House of Cards

mrsconn23

So late to the party, but I just binged both seasons in the last week and a half. 

Uhm...Holy crap.  Spacey is excellent in his role.  Robin Wright is also great.  I love the whole cast and half of them I have to IMDB because I know I've seen them before in other shows and movies. 

The whole show?  God damn crazytown.  

I can't believe i have to wait a month and half for more. 

Now I need to find something else to watch.  I guess I could get going on OITNB. 

VarunaTT

I adore House of Cards.  Every time I think the show had finished shocking me, another layer is revealed.  The ending of Season 2 was insane.  DH and I were both just sitting there with our mouths opened, saying, "Did that just...is he...how did...holy hell."

I love Robin Wright in this role.  She is perfection, the character is written to perfection, and her wardrobe and physical embodiment of Claire is flawless.  That breakdown she had on the stairs cemented my love of all things she is doing in that role.  

I love that they seem to have this agreement where they can each show weakness, but the deal seems to be: not at the same time, don't make it embarrassing, and don't get caught. 

mrsconn23

YES!!  

As much as I hate the suspense, I love how they leave so much unsaid/open ended. 

I also love how they leave characters kind of 'out there'.  I hope Freddy comes back.  I loved his relationship with Frank.  

PMeg819

I love this show.

I love that each character is a different person to someone else. Clair and Frank are the embodiement of that- catty to someone one second, endearing the next, bold another minute. But then the cracks show a bit and it's perfect. And I love that in the back of your head there is always a lingering little doubt of "did that just happen?"

mrsconn23

As I was watching...I had the thought more than a few times of, "What if this is all an elaborate dream and the end is going to be Underwood waking up in a mental institution?" LOL

PMeg819

This is seriously one of the few shows that I don't feel like I know what is going to happen which I think is the reason it is so awesome. I think in some way, I knew he'd make a power play to get where he is but it seemed so damn impossible. There are many times where I think it's going to crumble and fall apart only to be exposed as something fake- like a shitty dream sequence or something else.

Apparently, this is loosely based off a miniseries from the 90's that aired on BBC.

GBCK

YES

I was late to this party too, but it is AWESOME.

And Clair and Frank are so macBeth-ian.  And they do stuff that makes you just...tilt head.  And 

Also, I kinda think the writers slightly under-do the incredible drama in politics.

(I mean state level and I've shared this before...I know the staffer of a rep who, shot opposing rep's horse, intending to put it in the opponent rep's bed [after the shooting he freaked out and ran away].  It was a kinda open secret--everyone suspected, a few people knew, and no one on either side of the asile talked to the cops).

VarunaTT

It is.  I tried to watch the OG (it's on Netflix), but it takes a knowledge of British politics/procedure/setup that I don't have.  The acting seemed really good and it's really just a copy (the Underwood character speaks straight into the screen like Frank does), but I don't really understand how/why what happened was just a big deal.

PMeg819

Varuna- same. I tried to watch it and got maybe a hour in and was like, yeah no. I can't taint my Kevin Spacey image with something else either.

TMI- I would be the meat in a Frank and Clair sandwich. Kevin Spacey is like 25 years older than me, but I don't care. I love the older men.

VarunaTT

GB, I've wondered about that too.  Some of the stuff that goes on is just crazy.  The stuff that gets made into the public sphere is just the tip of the iceberg, I think.  There's so many stories that float about.  Sometimes I miss the stories, other times I'm glad I floated away from politics and the crazy.

VarunaTT

Oh AND, I was thinking about it and this means, presumably that Underwood could be *SPOILER ALERT*.

...president for a long time, right?  B/c he would finish out the other's term, then have 2 elections to run?  I really didn't think he wanted president either, I was floored when it all happened.

PMeg819

SPOILERS




I don't know, can you run twice after taking over a term? I didn't think he wanted president either- I thought he wanted to be a behind the scenes puppet master. I think Season 2 slumped a bit in the middle but by the end, hot damn. DH and I just looked at each other like W.T.F.

