For me, Season 4 of 'House of Cards' was a very solid season and as good as the previous three seasons. With all the thirteen episodes making it up ranging from good to outstanding. Unfortunately, as has been said a few times before by me and frequently by a lot of fans, the show declined to "feeling like a different show" after with a disappointing last two seasons. The only real reason to see Season 6 particularly is if you want to see every 'House of Cards' episode.
"Chapter 51" is Season 4's penultimate episode. And it is a great one and lightyears away from disgracing the season or 'House of Cards' in general, with almost everything being top notch. It is suspenseful, has a lot of bite, great character interaction and it doesn't feel like character development is going backwards (far from it) or the storytelling has screeched to a halt (the complete opposite) and one character in particular is well developed. As far as the Season 4 episodes go, "Chapter 51" is towards the better half.
The kidnapping plot may be somewhat basic and not much different from kidnapping plots seen in other shows etc. This is "Chapter 51's" only real weak point though, and personally don't even consider it a major criticism.
Everything else though is exceptionally done and more than makes up for that. The story still has nail-biting suspense at its best and a genuine sense of edge of the seat dread. "Chapter 51" is brilliant when it comes to the character interaction, the tense interplay between Frank and Conway is where the episode is at its best, because of the ways in which the two push each other's buttons. It was great as well to see development to Conway, development that adds so much to his character in a way that was not character distorting or un-illuminating.
As with prime-'House of Cards', the writing has sharp bite that provokes thought. The pace is taut throughout, as is the direction that really helps make the scenes between Frank and Conway exciting and come alive. Kevin Spacey and Joel Kinnaman give electrifying performances. The production values are class personified and the music complements well, not coming over as over-scored.
Overall, a great penultimate episode to a solid fourth season. 9/10
"Chapter 51" is Season 4's penultimate episode. And it is a great one and lightyears away from disgracing the season or 'House of Cards' in general, with almost everything being top notch. It is suspenseful, has a lot of bite, great character interaction and it doesn't feel like character development is going backwards (far from it) or the storytelling has screeched to a halt (the complete opposite) and one character in particular is well developed. As far as the Season 4 episodes go, "Chapter 51" is towards the better half.
The kidnapping plot may be somewhat basic and not much different from kidnapping plots seen in other shows etc. This is "Chapter 51's" only real weak point though, and personally don't even consider it a major criticism.
Everything else though is exceptionally done and more than makes up for that. The story still has nail-biting suspense at its best and a genuine sense of edge of the seat dread. "Chapter 51" is brilliant when it comes to the character interaction, the tense interplay between Frank and Conway is where the episode is at its best, because of the ways in which the two push each other's buttons. It was great as well to see development to Conway, development that adds so much to his character in a way that was not character distorting or un-illuminating.
As with prime-'House of Cards', the writing has sharp bite that provokes thought. The pace is taut throughout, as is the direction that really helps make the scenes between Frank and Conway exciting and come alive. Kevin Spacey and Joel Kinnaman give electrifying performances. The production values are class personified and the music complements well, not coming over as over-scored.
Overall, a great penultimate episode to a solid fourth season. 9/10