Frank and Claire are slowly falling apart in the sense of loyalty. Frank's disdain for her beliefs when it comes to presiding over the country are offensive, but he has no trouble continuing to malign her. Frank's paranoia has him tapping into the phones and computers of his cabinet and staff. This leads to some misinterpretation. Doug is out there following up on anything suspicious. LeeAnn supposedly has information and sleeps with Doug, who has no emotions. Frank goes from investigating his enemies to become deeply suspicious of Claire who is gaining support all around. And then there is the investigation of the suspicious events by the Washington Herald. Two to go.
4 Reviews
"I question your intentions and I'm ambivalent about attention"
TheLittleSongbird7 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Did not think of Season 5 highly at all at first on admission, actually considered it the weakest season of 'House of Cards' before Season 6 took that dubious crown. On re-watch, all the episodes of the fifth season are patchy and the season is still the show's second weakest. But all the episodes have a lot of things that are good. None of the episodes are what one calls irredeemable, regarding individual episodes for any show that is rare.
We are nearing the end of the season, with two episodes left to go after this, "Chapter 63" to me is one of the season's better episodes. A distinction that is true for "Chapter 59" and "Chapter 62" as well up to this point of the season and even up to this late stage of the show's run. This is while still finding the other episodes above watchable but ranging between average and pretty good. "Chapter 63" is not 'House of Cards' in its prime by all means and is a long way from amazing, but there is a lot that works and overall it is a very good episode if not an incredible one, not like the best of Seasons 1-4 (prime-'House of Cards').
"Chapter 63" is undermined though by some frustratingly absurd character decisions that come completely out of left field and don't ring true. A prime example being with Doug LeAnn.
The subplot with Claire and Yates never compelled (also what point did Yates ever have in Season 5 other than be a plot device?) and was ridiculously dragged out throughout the season, "Chapter 63" is one of the worst episodes to make me feel that way. Claire's decision, another one that frustrated me, felt like her recent confession to him had never happened and makes the viewer think "why now".
However, "Chapter 63" is made with the usual stylishness and class and boasts one of the show's best ever (a contender for the best actually) music scores, not hard to see why the latter won an Emmy. The episode also contains some of Season 5's sharpest, most taut and most thoughtful writing. This component was frightening at times too, like when Claire talks to the camera. Better executed than most of the season's episodes is much of the story. It's not perfect but in my view it is one of its best paced, not moving as slowly or bogged down by either too much going on or as many aimlessly moving subplots.
It is the first time where anything major finally starts to properly move forward and the episode up to this point of the season to have the most tension and the most at stake. The political tension intrigues and not under-utilised, with Frank properly being in the firing line in a way not seen in this way before. The other subplot that compelled the most is Doug's, his confession is the season at its most illuminating and this moment is very intense, one of the season's most intense. In Seasons 5 and 6, Doug was one of the more compelling characters (one of very few reasons as to why Season 6 was still stuck with despite been much better written elsewhere). Claire is suitably serpentine and the performances are superb throughout. Kevin Spacey never failed dominated throughout the five seasons he starred in and Robin Wright particularly relishes her talking to the camera moment. Michael Kelly has lost none of what he brought to Doug in all the previous episodes.
On the whole, very solid though a few things frustrated. 8/10.
We are nearing the end of the season, with two episodes left to go after this, "Chapter 63" to me is one of the season's better episodes. A distinction that is true for "Chapter 59" and "Chapter 62" as well up to this point of the season and even up to this late stage of the show's run. This is while still finding the other episodes above watchable but ranging between average and pretty good. "Chapter 63" is not 'House of Cards' in its prime by all means and is a long way from amazing, but there is a lot that works and overall it is a very good episode if not an incredible one, not like the best of Seasons 1-4 (prime-'House of Cards').
"Chapter 63" is undermined though by some frustratingly absurd character decisions that come completely out of left field and don't ring true. A prime example being with Doug LeAnn.
The subplot with Claire and Yates never compelled (also what point did Yates ever have in Season 5 other than be a plot device?) and was ridiculously dragged out throughout the season, "Chapter 63" is one of the worst episodes to make me feel that way. Claire's decision, another one that frustrated me, felt like her recent confession to him had never happened and makes the viewer think "why now".
However, "Chapter 63" is made with the usual stylishness and class and boasts one of the show's best ever (a contender for the best actually) music scores, not hard to see why the latter won an Emmy. The episode also contains some of Season 5's sharpest, most taut and most thoughtful writing. This component was frightening at times too, like when Claire talks to the camera. Better executed than most of the season's episodes is much of the story. It's not perfect but in my view it is one of its best paced, not moving as slowly or bogged down by either too much going on or as many aimlessly moving subplots.
It is the first time where anything major finally starts to properly move forward and the episode up to this point of the season to have the most tension and the most at stake. The political tension intrigues and not under-utilised, with Frank properly being in the firing line in a way not seen in this way before. The other subplot that compelled the most is Doug's, his confession is the season at its most illuminating and this moment is very intense, one of the season's most intense. In Seasons 5 and 6, Doug was one of the more compelling characters (one of very few reasons as to why Season 6 was still stuck with despite been much better written elsewhere). Claire is suitably serpentine and the performances are superb throughout. Kevin Spacey never failed dominated throughout the five seasons he starred in and Robin Wright particularly relishes her talking to the camera moment. Michael Kelly has lost none of what he brought to Doug in all the previous episodes.
On the whole, very solid though a few things frustrated. 8/10.
The only continuity gaff I ever noticed in House of Cards!!
rog-778-6764013 September 2017
Season 5 - Episode 11,
As Catherine Durant leaves the Oval office (at about 41:30) she picks up her brief case, but arrives at the door without it! But as she emerges on the other side of the door, it's back in her left hand!! A miracle!! :-D
As Catherine Durant leaves the Oval office (at about 41:30) she picks up her brief case, but arrives at the door without it! But as she emerges on the other side of the door, it's back in her left hand!! A miracle!! :-D
Characters Acting Strangely
Samuel-Shovel30 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
What a weird, weird episode. 3 episodes to go and the bombshells are dropping left and right. There's a leak in the White House as someone is giving Hammerschmidt information. Frank has his aides phones and laptops tapped and searches for the narc. Who can be trusted? A bunch of odd things occur in this one. Leann audibly talks to herself, tipping off Doug that she has information from Aidan. Who does that? Eric professes his love for the President in the middle of a bike ride. Doug and Leann have sex for some reason. Claire kicks Tom out. Lots of things just didn't add up for me in this one. Not sure where these plot points will go but hopefully the next episode will be a but more plausible.
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