Jackson Ball reviews the eighth episode of House of Cards season 2…
The second season is currently in limbo. All the buzz from the explosive opening has long since dwindled, and the show is yet to gain the momentum that comes with being on the ‘homestretch’. The result is this sagging middle-ground which, while totally necessary for the overall plot, can be a little difficult to wade through.
Spoilers Ahead – You have been warned!
This is one area in which I believe the whole Netflix ‘binge-viewing’ is left wanting. There’s no denying that even the greatest TV shows (and House of Cards could still rank among them) suffer from a bit of mid-season stodginess, but when you’re forced to wait a week for the next episode, you’re anticipation and excitement levels can offer counteract it, at least to some degree; whereas watching on-demand in large quantities can make a slow episode seem slower than usual.
That being said, Episode 8 was not a travesty. The show remains as beautifully crafted as ever and the performances remain consistent. Plot-wise, the exposure of Claire’s infidelity and the resulting scandal is an interesting but inevitable development.
For me, the entire episode can be summarised in relation to one of its own scenes. During a poolside confrontation between Frank and Raymond Tusk (Gerald McRaney), the tension grows unbearable until, in an act of controlled rage, Frank tosses his expensive steak dinner into the pool. Tusk’s German Shepard senses a free lunch, so we see the dog dive in after the meat, all in beautifully-captured slow motion. It’s an aesthetic-pleasing and memorable scene… which contributes little to nothing to the overall story. If the most memorable thing about this episode is a scene that has no real ties to the ongoing narrative, then that should speak volumes about the rest of this dreary episode.
Here’s hoping the season can relocate its momentum, as we gain pace towards its upcoming climax.
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Originally published February 22, 2014. Updated April 11, 2018.
