House of Cards (TV Series) Chapter 27 (2015) User Reviews

A slow start to season 3

[tartydoris · 8/10 · 14 February 2017]

This season almost feels like we're starting anew with this show. All of Frank and Claire's adversaries they climbed over to get to the top are no longer relevant and no real conflicts from earlier seasons persist. Yes there are still people in the House and the Senate that Frank has beef with, it is politics after all. However, no scams and schemes persist other than the Rachel thing and to a lesser degree Gavin Orsay, aka HEROnymous Bot, and his relationship with the FBI.

I thought the problem with the first season is that Frank had no worthy adversaries. Everyone was too easily manipulated and controlled and it was like Frank was the only smart person in Washington. Frank was like the superhero but he had no arch-enemy/super-villain to overcome. Though perhaps that should read the other way around and Frank is the super villain? The second season was much better. The Underwoods had lots more worthy opponents to overcome. Such as Zoe Barnes, Remy Danton, President Garrett Walker and his wife (though he was still a little too dumb and easily manipulated for someone holding the highest office in the world) and finally, and by far the most worthy, Raymond Tusk.

So coming into season 3 we have no ongoing story lines from previous seasons, other than Rachel and HEROnymous Bot, and no worthy nemesis' for Frank to outsmart and crush. Hence my feeling that we are almost starting afresh with this show. We have to find new story lines and new rivals capable of stretching our protagonists to come up with more and more devilishly wicked schemes to out-think them and still get their own way.

Perhaps this was an oversight by the writers and producers that they didn't think beyond season 2 and that they needed more threads persisting into later series' to keep things tied together and the drama flowing more evenly as most of the suspense has gone and now needs to be rebuilt from scratch, almost.

Matador or Doormat

[r-kerr0992 · 9/10 · 2 March 2015]

OVERVIEW It's been a while, and its back. House of Cards in my opinion is one of the most engaging pieces of television I've ever seen. I hold it in such a high regard and was so excited for its return, and it was great.

It was totally different from how I thought it would start. With the dark image of Frank urinating on his father's grave, it really sets the Erie tone. A majority of the episode centres around Doug and his recovery. I really didn't expect him to still be alive, and it was a genuine surprise seeing him. It's unique and interesting as we travel through all of the stages of him recovering his motor skills, and in the process establish where Frank and Claire are in their situations. Those first few scenes gives the episode such a dark undertone as Doug battles to feel relevant in life and in relation to working for the Underwoods. He also has a drive to find Rachel who left him for dead, consulting FBI agent Gavin Orsay. Through Doug's eyes, you see that Frank Underwood is struggling to maintain a grasp of his cabinet, and the public. It's realistic that his public approval rating would be low as he inherited the oval office, and a majority of this episode is establishing Doug's relevance and Frank's irrelevance in the White House. With Frank developing negative press, he is faced with his wife's ambition to become UN ambassador, which he fees with her lack of experience will have nothing but a negative impact. It's basically establishing all characters are on shaky and uncomfortable ground, and trying to find a way to overcome it.

This brings me onto the direction. It's absolutely stunning as always. The harsh close ups on Doug's face intensifies the recovery scenes and the subtle hints of Frank and Claire losing interest in Doug with the flowers they sent him for his recovery being dead and frail establishes so much information without saying a word. The writing as always is top notch, purposeful and straight to the point.

PERFORMANCES I think the emmy Kevin Spacey just won for the second season really justifies his performances. He is incredible, and again does not lower the bar even for a second. Robin Wright still puts in a solid performance, however in this particular episode she couldn't flex her range that much. Michael Kelly was great at his portrayal of the physically and psychologically struggling Doug, with his interest in the Underwoods still shining bright but his physical restriction holding him back. The whole supporting cast also put in solid performances, however no other cast member was a standout.

NOTEWORTHY MOMENTS The recovery scenes with Doug were done so well. You really felt his pain as he struggled to find strength in his arm, trying to speak, lifting himself up to walk. It was very raw and personal. I also enjoyed the meeting between Doug and Frank, where he subtly shuts him out, and Doug knows he is now out of the loop because of his actions. This also leads to Doug dwelling back into his alcoholism, showing his hurt and in hindsight what will I believe lead to his resentment of the Underwoods.

