'House of Cards' was a brilliant show in its prime and one of the most addictive. A show that deserved an infinitely better final season, which was a disgrace and could easily have passed for a season for another show entirely that didn't take off. Season 1 was especially brilliant of the prime period, while Season 2 was almost as good if better in its second half than first and Season 3 was never less than decent though again better in the second half.
Am going to be another person that found the third season finale "Chapter 39" disappointing, while still finding it a solid, very well done episode. Part of me was expecting excellence and a finale that continued the near-back on form quality of the season's second part ("Chapter 33" onwards) and especially up to the level of its previous two episodes. Season 4's premiere "Chapter 40" though, while not a return to form for 'House of Cards', is a superior episode and is a promising start.
"Chapter 40" is a set-up episode essentially. Not building upon or advancing much from before, but introduces new things and setting them up for what is to come. It does this very well indeed. Do agree that there could have been more of the political intrigue and less of the personal lives, as the political intrigue is one of the show's main attractions and what sets it apart and all the previous seasons balanced the politics and personal lives better and more evenly.
There is so much that "Chapter 40" does well though. It has its usual slickness, class and stylishness visually, the early scenes are especially well shot and have a genuine unsettlement to them. The music matches the tone well. The writing has the right amount of bite and intensity, with some of the best lines coming from the newly introduced character of Claire's mother Elizabeth Hale. The story is absorbing and the character interaction, especially Claire and Elizabeth and Frank and Elizabeth, carries it. The newly introduced characters all make a positive impression, especially Elizabeth, and the return of Lucas is handled well. Will admit to not being the biggest of fans of Lucas in the first half of Season 2, but a lot of the problem was that all of the rest of the subplots in that season were much more interesting than his and some of his behaviour was frustrating.
Found all the acting to be very strong, Kevin Spacey shows how and why Frank is such a fascinating lead character and Robin Wright does wonderfully in showing Claire's icy demeanour. A quality also embodied in Ellen Burstyn's scene stealing turn as Elizabeth. Neve Campbell, again proving that she is more than a teen idol, is subtly menacing in her role.
Overall, very good and very promising start to Season 4. Makes one highly anticipating what is to come. 8/10
Am going to be another person that found the third season finale "Chapter 39" disappointing, while still finding it a solid, very well done episode. Part of me was expecting excellence and a finale that continued the near-back on form quality of the season's second part ("Chapter 33" onwards) and especially up to the level of its previous two episodes. Season 4's premiere "Chapter 40" though, while not a return to form for 'House of Cards', is a superior episode and is a promising start.
"Chapter 40" is a set-up episode essentially. Not building upon or advancing much from before, but introduces new things and setting them up for what is to come. It does this very well indeed. Do agree that there could have been more of the political intrigue and less of the personal lives, as the political intrigue is one of the show's main attractions and what sets it apart and all the previous seasons balanced the politics and personal lives better and more evenly.
There is so much that "Chapter 40" does well though. It has its usual slickness, class and stylishness visually, the early scenes are especially well shot and have a genuine unsettlement to them. The music matches the tone well. The writing has the right amount of bite and intensity, with some of the best lines coming from the newly introduced character of Claire's mother Elizabeth Hale. The story is absorbing and the character interaction, especially Claire and Elizabeth and Frank and Elizabeth, carries it. The newly introduced characters all make a positive impression, especially Elizabeth, and the return of Lucas is handled well. Will admit to not being the biggest of fans of Lucas in the first half of Season 2, but a lot of the problem was that all of the rest of the subplots in that season were much more interesting than his and some of his behaviour was frustrating.
Found all the acting to be very strong, Kevin Spacey shows how and why Frank is such a fascinating lead character and Robin Wright does wonderfully in showing Claire's icy demeanour. A quality also embodied in Ellen Burstyn's scene stealing turn as Elizabeth. Neve Campbell, again proving that she is more than a teen idol, is subtly menacing in her role.
Overall, very good and very promising start to Season 4. Makes one highly anticipating what is to come. 8/10
