A revolutionary idea in 2012-13, stream all the episodes of a top-notch TV show all at once on Netflix — is now commonplace. I can’t imagine now waiting for every episode week after week !! Netflix, for better or worse, has given its users a Pavlovian response to the consumption of its top-shelf programming: binge it soon, binge it fast, and get in on the conversation before it ends.
The new season starts essentially right after last year’s finale, with Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) off on her own after announcing her intention to divorce Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), following a tumultuous season between the two. To retaliate, Frank gets a few of his right-hand men, Stamper (Michael Kelly) and Seth (Derek Cecil), to begin trying to figure out Claire’s next move before she makes it. When Claire hires her own Stamper in the form of campaign adviser Leann Harvey (Neve Campbell), you could practically pop popcorn off the top of your streaming device of choice, given how much heat and tension boils to the surface of the once kinda-happily married power couple.
Having finally schemed, connived, plotted and doubled-crossed his way into the Oval Office, its now Underwood vs. Underwood – the real heavyweight bout – who cares about political opponents, you can’t possibly hit closer to home than this. And that works, since “House of Cards,” at its best, is part political thriller, part “Dallas”-like soap opera, part Shakespearean tragedy.
HoC’s cleverest trick is that despite committing some undeniably evil acts you still kinda like Frank. It’s the way he breaks the fourth wall, directly addressing the viewer, drawing you into his schemes, confiding in you. It’s a career best performance from Spacey, terrifying yet still effortlessly charismatic.
The other career best is from Wright, so good at being meticulously cruel – she makes it look like an art form. At one point, Claire’s mother tells her that she is stronger than Frank. That’s the whole question, now isn’t it? Claire might be stronger. But is she craftier, more sly, more manipulative? Those are the compelling questions hanging over this fourth season.
The 4th season deck is definitely stacked in favor of “House Of Cards” – I repeat binge it soon, binge it fast and get in on the conversation before the new addiction comes along…….. A small aside Netflix stock price on the airdate of the first season in January 2013 was $13 and today its already $100, you can’t argue with the market — we definitely want more such content!!!
SAUMIL BHANSHALI