House of Cards, Season Two

House of Cards

Season two

2014

Drama

4.5 stars out of 5

The second season of “House of Cards” continues the story of former congressman/now vice-president Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire (Robin Wright), and of their no holds barred drive to the top of Washington DC. It is marvelously written, directed, and acted. One of the best TV shows I have ever seen, nearly as well-done as “Breaking Bad” or “The Wire”.

Like Walter White in “Breaking Bad” the story explores just how far a writer can go in terms of creating an anti-hero without losing the interest and sympathy of the viewer. Frank is a non-stop lying, scheming, back-stabbing Vice President in Season Two, episode One. One continually wonders why anyone would trust him or believe him on any topic whatsoever. At yet, he practices his southern charm also on a non-stop basis, and he is able to use this ability plus his cunning to disassemble one administration while covertly building the basis for a successive one.

One very clever aspect of season two is the juxtaposition of Frank with an equally Machiavellian character, billionaire Raymond Tusk (Gerald McRaney). Both men are vying for the attention of and influence over President Garret Walker (Michael Gill). It is the season long story arc as Raymond and Frank contend over the President. Again, it is amazing how this story can maintain interest and concern over Frank and Clair despite their complete lack of morality. It is equally amazing in a problematic sense that President Walker and wife, Trisha (Joanna Going) are so easily influenced by Raymond, Frank and Claire – how on Earth did Walker ever achieve the White House?

There are other plot problems that are all too common to fiction: the convenient overhearing of confidential information, the open shades as two people secretly make love, etc. But really the biggest problem is also paradoxically the show’s most dominant theme: Frank Underwood’s complete and total amorality. He will literally do anything (e.g. Peter Russo’s exit in Season One) to achieve his ends. He will build up and then throw under the bus absolutely anyone to achieve his ends. Are there really people like that running our government? The cynic in me says, yes; but the idealist and movie critic says, it is a little over the top – there appears no law at all that Frank won’t break; I struggle with this a little.

So, where does this all end up? Is this merely a witty and clever story about the world’s worst people climbing to the top of the US government? Is it a Jonathan Swift style parable of how counter-intuitively, the bad do some times win? Or is it a thinly veiled attack on a certain southern former president and his now ascendant wife? I think the story can be viewed and watched, and enjoyed for all of these interpretations; and in my opinion, despite the various plot holes and occasionally pointless and gratuitous sex scenes, most adults will enjoy Season Two even more than Season One.

I’m sitting here wondering where they’ll go in the recently optioned Season three: Frank’s descent into the lowest levels of Dante’s Inferno? As my wife, Sandy commented, Frank has few new directions left to explore.