House of Cards does excellent work on developing characters and pushing the plot forward simultaneously, so I'm not all too fond of episodes centred on the first to an even higher extend. The series's eighth chapter is one such an example and, in my humble opinion, the first season's worst episode.
As you can deduce from my rating though, it's merely marginally worse than the remaining twelve, but clearly the least thrilling. I hold some issues with the story being entirely focused on Frank's and Peter's excursions and more than just a few scenes decisively outstay their welcome, in addition to them already not being high up on the entertainment value scale. Yet, House of Cards gets to some small but crucial moments for the two aforementioned characters one taking place with Peter visiting his mother in a nursing home (how tragic is it that this isn't even the character's saddest scene in this series?) and one taking place with Frank discussing drunken secrets with a former close friend of his.
Last but not least, every new location gives the series's cinematographer Eigil Bryld another possibility to present the audience with a different form of beautiful filming and he does so twice in this episode. Clearly, I had nothing even close to a bad time watching chapter eight and it has quite some importance if you look back on the complete first season, but the flaws in it are unusually high for House of Cards.
Memoranda:
Wow, Kevin Spacey can both be creepy (the end of last episode) and awkward (the beginning of this episode) as Frank Underwood that thirty seconds of singing at the Sentinel went on for thirty seconds too long.
House of Cards' cast is filled with actors that are remarkably talented at playing their characters in a drunken state, but surprisingly, Kevin Spacey is not one of them. He just looks and acts exactly the same regardless of being sober, drunk, or hungover. But there is one distinction: he reminded me of Alan Rickman abnormally much when drunk and I have no idea why.
One small fight is all it takes to bring Peter and Paul back together? Sorry Beau Willimon, but that is a silly clich that I'm not buying.
If you want to "get some shut-eye", Frank, then for what reason are you taking a coffee with you? From my experience with this particular beverage I wouldn't highly recommend it because of its extraordinary soporific effect.
I've already expressed my criticism about Frank and his friends' binge drinking scenes above, but I can't deny that the shots of them waking up and strolling about the campus the morning after are excellent.
Why doesn't Christina ever question Peter's decision not to testify for keeping the shipyard in his hometown open? Did he merely tell her that it's politics stuff and she was like "Mkay. Let's search for a solution with which the people in your hometown are way worse or what?
Completely forgot about the best quote thingy I've been doing with this episode while watching it, thus this point will stay void for once.
House of Cards does excellent work on developing characters and pushing the plot forward simultaneously, so I'm not all too fond of episodes centred on the first to an even higher extend. The series's eighth chapter is one such an example and, in my humble opinion, the first season's worst episode.
As you can deduce from my rating though, it's merely marginally worse than the remaining twelve, but clearly the least thrilling. I hold some issues with the story being entirely focused on Frank's and Peter's excursions and more than just a few scenes decisively outstay their welcome, in addition to them already not being high up on the entertainment value scale. Yet, House of Cards gets to some small but crucial moments for the two aforementioned characters one taking place with Peter visiting his mother in a nursing home (how tragic is it that this isn't even the character's saddest scene in this series?) and one taking place with Frank discussing drunken secrets with a former close friend of his.
Last but not least, every new location gives the series's cinematographer Eigil Bryld another possibility to present the audience with a different form of beautiful filming and he does so twice in this episode. Clearly, I had nothing even close to a bad time watching chapter eight and it has quite some importance if you look back on the complete first season, but the flaws in it are unusually high for House of Cards.
Memoranda:
- Wow, Kevin Spacey can both be creepy (the end of last episode) and awkward (the beginning of this episode) as Frank Underwood that thirty seconds of singing at the Sentinel went on for thirty seconds too long.
- House of Cards' cast is filled with actors that are remarkably talented at playing their characters in a drunken state, but surprisingly, Kevin Spacey is not one of them. He just looks and acts exactly the same regardless of being sober, drunk, or hungover. But there is one distinction: he reminded me of Alan Rickman abnormally much when drunk and I have no idea why.
- One small fight is all it takes to bring Peter and Paul back together? Sorry Beau Willimon, but that is a silly clich that I'm not buying.
- If you want to "get some shut-eye", Frank, then for what reason are you taking a coffee with you? From my experience with this particular beverage I wouldn't highly recommend it because of its extraordinary soporific effect.
- I've already expressed my criticism about Frank and his friends' binge drinking scenes above, but I can't deny that the shots of them waking up and strolling about the campus the morning after are excellent.
- Why doesn't Christina ever question Peter's decision not to testify for keeping the shipyard in his hometown open? Did he merely tell her that it's politics stuff and she was like "Mkay. Let's search for a solution with which the people in your hometown are way worse or what?
- Completely forgot about the best quote thingy I've been doing with this episode while watching it, thus this point will stay void for once.moreless
Francis returns to his alma mater to have a library dedicated in his name. Peter Russo goes home to Philadelphia to make amends to the shipyard workers who lost their jobs and to propose a solution for the future.
Who was the Episode MVP ?
|
Monday
No results found.
Tuesday
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Wednesday
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|
 Kevin Spacey |
Francis Underwood |
 Robin Wright |
Claire Underwood |
 Corey Stoll |
Peter Russo |
 Michael Kelly |
Doug Stamper |
 Kristen Connolly |
Christina Gallagher |
 David Andrews |
Tim Corbet |
Guest Star |
 Phyllis Somerville |
Russo's Mother |
Guest Star |
 William Hill |
Ken Caswell |
Guest Star |
 Mahershala Ali |
Remy Danton |
Recurring Role |
 Nathan Darrow |
Edward Meechum |
Recurring Role |
 Ben Daniels |
Adam Galloway |
Recurring Role |
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When the hell is season 2
09/24/132
-
Check out my review of season 1
08/19/131
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DISCUSSION for those who have already finished the show
06/28/134
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Chapter 26
S 2 : Ep 13
Aired 2/14/14
-
Chapter 25
S 2 : Ep 12
Aired 2/14/14
-
Chapter 24
S 2 : Ep 11
Aired 2/14/14
-
Chapter 23
S 2 : Ep 10
Aired 2/14/14
Season 1 Episodes
See AllEp 13
Chapter 13
Ep 12
Chapter 12
Ep 11
Chapter 11
Ep 10
Chapter 10
Ep 9
Chapter 9
Ep 8
Chapter 8
Ep 7
Chapter 7
Ep 6
Chapter 6
Ep 5
Chapter 5
Ep 4
Chapter 4
Ep 3
Chapter 3
Ep 2
Chapter 2
Ep 1
Chapter 1
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