Score: 4/5
Claire and Frank Underwood are back at it — and they’re just as deliciously ruthless as you remember.
Season four of the Netflix smash “House of Cards” has arrived, and, as usual, binge-watching is necessary, both due to the show’s quality and to avoid spoilers by friends, co-workers and the Internet.
The political drama, starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, is still one of the best shows in recent memory and a must-see for both those with Netflix accounts and Netflix-account-moochers.
Though the first two seasons of “House of Cards” remain the best, season four is certainly worth watching.
One of the best things about season four, and the show in general, is its continuity. The Netflix original remarkably keeps all its characters and events intact, never forgetting a single one. Every action truly does have an equal and opposite reaction on “House of Cards.”
This season features surprising references to and appearances from characters the audience thought were long gone.
Another highlight of season four is the rise of Claire. While the show first began with Frank as the ever-fascinating central character, it has since rightfully shifted to Claire.
Of course, Spacey is no slouch. He’s terrific as Frank, but Wright is a revelation as Claire. The two will no doubt get nominated for Emmys again, and they’ll probably have a huge chance to win. No one beats this powerhouse, acting-masterclass of a duo.
Wright’s Claire is the most interesting character on the show, and she becomes even more formidable in season four. In a role reversal, season four sees her as the powerful one with all the leverage, while Frank becomes more vulnerable.
By the end of season four, however, the pair and their White House staff, including Doug Stamper, Seth Grayson and the newly acquired Leann Harvey played by Neve Campbell, do show their collective vulnerability. Some of the people in Washington who the Underwoods have double-crossed are getting wise to their schemes. Without spoiling anything, secrets way back from season one start to surface, and it’s a treat to watch the story unfold.
Also, let’s all pray for Doug Stamper. He’s slowly lost his mind since season one, and his crazy is coming out in full force in season four.
The only real downfall of this season is that it simply isn’t as exciting as seasons one and two. But that’s a lot to ask for, as those seasons, which featured multiple murders, are hard to top. The novelty of the show has worn off a bit, but that doesn’t make it any less worth procrastinating for.
So as you binge the show in 48 hours, be prepared for the usual: deception, sex, violence, fourth-wall-breaking and Doug Stamper doing crazy stuff.