Chapter 7 

Frank helps Peter get ready for his governor race, but Peter is starting to have second thoughts. Doug tries to help a young hooker in trouble.

Director:

Charles McDougall

Writers:

Michael Dobbs (based on the novels by), Andrew Davies (based on the mini-series by)

Stars:

Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Kate Mara

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Spacey	...	Francis Underwood
Robin Wright	...	Claire Underwood
Kate Mara	...	Zoe Barnes
Michael Kelly	...	Doug Stamper
Sakina Jaffrey	...	Linda Vasquez
Corey Stoll	...	Rep. Peter Russo
Kristen Connolly	...	Christina Gallagher
Sebastian Arcelus	...	Lucas Goodwin
Sandrine Holt	...	Gillian Cole
Nathan Darrow	...	Edward Meechum
Michel Gill	...	President Garrett Walker
Dan Ziskie	...	VP Matthews
Larry Pine	...	Bob Birch
Elizabeth Norment	...	Nancy Kaufberger
Constance Zimmer	...	Janine Skorsky

Storyline

Frank helps Peter get ready for his governor race, but Peter is starting to have second thoughts. Doug tries to help a young hooker in trouble.

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Plot Keywords:

calling home | cunnilingus | father's day | phallic symbol | secret | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Did You Know?

Trivia

The retro coffee shop style restaurant scenes where Stamper meets with Russo and later with Rachel are filmed at Werner's Restaurant in Baltimore MD.

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Goofs

While Francis and Christina are talking in his SUV, she brushes her hair behind her left ear. A moment later she is seen with her hair not behind her ear, as before.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Francis Underwood: Aren't you going to wish me a happy Father's Day?
Zoe Barnes: You don't have any children.
Francis Underwood: Don't I?

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Soundtracks

Chained
Performed by The xx

User Reviews

"There's no better way to over power a trickle of doubt then with a flood of naked truth"

'House of Cards' was one of those shows that was sheer brilliance in its prime, so the first four seasons. Unfortunately it went downhill dramatically in Season 5, have made no secret of feeling that it felt like a different show entirely here, and the pointless (at least Season 5 had Frank and Kevin Spacey, without them a gigantic hole has been left) Season 6 has been even worse.

Directing his first of two episodes, he also directed the next episode (very like with David Fincher, James Foley and Joel Schumacher did before him in directing two episodes each), Charles McDougall acquits himself really quite well. The previous six episodes compelled more from personal opinion and directed with more distinction generally, especially Fincher's contributions, but this is not saying that as a knock, just in comparison. "Chapter 7" is still a very good episode all the same, although for me the weakest episode of 'House of Cards' at this early and consistently strong stage, much of it great actually thanks to what was so good previously still present.

It is agreed that parts of "Chapter 7" are a touch pat and other parts on the forced side.

Occasional suspension of disbelief is needed, which was not a problem in the first five episodes ("Chapter 6" had moments of it).

Conversely, "Chapter 7" cannot be faulted in the production values, am continuing to love the stylishness and the ending is especially well shot. The music knew when to have presence and when to tone things down to let the dialogue and characters properly speak, with again some very clever sound quality. The dialogue is intelligently and structured tightly, all flowing smoothly without ever being cheesy or childish. Frank and Zoe have some mini-masterpieces of exchanges here. Again, the politics don't preach and didn't leave me confused, and this is coming from somebody who is not really a political animal in real life.

Much of the storytelling is very absorbing, it is suitably intricate and not hard to follow, and the balance of characters and storytelling is getting better all the time and more equal. Also really liked how well it sets things up while progressing what one already knows, without resorting to repetition, and advancing the characterisation in a way that is actually the most personal the show was at this point. Frank is still a juicy character and Zoe, Doug and Peter are becoming meatier all the time. Once again, have no issues with the acting with Kevin Spacey and Kate Mara both terrific and sharing a chemistry that's tense and witty.

Summarising, very good episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Details

Release Date:

1 February 2013 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Media Rights Capital (MRC), Panic Pictures (II), Trigger Street Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

55 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1