**Some spoilers throughout, but if you’re caught up through season four, you’re good to go.**
Who still watches “House Of Cards,” Netflix’s melodrama of power-hungry political intrigue and Machiavellian deceit and corruption? I’m not sure as most people I know don’t. Most cinephiles and savvy PeakTV tuned into the show in the first place because of filmmaker David Fincher’s involvement as a director and producer. An auteur of immense stature, Fincher’s first foray into TV overshadowed nearly everyone involved with the show including series creator Beau Willimon. After Fincher left following season two (he remains an executive producer, but is no longer involved), Willimon earned his rightful place as the showrunner and commander-in-chief of “House Of Cards.” Of course, Fincher’s exit, dovetailing with some poorly timed and uneven writing, prompted many viewers to bail on the show. In short, apart from Fincher’s departure, many felt “House Of Cards” began to jump the shark around season two. It’s hard to argue with that, but while it’s been very inconsistent, “House Of Cards” has rallied in recent years.
Part of the knock on “House Of Cards” starring Kevin Spacey as POTUS and Robin Wright as FLOTUS, was the show was becoming too preposterous, with politicians pulling off ridiculous coups and breaking suspension of disbelief with tactics so duplicitous, so farfetched, and so devious, they could only happen on an improbable show about the inner workings of the Beltway.
But the game has changed in the age of Trump. All bets are off, you won’t put anything past the current administration at this point, and “House Of Cards” feels as relevant as ever if not completely necessary for a show about checks and balances being burnt to the ground. Of course, the behind-the-scenes elephant of the room is the departure of Willimon after four seasons. The creator butted heads with Netflix and apparently, they mutually decided to part ways. So, the main question is, has the quality dipped? Is the show vastly different? No, and perhaps to Willimon’s chagrin, it’s the best season of the new-and-improved era of “House Of Cards.”
Catch me up with “House Of Cards,” pretend I haven’t seen it in a few years.
Oof, that’s a huge task. Here’s an attempt at a short version: as the VP, the calculating and craven Frank Underwood (Spacey) became the 46th President of the United States after he fucked over his predecessor, President Garrett Walker (Michel Gill), in a business scandal involving China that forced him to resign at the end of season two. In season three (the most uneven of them all), Frank tried to navigate various thorns in policy, but after chafing too hard with his estranged wife Claire (Wright) all season long over strategy and her agenda, the First Lady decided to leave him at the end. Season 4 was jam packed and the beginning of a comeback for the show even if it sounds a little crazy. The President was shot by a former journalist seeking revenge, but his near-death experience reconnected him with his wife. The war on terror was leveraged (a surrogate for ISIS) and as the 2016 campaign went into full swing, a younger, social media-savvy Republican contender and Iraq war vet, Governor Will Conway (Joel Kinnaman) threatened to steal the election away from Frank.
So that catches us up?
Yes, but there’s one other crucial character and storyline for Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly, who is consistently excellent on the show), Underwood’s pathologically loyal chief of staff. The short version: Stamper, a recovering alcoholic, became infatuated with a call girl who was instrumental in taking down a rival in season one. After injuring Doug with a brick — long story — the call girl assumed a new identity and hid out in New Mexico. As a loose end that knew too much, Doug tracked her down and eventually killed her, cementing his loyalty to Frank.
Jesus, so season 5?
Well, it’s insanely prescient, and clearly, the show’s writers used the run-up to the election and many of Trump’s insane campaign promises as cues for this season. As season 5 begins, Frank’s approval ratings are in the toilet and Conway, with his live-streams and social media transparency is surging ahead in the polls. Ruling with an iron fist and as the most underhanded and feared politicians on earth (and the most hated by both parties), the Underwoods take every measure possible to stay in power, consequences be damned.
So, this is where it gets Trump-ian and reflects, not only the 2016 election but the current political climate?
Exactly. Step one: exploit a domestic terror incident to dial up the fearmongering and declare war on ICO (essentially ISIS).
Step two: start rigging the election and hire an NSA consultant and Google-like algorithm genius to interfere and skew the results.
Step three: lie, cheat, steal at every turn. It’s all de rigeur for the Underwoods, of course, but still essential.