Jackson Ball reviews the fifth episode of House of Cards season 2…
This season’s explosive beginning is now just a distant memory as we start to enter its meaty core. Francis ‘Frank’ Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his loving wife/partner-in-crime Clare (Robin Wright) have already overcome most of the obstacles laid down in the season’s opening third, but now a set of fresh challenges are beginning to creep out of the shadows.
Spoilers Ahead – You have been warned!
First of all, let me start by stating my personal belief that one of House of Cards biggest strengths is its restraint. Where other shows might opt for brash exposition, this political thriller usually offers a much more subtle approach, allowing viewers to connect the dots themselves. Perhaps that stems from David Fincher’s influence, although to be honest his recent films have been decidedly lacking in that area. In this fifth episode though, I am sorry to report, subtlety and restraint take a back seat as we are repeatedly force-fed obvious, unimaginative metaphors.
The main plotline running through this episode involves Frank visiting a Civil war re-enactment as part of his Vice Presidential duties. Cue endless war-themed metaphors and needless winks to the camera from Frank. It’s a direction that doesn’t flatter the show, or the audience.
That being said, the Civil War backdrop does provide a decent excuse for further exploration of Frank’s character. Upon learning of his great-great-great-grandfather in the Confederate army, Frank becomes fascinated with his ancestor, eager to learn as much as he can about the man. It’s a rare insight into the man behind the politics, given that we already know he has little to no family to speak of (or friends for that matter). It reminds me of one of my favourite episodes from the first season, Chapter 8, in which we see Frank return to his alma mater. Yes, we all know and love him as the conniving part-man part-shark, but it really pays off to bring him back to basic humanity.
Elsewhere, this episode introduces us to shady Chinese businessman, Feng. The character is clearly a good-intentioned ploy by the writers to help spice up the mid-season weariness, what with his ‘eccentricities’ (read: autoerotic asphyxia), however these efforts sadly fall flat. Between this quirky Oriental addition and wily Southern-tycoon Raymond Tusk (Gerald McRaney), Frank’s enemies are starting to look like a line-up of rejected Bond villains from the Pierce Brosnan era; not a favourable look.
All these things have led me – for the first time, admittedly – to question whether or not the show’s writers have a finite direction they want the season to go in. Right now it all seems a bit jumbled and messy. Hopefully this is a minor folly, and it will quickly return to its more succinct ways.
Jackson Ball – follow me on Twitter.
Originally published February 19, 2014. Updated April 11, 2018.