I also don't think Clair is going to be content being First Lady. Their ability to power play is going to be limited I think. Too many eyes on them to let them get away with it all.

VarunaTT

I think part of what I love about Clair and Frank is I don't feel like there's a huge age gap.  The actors are only about 7 years apart (who knows if their bdays are actually true, but Wright was '66 and Spacey was '59).  And it makes sense.  Frank wouldn't have some annoying trophy piece on his arm...that's the side piece.  Their love makes no sense to me, but it is there.  And I think the two actors have the right chemistry to pull off the crazy relationship.  It's not about the overwhelming lust and/or love, it's "you were the right decision for what I want my life to be and I do happen to like you".

VarunaTT

usually you just finish out that term (if you're appointed and/or thrust into the office by death or resignation), then you get to run your own elections.  I don't think there's ever been a VP who took over, finished the term and then ran again and won for the question to be answered.  But I know that's what can happen on a Congressional level (it was all the talk when Senator Mrs. Carnahan took over her husband's seat).

VarunaTT

I think Season 2 kind of blew it's load when

okay, again with SPOILERS ALERT

They killed off Zoe.  I had to pause the show b/c I was so shocked and then rewind and watch it again.  They should've just stopped telling the reporters story at that point or made it last one episode.  They made it last too long and it got boring.  Unless it's coming back this season and they're looking for a Deep Throat/Watergate type thing.

But seriously....is there anyone left that can/would bring them down?

I think Claire will be the best worst First Lady ever.  She'll run that not-for-profit of hers like the bestest CEO ever and look good doing it, while still wielding scary amounts of power.  

No matter what happens, I know I'm looking forward to it.  I think I'm taking that day off since it's the day after my birthday, to binge watch.  

PMeg819

I'm taking off the 27th as well. Gah, I can't wait for this show!

I was thinking of what happened with our last governor. When Janet Napolitano was tapped for Homeland Security, the Lt Gov. took over and finished out the term. She ran again, won, and they counted it as her second term and she wasn't able to run again.

mrsconn23

I was NOT shocked that they killed off Zoe.  I knew almost from the moment they had their first meeting that she was not going to live.  When they started having sex, it sealed the deal in my mind.  HOW she died shocked me.  She was way too curious and let him know that she was starting to doubt/turn on him. 

There is totally something about Frank and Clair.  They never have sex (on the show...except for the threesome and that was just implied), but they are fucking hot. 

I'm curious to see what background scheming happens.  Remember, Remy can be bought and sold.  It's happened 20 times already.  So he *could* be a factor.   

I do like the fact that unless someone is shown dead on the show, they don't ever really go away.  There's plenty of people who have dropped off who may become relevant again. 

I will be watching the 27th.   I may tell H he needs to just be prepared to not have a wife/mother to his children that day.  At least I can do the bulk of my watching during work.  

VarunaTT

I agree, it was the abruptness.  My brain really didn't even process it fast enough, which is why I had to pause.  DH shouted.  

mrsconn23

Yes!  I was chatting with my friend on FB, who knew I was watching, and I typed,  "OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!" and she typed back, "Bye bye Zoe?!" 

IrishPirate60

LBJ became president after JFK was killed, then was elected to his own term in '64. He planned to run again in '68, but decided not to because of the mess of the Vietnam war. But I also can't remember when the most recent constitutional amendment went in regarding terms.

porkchops926

I have been waiting for more House of Cards since last February when I binge watched the whole thing. Holy hell it will be like the world's greatest orgasm when I can turn on Netflix and hear that theme music start.

blushingbride8888

LOVE House of Cards - me and the Fi binge-watched it last February. I cannot wait for it to come back. I do love OITNB though - takes a couple eps to get into but you will LOVE it. I've also started Blue Bloods and The Black List on Netflix - LOVE and Girls on HBO Go I love binge-watching shows.