One of the most highly anticipated TV series returned to the small screen this weekend. Following on from last season’s cliff-hanger, where will the Underwood family go from here?…
For the benefit of those who aren’t House of Cards addicts, the US show is now in its fourth season. Everyone can read on in confidence however… we’ll stick away from spoilers in this review.
All 13 episodes were made available instantly, which will prove popular to the 3 in 5 Netflix users who “binge watch” their favourite TV series in full. This means the days of having to wait another week to find out what happens next is a thing of the past (well, for this program at least… I’m still dying to find out what’s going on in The Walking Dead!)
Netflix produced 16 different TV series in 2015, and House of Cards is definitely up there amongst the most popular. The fact that 9 out of 10 subscribers have watched original Netflix material means that this series is big business for the American company.
Fans of the show will have a good idea of what to expect; double-crossing, political manipulation and intrigue. There is plenty more of the same, with a few new characters introduced for good measure. A highlight for me is the new Republican front-runner, Will Conway (Joel Kinnaman). You may recognise him from 2014’s mix-reviewed RoboCop. Thankfully he puts in a stronger performance this time round, and gives the amazing Kevin Spacey (who plays lead Francis Underwood) a run for the money in the bad guy stakes. Neve Campbell is also a welcome addition, playing political advisor Leann Harvey. For me, she’s ideally cast and adds new dynamics to the Underwood/Underwood relationship.
This time out key plot lines are renewed and a few familiar faces make a welcome return. There are also a few nice plot twists, which have the same shock value as events in prior series. But is this an enjoyable return to form? For me, it does seem to be going through the motions – the tension is not built in a natural manner as the series progresses. Stories seem to come and go over the course of an episode and are tied up by the end credits, giving the series more of a Casualty type plot structure than earlier series. I felt this gave a disjointed, staccato style that did not aid the progression of the story one bit.
In addition to the plot shortcomings, the script also left a lot to be desired. It’s a familiar sight to see Frank Underwood croon a fellow politician with his latest line of lies, but when done to such an extent as on display here we lose some of the charisma that made the early episodes such compulsive viewing. The monologue to camera has all but gone, and only once can I remember seeing the ferocious and menacing side of his character come through. This isn’t a new, calmer politician on display – it’s just one working without the drama that Spacey is more than capable of delivering.
The production is top notch. No expense has been spared, and it really is a visual treat (especially if you’re watching it in 4K Ultra HD!) With such high viewing figures (and a budget to match) you’d quite rightly expect this. Overall the acting is also world-class, as we are treated to performances that could drop the temperature of the room by a few degrees. Unfortunately, as previously mentioned, the actors have to work with scripts that simply don’t allow them much creative flair. They do their best with what’s given to them, but with such a disjointed plot there is only so much possible.
Overall this felt like an in-between series. Previous well developed plot lines were nipped in the bud with ugly force, and new themes were introduced. It seems like the writers were relying on thematic techniques used in earlier series, but had second thoughts about where they were going with it. Instead of a series that packed in the punches, it played along like a homage to the previous series. Crude use of plot development, poor contrast in dialogue and severe pacing issues have tainted such a great program. The acting, production and overall ambition of the show has very much remained, taking away from some of the shortcomings. Difficult to rate, but I gave it a 7.
Author – Ian, Support Office.
