House of Cards Series Review (Season 4)

Released: March 4th 2016 (All episodes at once)

Created by: Beau Willimon

Number of episodes: 13

Where to watch: Netflix

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Nathan Darrow, Jayne Atkinson, Molly Parker, Neve Campbell, Mahershala Ali, Derek Cecil, Lars Mikkelsen, and Joel Kinnaman.

For the fourth time, we’re reminded that absolute power corrupts as the politically charged House of Cards returns. It’s a substantial and gracious improvement over the rather muted season 3.

Things were starting to turn sour for Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey) at the end of the last season; despite everything he has accomplished and all the opponents he has removed, the immense power he wields still carries a heavy price. Setting his sights on a second term in office, Frank must contend with the press breathing down his neck and the possibility of rebellion on all fronts; even his wife Claire (Robin Wright) appears to have had enough and has set up her own counter campaign as a result of his actions. Older characters make reappearances while new players enter the scene in the run-up to Election Day, most notably Joel Kinnaman’s William Conway, the Republican nominee and Frank’s toughest competition yet. Despite his seemingly positive exterior and loving family, Conway is just as calculating in the power game and the ways he plays off Underwood are both intense and engrossing. As opposed to feeling like busy work, the plot is highly unpredictable, perhaps more so than any of its predecessors which mostly comes through the incorporation of further themes and issues that tie in with reality. Surveillance, gun control and extremism all play major roles, melding with the characters in a way that ensures the series maintains its grounded, pseudo-authentic feel.

Season 4 also brings back many characteristics that were conspicuously absent last year. The fourth wall breaking monologues are back, and they’re far more savvy and charismatic than ever before, pulling you back into Frank’s character like nothing else can. He handles most situations with a sneer on his face, yet he maintains his calm and smug demeanour whenever he addresses the audience. Spacey’s portrayal remains one of the most brazen and steadfast performances ever to grace the small screen. He is matched once again by Robin Wright, who flexes her political muscles on a far greater scale; but in turn, a more emotional side to the first lady emerges to add another layer of depth to her character. Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly), having cast out his personal demons completely is more ruthless than ever as Underwood’s chief of staff; truly no one dares to cross him this time around which further conveys the sheer pragmatism of the administration. This kind of attitude serves to craft a dire situation for the other members under Frank’s presidency, especially for the likes of press secretary Seth Grayson (Derek Cecill) and Secretary of State Catherine Durant (Jayne Atkinson) who tussle with the media and diplomatic relations respectively. With not a single weak cast member in sight, the pieces all fall into place. If there’s one issue with the characters, it’s that the sheer number of them can make things a little unbalanced at times; there are several episodes where some characters receive a greater amount of attention while others don’t appear at all. With so many individual arcs at play, it can become a bit tricky to keep track of everyone at times.

House of Cards is back on form in a big way with season 4; the plot has repossessed its urgency and the characters have more variation and criticality in their motives. Aside from running into a bit of trouble when juggling many characters across the season, it is an undeniably superb effort that will pull you back in.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars