 Ruthless and cunning, Congressman Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) stop at nothing to conquer everything. This wicked political drama penetrates the shadowy world of greed, sex and corruption in modern D.C. Kate Mara and Corey Stoll co-star in the first original series from David Fincher and Beau Willimon. Storyline: Majority House Whip Francis Underwood takes you on a long journey as he exacts his vengeance on those he feels wronged him - that is, his own cabinet members including the President of the United States himself. Dashing, cunning, methodical and vicious, Frank Underwood along with his equally manipulative yet ambiguous wife, Claire take Washington by storm through climbing the hierarchical ladder to power in this Americanized recreation of the BBC series of the same name. Written by Jacob Oberfrank 4.01 Chapter 40 – Claire's absence is causing problems for Franks trail for the 2016 campaign and there are rumours flying around surrounding itself of a material rift. Claire later tries to strike it all out on her own, without any help. March 4, 2016 4.02 Chapter 41 – Claire starts her own power play, putting her and Frank at odds with each other. March 4, 2016 4.03 Chapter 42 – Claire helps Frank with the South Carolina primaries, but he doesn't trust her. A scandal hits Franks campaign here. March 4, 2016 4.04 Chapter 43 – Frank plays a dangerous political game that could trigger Russia. An incident occurs during Frank's campaign, and everything changes. March 4, 2016 4.05 Chapter 44 – Claire helps acting President Blythe on how to deal with President Petrov; Lucas Goodwin's accusations are brought to light. March 4, 2016 4.06 Chapter 45 – Claire clashes with Catherine Durant over her involvement in the negotiations with Russia. Dunbar has to choose between her campaign and her moral values. March 4, 2016 4.07 Chapter 46 – Claire and Frank are back together and working to achieve the bigger goal; Frank starts his search for a running mate and begins a campaign to weaken Conway. March 4, 2016 4.08 Chapter 47 – Claire and Frank are back together and working to achieve the bigger goal; Frank starts his search for a running mate and begins a campaign to weaken Conway. March 4, 2016 4.09 Chapter 48 – During the convention, Frank pushes Catherine Durant forward as his running mate, but behind the scenes, he has different plans. March 4, 2016 4.10 Chapter 49 – When Frank's candidacy comes under presurre again, Claire starts doubting their plan. She also has to make a difficult decision concerning her mother. March 4, 2016 4.11 Chapter 50 – Frank wants to act against terrorism as a response to Conway's public display of power. Tom helps Claire with her campaign. March 4, 2016 4.12 Chapter 51 – Frank asks Conway to help him handle extremists who are about to murder hostages. Hammerschmidt investigates the allegations against Frank. March 4, 2016 4.13 Chapter 52 – As the hostage crisis continues, Claire starts negotiating with Yusuf al Ahmadi. Frank confronts Hammerschmidt. March 4, 2016 Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman, July 5, 2016 House of Cards doesn't exactly paint a rosy picture of Washington's inside baseball wheelings-and-dealings, and certainly not of the puppeteers who pull the strings. It's dark, violent, scheming, brooding, even frightening, but, really, it's not at all implausible. No, behind the media filter, the carefully written speeches, the "adherence" to the rule of law, essentially all of the "keeping up appearances" that plays out on television screens, radio speakers, and Internet sites really does feel fake if one is completely honest about it. Not to put on a tinfoil hat or anything, but one need not even dig very far back into the past to see holes in official stories, coincidences that are just a little too coincidental, even "accidents" that don't seem all that accidental. House of Cards takes that tinfoil hat, crumples it, and tosses it in the trash. The show, from the mind of Beau Willimon, lifts the proverbial veil and takes viewers into the also proverbial, but also very much real, smoky cloakroom and Washington's most bastardized nooks and crannies for a sprawling spectacle of deceit and personal ambition at the highest levels, where the lives and legacies of those perched at the top of the social and political food chains are all that matter. These people care only for their own well-being and not that of the people they've solemnly sworn to serve and certainly not those who stand in the way of their own personal and political avarice. Season four offers much the same, but "much