Let's get this party started. I gave serious consideration to taking a sick day and just binging on it, but decided the glorious day would be wrecked by the piled up work on Monday.
I was wondering about this as well. I'm three episodes in, and to be honest, not feeling the vibe I felt the first two seasons. Maybe it's an awful lot of set up and BAM, we'll get hit with it in a few episodes. So far, it's ok, but not great.
I think it's not the same without Stamper there scheming with Frank, also way too much of Claire trying to be an Ambassador. More Stamper, less Claire.
Kind of feeling the same way - the episodes don't pull me in as much yet. Still early in the season, though. I don't think the Remy thing is that weird. Remy is loyal to the person who has hired him. As long as he's chief of staff, I suspect he'll be loyal to the president.
It was jarring listening to him without that accent, I still have to watch the last season of Boardwalk.
I think this season isn't the same as the others because it's just not as captivating to watch Frank keep the White House as much as it is to see him gun for it. I'm only 6 episodes in, but the writing seems lazier and a bit wrapped up in its own hubris. His main adversary is Claire, who is basically a nonstarter. Raymond Tusk, President Walker, the press, and whatever that union guys name was were much more interesting foes. It would have been cool to see her pull him back to his old self, but I guess the writers couldn't help themselves and decided to have her become Skyler White.
She's not a total Skyler White yet but headed that way since she was put in an actual position of power. It feels like the writers took the show's criticisms to heart a little too. There has always been rumblings that Francis vanquishes any and all foes with relative ease. This season, particularly the Russian president, he has so far not been able to out maneuver or strategize the people coming up against him. Im glad they kept Stamper alive he's always been a favorite character of mine. Also, the Pussy Riot chick looked pretty hot glammed up at the Russian dinner. There is video of her getting banged out at a natural history museum in Russia while she was really pregnant. Just thought you guys would like to know.
I have to say after finishing the season that it was not nearly as good as the first two seasons. Several things stand out: Spoiler First, Claire. In past seasons, she was so logical and self aware. This season? She really seemed like an amateur. I don't like what they did with her character at all. It was not consistent. Stamper? Again, didn't find the character to be consistent with his past self. Francis? I've never seen the guy so out of sorts. This is not the Frank we're used to, and frankly (ha!) I didn't respect the character. In the past, I may not have liked him (at all) but I always respected him. Not this season. Also, they have varied significantly from the BBC series (which they were roughly tracking) - at the end of season 3, Francis dies. Clearly, they've set it up for a fourth season. All in all, this is still one of the best things on tv, but I hope they get it back together in Season 4. Overall, I'd call it 7.5/10.
They ran out of source material (the BBC miniseries) at the end of Season 2. So this is completely off-script. It's pretty normal for the first season after source material to be a little rocky. I'm not quite sure what you're talking about VI - book or UK series? Spoiler Urquhart doesn't die in the BBC series. The series ends with him being driven to Buckingham and being invited to form the government by the Queen. Just like Underwood becoming President at the end of Season 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_C ... TV_series)#Plot However, he does die in the original books that inspired the UK series, but the reporter girl (Mattie, I think?) survives. But the author has since rewritten the books to correspond with some of the TV elements, including Mattie's death and Urquhart's survival.
Yes, you're correct, I'm thinking of the books (I read them many years ago, and watched the series a long time ago, so I get the two confused at times). You're right, they're off script, I guess I thought they would come up with something more compelling this season. I know I sound down on it, and maybe I am, but I still think it's a great series.
So of course I went to watch this and wow. Those are some unattractive people. Loved the two guys holding up the tarp with the text on it. Those guys need to get the points. Holy shit she was pregnant. I never want to see that video again. Thank god it was only 2 minutes.