House of Cards

Frank Underwood, be careful what you wish for.

In Season One of House of Cards (US), Congressman Underwood (Kevin Spacey) had his sights set on Secretary of State. But by season’s end his eye was firmly on the Vice Presidency. And for a man like Frank Underwood, nothing gets in his way.

There are occasions in television reviewing that you get a little extra treat. So for one who viewed House of Cards as a personal favourite in 2013, it was more than just a little exciting to binge-watch three episodes of the Second Season before they have even aired in the US.

But the downside is I’m restricted from detailing any plot points (via an iron-clad agreement) -which makes this review quite the challenge.

What I can tell you is that House of Cards does not disappoint. Frank Underwood and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) recharge their Washington firepower. They are a force to be reckoned with, stronger together than apart, and it’s if their achievements last season have made them drunk with power. But any promotion for Frank is overshadowed by the bitter taste of the murder of Peter Russo. Journalist Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara) suspects Underwood was involved, but having had intimate moments with him, she plays a dangerous game as investigative reporter.

Claire still heads up the Clear Water Initiative, but faces more base dilemmas than the politics distracting her husband. In one of the season premiere’s more striking moments, she demonstrates she can be as cold and calculating as he.

Yet a major, chilling event in the first episode sets the season’s train in motion. It’s plot moves like this that made the first season so damned compelling and here is another one, up front.

There are several new characters to emerge in the second season, and others from last year who come to the fore. The best of these is Sebastian Arcelus as Lucas Goodwin, editor at The Washington Herald.

I confess to not always grasping the finer details of the American political system in House of Cards, but writer Beau Willimon zeroes in on the stakes and power games at its centre, with a cast who revel in his dialogue.

“Hunt or be hunted,” Frank tells us.

Nearly an hour passes before I realise, Frank Underwood hasn’t spoken a word to me down the barrel of the camera. It was always such a delicious part of the series when he broke the fourth wall, yet I’ve been so engrossed in the story it escaped me.

But then, there’s that look.

“Did you think I had forgotten you…?” he asks. Yes!

The production values on House of Cards again give this series a sheen finish. Money is on the screen with its cinematography, production design and costumes all dripping in the American Dream.

The challenge for the show is to find some optimism. If America is doomed to be at the mercy of liars, murderers and adulterers in office then there really isn’t much hope for society no matter how much money is at its disposal. Maybe that’s the problem.

Oh, and watch for the cufflinks -best laugh of the opening episode, right there.

House of Cards airs at 12noon AEDT this Saturday on Showcase and is repeated at 8:30pm on Showcase and SoHo. Showcase subscribers can binge-watch all 13 episodes via On Demand, Foxtel Go and Foxtel Play until midnight March 15.