the same" is what has made the show a standout from its peers. Multiple political crises, interpersonal drama, hot new and re-election campaigns, and several other foreign and domestic surprises give the season its rapid-fire, take-no-prisoners shape that ultimately redefines the very lives of several key players involved. As always, the series is thrilling but at the same time somewhat depressing. It sure does hurt to see the veil lifted, to see Washington for what it is. Yes, this is fiction. But it's fiction fit for the front pages, if the front pages could see and hear more than the carefully coordinated script that masquerades as reality. Maybe that's why the show is so successful. It's cathartic, in a way. It's well made and acted, yes, but beyond that it feels like a shot of truth, a beam of light -- even if it's only illuminating depraved darkness -- into the litter of all the perceived lies. It's hard not to feel jaded about the current political landscape, and House of Cards at least has the dignity of opening it all up for the world to see, hopefully a little darker than it really is but probably right on track, if one is completely honest about it. Season four also offers much of the same by way of its impressive performances and production values. The show is seamless almost to a fault, its authenticity in place, time, and characterization practically as damning to the system as it is entertaining in its sprawling narrative. Season four challenges the cast with a relentless frenzy of activity, covering a wide swath of physical and emotional demands. The cast is unsurprisingly up to the challenge, each of them not only performing admirably but almost relishing the power they wield on the camera and all but falling victim to the endless adrenaline rushes of the trail, the scheme, and everything else at play in the House of Cards political scene. Spacey and Wright are startlingly good in every scene, both practically born to play the roles or, at least, so talented that the complexities come naturally and all of the ebbs and flows of their mental machinations and physical undertakings seem so inherent to who they are that they feel as comfortable in the roles as if they were to slip on pair of slippers, sip a warm drink, and lose themselves in a good book. And considering the absolute depravity that's so often at the center of the show, that's very impressive. Supportive cast is excellent, too, and the series' brooding veneer has never looked better. This is House of Cards at its best. The following episodes comprise House of Cards: The Complete Fourth Season. Synopses are courtesy of an insert included with the Blu-ray packaging. Spoilers follow. Disc One:
Disc Two:
Disc Three:
Disc Four:
Season four is arguably the best season yet. The intrigue runs deep. Surprises abound. It encapsulates everything that's great about the show and everything that one could imagine that's bad about the political system. It's dark and engrossing, expertly performed and a pleasure to watch both on its face and almost in a strangely cathartic sort of way, too, with the veil of phoniness of "real" politics removed and the truth exposed for all to see. Sony's Blu-ray release of House of Cards: The Complete Fourth Season unfortunately features no supplemental content. Video and audio are impressive. Highly recommended, but newcomers should obviously start back at the beginning. Cast Notes: Kevin Spacey (Francis Underwood [26 episodes, 2013-2014]), Robin Wright (Claire Underwood [26 episodes, 2013-2014]), Michael Kelly (Doug Stamper [25 episodes, 2013-2014]), Michael Gill (President Garrett Walker [22 episodes, 2013-2014]), Nathan Darrow (Edward Meechum [21 episodes, 2013-2014]), Sakina Jaffrey (Linda Vasquez [17 episodes, 2013-2014]), Kristen Connolly (Christina Gallagher [17 episodes, 2013-2014]), Mahershala Ali (Remy Danton / ... [16 episodes, 2013-2014]), Rachel Brosnahan (Rachel Posner / ... [15 episodes, 2013-2014]), Sebastian Arcelus (Lucas Goodwin [14 episodes, 2013-2014]), Elizabeth Norment (Nancy Kaufberger [14 episodes, 2013-2014]), Kate Mara (Zoe Barnes [13 episodes, 2013-2014]), Gerald McRaney (Raymond Tusk [13 episodes, 2013-2014]), Constance Zimmer (Janine Skorsky [12 episodes, 2013-2014]), Molly Parker (Jackie Sharp [12 episodes, 2014]), Corey Stoll (Rep. Peter Russo [11 episodes, 2013]), Reg E. Cathey (Freddy / ... [11 episodes, 2013-2014]), Larry Pine (Bob Birch [11 episodes, 2013-2014]), Jeremy McLain (Walker Secret Service [11 episodes, 2014]). IMDb Rating (03/13/15): 9.1/10 from 193,482 users
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