the whopping beating he took the last time we saw time we saw him, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) was no more.
Well you’d be wrong. It appears that Frank’s right-hand man survived the attack, albeit with some serious head injuries. What is perhaps more surprising than even that though, is just how much time this opening episode dedicates to Stamper’s rehabilitation. Don’t get me wrong, Doug’s a great character – one who flourished in his sophomore season – but he’s not one of the main draws of the series.
Given the nature of the program, and it’s annual, all-at-once release, you’d think that for the season premiere the writers would want to lean heavily towards the show’s major players: Frank and Clare (Robin Wright).
However, the scenes between the Underwoods, no matter how few and far between, do provide a bombshell or two. For example, a heated debate between the president and first lady leads to an eye-opening reveal of their ever-mysterious master plan. Sure, it was always the goal to get Frank in the president’s chair but that was only half of the story, with Clare herself looking to launch a successful presidential campaign in the near future!
It really does seem that no amount of power will be enough for these two, but either way, it’s great to have them back!
Jackson Ball – follow me on Twitter
Originally published March 1, 2015. Updated April 13, 2018.
