S02.E13: Chapter 26

[David T. Cole]

With President Walker's approval ratings in single digits, Frank makes his final move at coveting the presidency. Meanwhile Doug forces Rachel to move again.

 

[David T. Cole]

Ok so President Underwood in the house. Where to from here?

[ApathyMonger]

Yeah, I'm not sure what S3 will look like. It's a problem the original had, where they made him Prime Minister at the end of the first mini-series, and had to come up with some stupid plot involving the King of England for the second book/series.

Maybe they'll just go full-on crazy and have him take over the world, old school Bond-villain style.

I guess they'll bring in a few election rivals for the Presidency? It might depend if they want to extend into the 2016 election for the next series, or maybe just the primaries.

[David T. Cole]

That's true, I suppose a flash-forward to the re-election against Frank's Republican doppelgänger or his outwardly opposite (a real straight arrow type) could have legs but I sort of feel like this ending (becoming the President) was their Walter White lays dead moment. It's the endgame.

[panthergirl13]

I don't know. We now have a President who is a murderer. With Rachel out there, the endgame might be "a President who is a CONVICTED murderer."

[Matt]

Terrorism is going to play a big part after this season, and Francis is going to use that to amass even more power from the other branches of government. He's going to try to dismantle any form of checks and balances, especially since the Democrats are set to lose their majority. My guess is they'll lose the Senate but keep the House, and he'll face too much gridlock and politicking for his liking, so he'll need to expand on his reach from the Executive Branch.

[Eucrid]

What troubled me most about this episode was that Claire was dressed like a Nazi SS officer for Franks swearing in. Stick a helmet on her and she's Mrs. Darth Vader.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Eucrid

[Wilowy]

I just finished mainlining this show, both seasons in a week. Fucking amazing. Kevin Spacey is a National treasure and I'm stunned and captivated by his unflinching performance the likes of which I haven't seen since Al Swearengen.

 

Robin Wright is at her steely best as Claire, a character as far from Buttercup as there are measurements, and the supporting players are all BEYOND EXCELLENT.

 

This show is 'Deadwood in Washington'. Fuck.Yes.

[ShellSeeker]

I just powered through this entire series -- I've had the last week or so off. I love Kevin Spacey and he's at his scenery-chewing best here.

 

I feel like the way Frank schemed his way into the presidency is just a hair past plausible. Not believable, but not completely outside the realm of possibility either. For me the show is a commentary on how power corrupts everyone, even those with the best intentions. I'm not sure where they can take it in Season 3, but I'm looking forward to seeing what they do. 

 

I loved that Rachel whacked Doug in the head with a rock, hauled ass, and stole his car to get the hell out of there. The scene with the 2 of them in his car driving through such a deserted area reminded me of Adriana's last car ride on The Sopranos. Hopefully she ditched the car somewhere, wiped off all her fingerprints, and then disappeared.

 

And on a purely superficial note, I am in awe of how amazing Robin Wright looks in this show. Maybe next season she'll wear a color other than black, white, or gray.

[Roaster]

I feel like the way Frank schemed his way into the presidency is just a hair past plausible.

More than a hair, I'd say.

 

I finished watching yesterday - took a few days to go through Season 2.  I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into this show - it's well made - but beyond the bounds of believable.  I just can't swallow it.  It's simplistic, too, although I see that this is needed for storytelling reasons.  They want to show big Corporations' influence on the government, but they reduce it to one corporation (the natural gas company in Season 1 and Raymond Tusk in Season 2).  They kill off Kata Mara and then replace her with several other young women who (1) appear in their underwear, or (2) are a crackerjack investigative reporter, or (3) are ruthlessly ambitious (the new Whip).

 

Frank and Claire are fascinating - yes - but I can't buy into them being so successful.

This show is 'Deadwood in Washington'.

I was thinking about Deadwood while watching Season 2 also, because of the prescence of the actor Gerald McRaney.  McRaney played more or less the same character in Season 3 of Deadwood and Season 2 of House of Cards.

 

Not complaining.  He's very good as that character.  I also liked the actor who played the president.

[ShellSeeker]

Well the whole thing in its entirety -- pretty OTT, it's true. It's highly unlikely that a president would just resign in the wake of a campaign finance scandal, especially in the post Citizens United world. And it strains credulity that a well known politician would kill 2 people in his quest for more power. But the other parts of how it happened are what make the whole thing more believable for me: Frank and Claire scheming with Jackie to rally votes for impeachment, Jackie starting out being so honorable and full of integrity, only to sell out her lifelong friend in order to get the votes to become the whip, and that scumbag Tusk using his influence with Walker to increase his wealth. People do those sorts of things all the time, and I think one premise of the show is that people are more likely to do them if it will help them amass more power.

 

The only thing I wish had played differently in the finale is the reveal of who was responsible for sending the white powder that caused the lockdown at the Capitol. I thought it was possible that Claire and/or Frank orchestrated the whole thing so she could do the interview solo and drop her big bombshell.

[Ottis]

I feel like the way Frank schemed his way into the presidency is just a hair past plausible. Not believable, but not completely outside the realm of possibility either. For me the show is a commentary on how power corrupts everyone, even those with the best intentions.

 

 

My wider issue is that I can't believe anyone thinks Frank is genuine. The way the president reacted the last two episodes, seeing Frank's strategy, is what I would have expected much earlier. And the way Spacey delivers his lines, with that oily, southern accent, makes what he is saying even less believable.

 

The gross factor is what Frank said when he became VP - he moved to VP without anyne casting a vote, and now the same for president. That's just frightening. And yet for some reason I still root for him. I like the more realistic political meneuvering best.

[Prevailing Wind]

Well, nobody except for the 5th Congressional District in Michigan ever voted for Gerald Ford, either.

[Ottis]

Well, nobody except for the 5th Congressional District in Michigan ever voted for Gerald Ford, either.

 

 

That's why I find it scary. Also, I don't think Ford had that as his strategy, like Frank seems to. Hold elected office but get there without being elected.

[theOAfc]

I finished the second season and i have a question. Why did Tusk claim that the president knew about his illegal activities,when he could just sell out Frank instead. I understand that Tusk got mad that the president backed away from the deal but he knew it was all because Frank once again manipulated him. Wouldnt it be more believable if Tusk had sold out Frank,the man he hated the most? He wouldnt even have to lie about it.