I have been looking forward to the third season of Netflix's "House of Cards" since I finished season two on Feb. 15 of last year. My favorite series, only overshadowed by AMC's "Mad Men," left me disappointed at the conclusion the second season and clinging to the hope that the third season would grant the show an ounce of reconciliation and an injection of a tangible plot. With far too many story lines, attempted twists that never achieved a true climax and deaths of favorite characters — still not over you, Zoe Barnes! — Netflix left us dangling on the edge of a cliff, with far more questions than answers.
The third season has unfortunately traveled the same route, and it's not necessarily one that I'd like to continue following (but I will because I've started the series and now I have to finish it — Netflix bingers, you know how it goes). The hopes I had for this season redeeming the lackluster second season were dashed before the opening theme of the second of the thirteen episodes had even rolled.
Despite one character (~spoiler alert~) living through what appeared to be an unsurvivable forest skull crushing, the return of Freddy (sans barbecue dive) and Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) sitting as the President — the position we watched him claw his way towards before finally securing last season — it makes sense that the plot is dragging along. The best part of HoC was watching the Underwoods manipulate their enemies on their rise to the top. Watching them maintain the position is far less interesting, and does not provide the malicious entertainment that viewers raved over since the first season.
The show suffers from a heavy dosage of characters. Since it has always revolved around the acting of the scenes rather than an emphasis on plot, this isn't anything new, but now it's getting to be overwhelming. Think of all of the characters that are in this show and try to remember what their purpose in the show actually was. Providing too many back stories and not enough plot has slowed the show down. While a lot is happening in the episodes, a certain significance is missing. There were parts of this season that were so dry it was a challenge not to fast forward through them.
Redemption was partially achieved by a further look into the Underwood's marriage. While the "power couple" (read: emotionally abusive and excessively manipulative couple that probably shouldn't even be married) have always had a marriage that appears to be more of a business proposition, this season showcases how much they have been utilizing one another to gain power in Washington. Everything between them is a power struggle — even evident during their incredibly uncomfortable sex scene — with neither outperforming the other. The icing on the third season's cake can be found when Claire (Robin Wright) decides to attempt to becoming the ambassador to the U.N. despite being completely unqualified. With Frank regretting her appointment and Claire regretting "making him president," it appears that the Underwood's marriage might have reached an end. It's a pity, really. All of those morning jogs for nothing. But wait! It doesn't end, and we can all take a deep breath because Frank and Claire are somehow in love... or are they just smart enough to know they can't survive without one another?
Season three of "House of Cards" can be summed up simply: it's good, but it's not great. Don't go in expecting the gumption of the first season and you won't be upset by the pettiness of the third. The Underwoods are as terrible as ever: Frank spits directly into the face of God, Claire has an LBJ moment, Pussy Riot makes a cameo, Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) is still unreadable and will probably make you uncomfortable and the show's writers need a deep lesson on U.S. Russian relations and the political climate of modern day Russia. Oh, I almost forgot — Claire gets a new (old) hair color.
Long story short, it's worth a watch and downright enjoyable in some parts, but it's no season one.
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