I also did enjoy the scene where Frank struggles to reject Claire's proposal as UN ambassador, as he is almost certain that she will fail and it will hinder his time in office and his presidential campaign. This also leads to Frank being interrupted with a spotting of the terrorist they have bee hunting for the past two years, and makes the decision to call an air strike with risk of civilian casualties. This could well have a knock on affect with his meeting with the Russian President for financial backing of his ' America Works' bill to pass through congress if any innocent muslims die in the cross fire.

VERDICT The stage is set for the series now and there is a lot at play. Claire's ambition and struggle with Frank to become UN Ambassador, Doug slowly building his doubts on returning to the White House, Rachel is still on the loose, and Frank is desperately trying to grab hold of his presidency.

This is gonna be good.

"And you have to be a little human when you're the president"

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 14 June 2019]

Absolutely loved the first season, with the one slight disappointment being "Chapter 8". The other episodes ranged from very good to outstanding. The second season was very nearly as good, starting off promisingly and then suffering a slight quality slump between "Chapter 15" and "Chapter 19", the second half of the season seeing the show properly back on form and rivalling the best of Season 1.

Can see completely why Season 3's opener "Chapter 27" would polarise, with it getting much praise here but know of others that didn't care for it. Personally thought that there was a huge amount to like about "Chapter 27" and that it was a very well done episode on the whole. It just falls short of being great, with a starting afresh feel in places rather than advancing forward and it does not always feel very settled. So do agree with that Season 3 is a little bit of a slow starter, but that does not mean at all that it's a bad episode. Far from it, the good things are many and the best assets are absolutely brilliant.

The weak points about "Chapter 27" is that it doesn't always feel settled in story direction and it could have been tauter in places. The three leads are superb, but while everybody is more than competent nobody else stands out in the same way.

Some have criticised it for focusing too much on Doug and underusing other characters, can understand that criticism while not entirely agreeing with it. Definitely do think that there could have been much more of Claire who has had meatier material and much more screen time before and since this episode, but the interpretation of the character when she does appear is still spot on, the over-ambitiousness and icy demeanour coming through.

But actually really liked the way the episode focused on Doug, in the previous two seasons he was always one of the most interesting 'House of Cards' characters, his development became richer all the time and the intensity and vulnerability came through frighteningly and movingly. He continues to be fascinating and both gave me chills and made me feel sorry for him somewhat. The writing for Frank has yet to put a foot wrong, he is someone you don't want to mess with and is as ruthless as ever. Evident in a very eerie opening scene, where you are pretty shocked and repulsed by his behaviour on top of the eeriness of the atmosphere.

Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright are typically brilliant as Frank and Claire, while Michael Kelly knocks it out of the park bringing out Doug's fierce intensity and vulnerability. The direction is sympathetic yet alert enough to still make the episode engaging. The dialogue is still dark, intelligent and sharp, the politics not too heavy handed, and the story is compelling enough if not perfectly done. It is very stylish and classy visually as to be expected and the music complements the tone well.

In summation, very impressive but could have been much better. 8/10

The First Six Months

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 27 February 2015]

The third season starts out with a motorcade going to the graveyard where Frank's father was buried. Frank goes alone to the grave and talks, telling his father his unhappiness. Finally, he pees on the grave. Pretty risky, considering there are reporters over the hill a few feet away. Now we cut to Doug, who despite being pummeled by Rachel with a rock, is still alive, barely. He is damaged. He must go through extensive therapy and, of course, deal with horrible pain (which will test his resistance to his chemical dependency). Frank still considers him a friend but knows that he isn't going o be much help now. Doug is determined to manage and pushes others away (including his estranged brother) and starts off his time alone by slipping in the bathtub and breaking his arm (a compound fracture). He is determined to find Rachel because she is a threat to the President. Meanwhile, Frank is getting nowhere, blocked everywhere by the Republicans who are sniffing blood. He is trying to get his entitlement bill to have legs. Claire is proving to be a problem because she want to become the ambassador to the UN. Frank doesn't say it, but he feels he has enough bad press without showing nepotism to his own wife. Doug is in crisis and meets with the FBI guy who is both a threat and a possibility for finding Rachel. The table is set.