House of Cards: Season 2, Episodes 5-6

Season 2, Episode 3: 7.0

Another business episode, where the main focus is the political battle between Frank and Raymond Tusk.  Their fight for power over the President doesn’t particularly interest me, as I find the politics themselves somewhat boring (something about causing inflation?).  How the characters go about their business is where House of Cards excels.  Frank dramatically meeting Feng in the forest and intimidating each other with war knowledge is the stuff I watch the show for; as well as the smaller moments like Frank’s interactions with the war reenactor.  Lucas’s story got dark; with his hacker guy facing torture and being metaphorically and literally reduced to a barking dog.  Where Lucas’s story goes next should be more interesting than his capture, because we all saw that coming.

-This episode is written by Kenneth Lin, a prominent Asian American playwright.

-Odd, no pre-credits scene.

-What the crazy is this Chinese diplomat guy into?

-Frank gives a look of boredom during the Civil War reenactment.

-Rape happened in college, abortion happened 5 years later.  Big timeline discrepancy.

-Xander Feng billions> Raymond Tusk billions.

-That war reenactor that played Augustus Underwood is a good actor.

-Threatening a man’s pet = dirty.

-Stamper knocking away that old fashioned was kinda scary.

-This new PR guy is sneaky and suspicious.

-Lucas, caught red handed.  Got him coach!

-Cool looking last shot, with Frank at the reenactment burying his college ring.

Season 2, Episode 6: 8.0

Things heat up for everybody, literally.  During the heat wave, Frank and Tusk play a dangerous power game that leads to both men declaring their hatred for another.  Remy and Jackie get together after a drunken night.  Lucas gives in and accepts the plea bargain.  The most surprising turn is between Stamper and Rachel.  What is going on in their relationship?  Something is clearly wrong with Stamper, to the point where he apologizes to Frank for disappointing him, probably for the first time.  A tense episode that raises the stakes for all of the main players, except maybe Claire.

-First Lady has an old fashioned First Lady look to her.

-Remy’s got some bling on his neck.

-“Stubbornness is a lot more costly than obedience.”

-Frank to Meechum after a bad throw: “Don’t tell Claire”.

-Stamper in abusive boyfriend mode again.

-That depiction of a prison was pretty exaggerated; with the blood being spit in Lucas’s face.

-Remy the baller; big tipping.

-Remy and Jackie, uh ohhhhh.  It was her voice, it does something to the man.

-Meechum seems scared by Freddy the rib chef.

-Fun fact: the actress that plays Christina played the main character in The Cabin in the Woods.

-Tusk was smart enough to figure out Frank’s revenge plan.

-Frank at the baseball game started off like a scene from a comedy sitcom.

-“It makes me look crazy!”  “It’s the toned down version..”

-Stamper and Rachel, think with your head  Stamper!  Don’t do it!