Review: House of Cards ‘Chapter 6’ – Work With A View

‘Chapter 6’ is a bit of an about face for House of Cards, taking place more than a month after the gala of ‘Chapter 5’. Many of the big plot threads are resolved (for the time being, at least), and characters take clear steps in new directions – but what’s problematic is what’s on top of all this: a brick through a window that sets off the events of the episode.

Everything that spirals out of control from the brick in the window invigorates the show: it puts Frank in an unfavorable position, and for the first time, we get to see him sweat it out, enjoying a few sips from the teat of failure, just like the rest of us poor saps have to once in awhile. But in the end, it turns out to be another carefully orchestrated event by Frank to end the writer’s strike on his terms, framing the teacher’s union for violently assaulting his private property (it’s revealed that Doug threw the brick to set off the chain of events).

When Frank admits the set-up to Spinella, it pulls the rug out from under our feet – and not in a pleasant way. Every single tough moment Frank goes through is undermined by this elaborate plan to send the teacher’s union spiraling out of control. Not knowing that until the end frames Frank’s behavior throughout in a completely different context – and one that doesn’t feel like Frank being his manipulative self, but a contrived bit of plot to remind us that no matter what, Frank’s an unstoppable force who has no regard for emotional attachments, only exploitable advantages. I suppose its thematically appropriate for the show to manipulate its viewers, but even with that element removed, it’s a very far fetched plan for a calculated couple like Frank and Claire (although this could be Claire going along with what Frank says as usual).

As with previous episodes, ‘Chapter 6’ is better when its away from Frank, the all-knowing, union busting Whip, and checking in with a few other characters on the show. But as much as it was good to see Russo getting a fresh start and getting a precarious hold on sobriety, the time jump between episodes sells a lot of the stories short. We don’t see the teacher’s strike begin (or anything that happens in the first three weeks, the time when it would really be rippling through Congress), and we don’t see Russo finally get a bit of a grasp on sobriety – which I’d argue are two huge plot points that should be established before the events of the episode.

But like I said, ‘Chapter 6’ represents a change of direction for House of Cards: the teacher’s strike is over, with the powers of the union largely appearing to be broken, the plan to get Russo into the Governor’s office grabbing control of the reins for (probably) the rest of the season. I like how the show has a direction, and isn’t going to lean on the education bill drama as its crux through the second half – but hold some reservations for how this all may play out.

Grade: C+

Other thoughts/observations:

– the monologues to the camera are thinning out, and for good reason: they treat the audience like idiots, either explaining what’s going on, or telling us what’s going to happen before it happens (or during) , like we can’t understand if not told otherwise.

–  Claire and Russo continue to be the most fascinating characters to watch: those two are the key to his plan, and the unfulfilled feelings Claire has, along with Russo’s tenuous grasp on sobriety and inexperience at being a real politician, are ultimately the keys to Frank’s professional (and personal) fate on the show. Russo and Claire both feel alone – and that’s when people question things the most.

– in the world of House of Cards, hard work is measured in Apple products. One cell phone and a Macbook? That’s just a regular day at work. Four iPads, three iPhones, and a Macbook for two people? HARD WORK HAPPENING OVER HERE.

– the shots of Spinella and Frank in front of the many CNN green screens was terrific: a vapid, misdirected debate happening on an empty set dressed up to look important and meaningful. Symbolism, bitch!

– Frank needs to realize what Claire is realizing, and Russo grasped for a minute in the last episode: a job can’t change what you feel inside, no matter how successful.