Chapter 26
- Episode aired Feb 14, 2014
- TV-MA
- 1h
IMDb RATING
9.5/10
7.1K
YOUR RATING
Francis is about to be destroyed while the nation is in turmoil. Stamper must pick up loose ends. Claire marks the conclusion of her ruthlessness.Francis is about to be destroyed while the nation is in turmoil. Stamper must pick up loose ends. Claire marks the conclusion of her ruthlessness.Francis is about to be destroyed while the nation is in turmoil. Stamper must pick up loose ends. Claire marks the conclusion of her ruthlessness.
Mozhan Navabi
- Ayla Sayyad
- (as Mozhan Marnò)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode is tied with this season's premiere as the highest rated episode of the whole series.
- Quotes
Doug Stamper: Tusk is a hand grenade.
Francis Underwood: You're right, Tusk is a hand grenade. We need to pull the pin and throw him at Walker before Walker pulls the pin, throws him at us.
- SoundtracksUn bel dì vedremo
from "Madama Butterfly"
Written by Giacomo Puccini, Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Performed by Angela Gheorghiu
Featured review
"We need to pull the pin and throw him at Walker before Walker pulls the pin, throws him at us"
Have made my very positive stance on the first series very clear more than once, liking to loving all thirteen of its episodes. Likewise with my stance on the second season, which had so much to live up and was not quite on the same level but was just as good overall. Do agree about Season 2 not settling straight away or as quickly in the way Season 1 did, the second half was better and more consistent than the first, but at its best it was brilliant.
"Chapter 26", the final Season 2 episode, falls very strongly in the brilliant category and would go as far to say that it is the season at its best and one of the best 'House of Cards' episodes at this point. To me it is the season at its darkest and most suspenseful, seeing the political intrigue at its most tense and cynical, the characters at their most interesting and ruthless and with the feeling that the cards are falling into place and stabilising. A long way from them crashing down or completely collapsing, certainly not in the same way as Seasons 5 and especially 6 did.
The dialogue maintains the darkness and sharpness apparent in the second half particularly of Season 2, and the momentum has far from slackened (it's gotten tighter). Everything with the increasingly malevolent Tusk has really heightened the tension that is even more fever pitch than in the previous episode. And while Claire and especially Frank are more ambitious and ruthless than before and really drive the drama they don't over-dominate the episode (which does allow the newer characters to make some kind of impression).
It can be counted upon for any 'House of Cards' episode to look great, and that never failed to happen. Even the lesser epsiodes had the production values as a redeeming quality. The photography is very stylish and in my mind "Chapter 26" is the most polished and cinematic-looking episode in a while actually, it has been mentioned about the walk to the Oval Office being especially effective and have to agree completely.
That aforementioned moment also has some of the best use of music of the entire show, the music has always been good on 'House of Cards' but not many other moments were quite as unforgettable and truly haunting in scoring and placement as the music in that particular part. A perfect marriage of visuals, music and body language that will be once seen and most likely never forgotten. None of the characters have lost their interest value and are far from cartoonish. As ever, they are impeccably acted with Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright knockouts.
Altogether, fantastic episode and what a way to end a mostly incredibly well done Season 2. 10/10
"Chapter 26", the final Season 2 episode, falls very strongly in the brilliant category and would go as far to say that it is the season at its best and one of the best 'House of Cards' episodes at this point. To me it is the season at its darkest and most suspenseful, seeing the political intrigue at its most tense and cynical, the characters at their most interesting and ruthless and with the feeling that the cards are falling into place and stabilising. A long way from them crashing down or completely collapsing, certainly not in the same way as Seasons 5 and especially 6 did.
The dialogue maintains the darkness and sharpness apparent in the second half particularly of Season 2, and the momentum has far from slackened (it's gotten tighter). Everything with the increasingly malevolent Tusk has really heightened the tension that is even more fever pitch than in the previous episode. And while Claire and especially Frank are more ambitious and ruthless than before and really drive the drama they don't over-dominate the episode (which does allow the newer characters to make some kind of impression).
It can be counted upon for any 'House of Cards' episode to look great, and that never failed to happen. Even the lesser epsiodes had the production values as a redeeming quality. The photography is very stylish and in my mind "Chapter 26" is the most polished and cinematic-looking episode in a while actually, it has been mentioned about the walk to the Oval Office being especially effective and have to agree completely.
That aforementioned moment also has some of the best use of music of the entire show, the music has always been good on 'House of Cards' but not many other moments were quite as unforgettable and truly haunting in scoring and placement as the music in that particular part. A perfect marriage of visuals, music and body language that will be once seen and most likely never forgotten. None of the characters have lost their interest value and are far from cartoonish. As ever, they are impeccably acted with Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright knockouts.
Altogether, fantastic episode and what a way to end a mostly incredibly well done Season 2. 10/10
helpful•72
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jun 12, 2019
Details
- Runtime1 hour
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
- 2.00 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content