House of Cards (TV Series) Chapter 55 (2017) User Reviews

The Calm Before the Storm

[Samuel-Shovel · 8/10 · 12 July 2017]

The day before the election is a lot more relaxed than one might have thought: Conway's answering viewer questions and the Underwood's are in the White House home theater watching (ironically) Double Indemnity. While the underlings hustle around preparing for the election, the Underwood's make time for old tradition.

This episode was a good but slow one. With so much build-up, the viewers wait for the incoming explosion that has yet to come. We see a few noteworthy scenes to keep an eye on later:

Doug continues to struggle with his alcoholism. His gut feeling that the Underwood's have lost control and will lose the election leads Doug to lose control himself: he goes to a bar, he seeks but does not want casual sex, he's distracted, he carves his name in the Oval Office desk as a memento. We'll see where his alliance lays moving forward.

Frank and Claire's relationship only gets stranger. The open adultery has gotten to the point where Frank feels comfortable watching the two sleep in a bed together and seems unperturbed by the whole thing. I don't know if this makes them closer or not but it was definitely an uncomfortable scene.

Seth seems to be considering jumping ship more and more heavily. Will he end up on the right side?

I'm excited what the remainder of this season has in store. How many more twists and turns can the Underwood's absorb before this House of Cards falls? Time will tell.

The Eve of Destruction

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 22 June 2017]

This is a bit of an odd episode. We are being set up, of course. Conway, on the eve of the election, holds an overnight, live, question and answer session. He is being put forth as a war hero, but there is something that will surface soon or there isn't much show left (and there is, of course). Frank and Claire continue their devil's pact. There is even a scene where Frank sits by Claire's bed as Tom snores, lying next to her. One can only imagine that such an arrangement could exist. Of course, Frank is trying to discredit Conway who has taken a lead in the polls. An interesting development is that voter turnout is at an all time low. We are in the polarization detritus.

Feels like a calm before a storm

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 19 April 2023]

The build up to the election produces some anxious and reflective moments.

This is another good episode that takes the story nicely into the election.

How quickly you want the plot to get to the election will likely impact how much you enjoy this one. I think it has some good subtle build-up, with some interesting reflections on Frank and Claire's behaviour via the Double Indemnity tribute.

As always Frank and Clare are both great entertainment on screen, be it dialogue or just body language. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright are great as ever.

As always the cinematography and art design is top drawer.

"This is our house. We are not leaving"

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 17 March 2020]

Although Season 5 was for me a disappointment compared to the previous four seasons, which were absolutely brilliant at their best and there was not a bad episode in the lot (though a few of them were controversial, like the Russian ones), the first two episodes of it (and the show's previous two episodes) were quite promising and pretty good as far as the season goes. Not everybody is going to share my opinion on Season 5, but am not going to hold anything against them for that.

"Chapter 55" is also not a bad episode though somehow it felt somewhat underwhelming and not indicative of 'House of Cards' in its prime. Some things are great, others disappoint with real potential to work but they don't quite come off. Nice interaction and some interesting ideas, but a tighter pace would have helped and there has been far more dimension in the storytelling and characterisation in other 'House of Cards' episodes.

The episode is mostly made with a lot of class, as one expects from 'House of Cards'. The relationship between Frank and Claire is very intriguing, as are they. Also fascinating is Conway, did like how the season developed him on the whole if a bit rushed in its latter stages and "Chapter 55" is no exception. Cannot fault the acting. Not just Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, both always fabulous throughout Seasons 1-5.

But also Joel Kinnaman, who is full of intense charisma, that increased as Conway changed throughout the season, and Michael Kelly being his usual intensity and pathos to Doug, one of the more compelling regular characters throughout and even one of the few good things about Season 6. Doug's subplot is quite heartfelt and the 24 hour livecast gimmick is intriguing and quite clever. Conway is a fun presence and a compelling character that became more compelling as the season progressed, not everybody is a fan of his subplot but to me there were worse subplots in the season (i.e. anything involving Yates). Frank calling on air to him was a ballsy move. The political intrigue is hardly side-lined and has tension.

For all those good things though, from personal opinion "Chapter 55" tries a little too hard and a bit over-stuffed. Faring best with Frank and Claire fares best and Conway has his moments. But the pace ought to have been tighter, signs of the show getting tired in ideas maybe, and there could have been less focus on the military service mystery (which is neither suspenseful or particularly riveting). Some of the editing is not as smooth compared to usual, and while Doug's subplot has its emotional impact it is also one of the worst offenders of "Chapter 55's" series of unresolved questions at this point of the season and show.

Yates' role is just strange, it was throughout the season as well as dull and pointless but not as much as this possibly, and adds very little if anything to the story. His most memorable contribution being part of one of the most uncomfortable and weirdest 'House of Cards' moments ever. The pacing can be a little too slow, from for example having a little too much talk in the script.

Summing up, above average episode but not top 'House of Cards' standard. 6/10