I may be the last person on earth to have just finished
Season 2 of House of Cards. I kept hearing it was much better then season 1,
but was still not convinced that it was worth my time.
I did not “binge watch”. I dislike this term, because to me it
belittles a serious eating disorder, from which many people suffer. I will refer to this action as “marathon
watching” or just sitting on one’s butt for twelve hours! (The opposite of a
running marathon.) I think the series
would have actually worked better had it been only available weekly. The huge
murder in the premiere would have made a greater impact if it had been left
with the viewers to ponder for a week.
I had to be careful not read anything about season two, even
as the plots became a bit convoluted. In this instant format, one doesn’t have
the benefit of “last on” or “next on” episode features. I find those very
helpful for separating the wheat from the chaff of the story.
I was disappointed by most of the stories this season,
despite some great performances by Kevin Spacey, Molly Parker and Robin Wright.
Not that season one was realistic, but this season took Francis Underwood,
super-villain, to new absurd heights. It
didn’t make sense that the president could be so gullible.
Claire’s scheming gained new heights with the story of the
former employee who was suing her. Claire finds a way to withhold the women’s
medicine and healthcare she needs in her pregnancy to get her way. I think the quote was, “I’d rather watch your
unborn child wither and die in the womb, then to grant you what you’re asking
for.” That’s Disney witch cold. But, this was forgotten after about episode
2.
Then she was on to the manipulation and destruction of the
First Family’s marriage. All done with
Claire purring her friendship sweet nothing’s into the First Lady’s ear. Does
the First Lady really have no friends? Claire
also got Paul Russo’s former campaign manager fired, because she was pretty. And the abortion and rape lies were super
deplorable. Not only did Claire lie to make her self look better, but also then
she bullies the ex-Marine rape victim, just to push through her legislation. (Which she later abandons for unknown
reasons.) I wonder what would happen if
the truth was known, that her abortion(s) had nothing to do with the rape, but
were voluntary. I would not have a
problem with her having abortions, just the lies to make her seem like a tragic
victim were super-cringe-worthy. In the last episode, when Claire cries on the
stairs after being told off by the ex-Marine, I found myself unconvinced that
Claire can feel any real emotion, perhaps besides self -pity.
As for the Tusk-Walker and Underwood triangle, this was also
very hard to swallow. While it’s probably true that billionaire’s may have
influence and sway in government, I doubt that would include calling the
President by his first name and being consulted on all manners of policy. The
series does have Frank explaining that there are vice-president’s who do
nothing and those who wield real power. I see that difference between say Dick
Cheney and Joe Biden. However, Frank not only acts like president, he is still
acting like the majority whip. I enjoyed Molly Parker’s inclusion to the story
as Jackie but see remains a bit of an enigma. Why was she against the rape
bill, and what’s up with the past that she hides even from Remy? (And what’s up
with the tattoo is it people she killed, or sought revenge for, or does she
just like flowers?)
I had a real hard time believing that the US would do
anything to China like they did in this season. Trade wars, naval maneuvers,
harboring a Chinese billionaire fugitive? The swiftness of the impeachment
proceedings for President Walker seemed completely implausible. What is the
real crime for impeachment? Is it that Walker allegedly took Xanax a couple of
times, or that he lied about it? I remember that George HW took sleeping pills
and nothing was thought of it. (But he was a Republican.)
Tusk asserted that the President knew about the money going
through the casino’s to the super PAC’s, but that still would be hard to prove
unless he had it on tape or something. As for the polls, polls change daily. Say if Kim Kardashian simply appeared naked
again, and no one would care about the President. Why step down if he didn’t commit a crime? It
was not satisfying when one fights an enemy who cries “uncle” before he even is
touched.
The last thread to be followed next season is the fate of
Rachel. I was glad she finally broke
free of Doug. I honestly think that she
had no choice, and he would have killed her the moment Frank ordered. I hope that she can somehow work with greasy
hacker guy to free the journalist. It
would be a pity for the journalism story to fizzle out. However, they did
replace Kate Mara’s character somewhat with Salya. She seems a little too smart to not be dirty.
Just a feeling…
I have heard the British version of the show is far
superior. I do enjoy reading the books and
viewing the source material. But, I
think any series, adapted or not, should be able to stand-alone. House of Cards will return and all that Frank
and Claire have built might be blown away. Perhaps, it will be Meechum who brings them
down due to his jealously of Claire. Maybe he caught the their three-some on
tape. That would be a good old American
sex scandal! Given the nature of these
two characters, I hope that their karmic ending will be enough to keep me and
other audiences watching it when it returns.
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