"Chapter 1" had a lot of promise. Really like Kevin Spacey as an actor, particularly in 'The Usual Suspects', 'LA Confidential' and 'American Beauty', and am very saddened that his career and personal life has gone the way it has (while of course not condoning why). The acclaim was difficult to resist. And consider David Fincher a fine director, finding a lot to like about all his films and especially loving 'Se7en', 'The Social Network', 'Fight Club' and 'Gone Girl'.
It turned out, though had no doubt it would be, to be a brilliant way to start a show! Back when 'House of Cards' was in its prime and one of the best and most addictive shows at the time. Which is why it is sad that it declined so rapidly and badly in the fifth season in one of the biggest declines for any show in recent memory, and Season 6, yes they didn't cancel it in the end) has felt even more like a completely different show (unrecognisable actually) than the previous season. Enough of that going off on a slight tangent then and talk about how "Chapter 1" is so great. It is not one of the best 'House of Cards' episodes and even better was to come, with some occasions where the pacing was on the methodical side, but what a start.
Visually, it is very stylish and atmospheric with cinematic-quality photography, Fincher's style so distinctive that the episode could easily have passed as a film, and locations. "Chapter 1" is one of the show's best directed episodes, no surprise as it is Fincher after all, who received a more than well deserved Primetime Emmy for his work. It was tight, controlled and in the early parts had a particularly cinematic approach to the material. The music knew when to have presence and when to tone things down to let the dialogue and characters properly speak, with some very clever sound quality.
Also smart and really quite exceptional is the writing. Biting, thought-provoking and tightly structured, an example to all television. The political elements intrigue and don't preach, a problem so common in film but avoided in 'House of Cards'. Some methodical pacing aside, the story is absorbing, more so Frank's revenge plot than Zoe's, and remarkably layered for so early on, yet figuring out what was going on was never hard.
Even in this very first episode, the characters had me engaged and intrigued. Frank is already such an interesting incisively written character and further went on to be one of contemporary television's most fascinating lead characters. One of the most consistent elements, as well as the production values, has always been the acting, and it is of exceptional quality here. It's only the first episode here but Spacey already gives some of his best acting in years. Robin Wright also makes a very strong first impression and the rest of the cast are up to their level.
Overall, great first episode if not quite one of the best. 9/10 Bethany Cox
It turned out, though had no doubt it would be, to be a brilliant way to start a show! Back when 'House of Cards' was in its prime and one of the best and most addictive shows at the time. Which is why it is sad that it declined so rapidly and badly in the fifth season in one of the biggest declines for any show in recent memory, and Season 6, yes they didn't cancel it in the end) has felt even more like a completely different show (unrecognisable actually) than the previous season. Enough of that going off on a slight tangent then and talk about how "Chapter 1" is so great. It is not one of the best 'House of Cards' episodes and even better was to come, with some occasions where the pacing was on the methodical side, but what a start.
Visually, it is very stylish and atmospheric with cinematic-quality photography, Fincher's style so distinctive that the episode could easily have passed as a film, and locations. "Chapter 1" is one of the show's best directed episodes, no surprise as it is Fincher after all, who received a more than well deserved Primetime Emmy for his work. It was tight, controlled and in the early parts had a particularly cinematic approach to the material. The music knew when to have presence and when to tone things down to let the dialogue and characters properly speak, with some very clever sound quality.
Also smart and really quite exceptional is the writing. Biting, thought-provoking and tightly structured, an example to all television. The political elements intrigue and don't preach, a problem so common in film but avoided in 'House of Cards'. Some methodical pacing aside, the story is absorbing, more so Frank's revenge plot than Zoe's, and remarkably layered for so early on, yet figuring out what was going on was never hard.
Even in this very first episode, the characters had me engaged and intrigued. Frank is already such an interesting incisively written character and further went on to be one of contemporary television's most fascinating lead characters. One of the most consistent elements, as well as the production values, has always been the acting, and it is of exceptional quality here. It's only the first episode here but Spacey already gives some of his best acting in years. Robin Wright also makes a very strong first impression and the rest of the cast are up to their level.
Overall, great first episode if not quite one of the best. 9/10 Bethany Cox