Another good episode. The worst of all possible circumstances, or so it seems. Frank took money from FEMA to support his jobs program. Of course, this leaves the country vulnerable should a natural disaster occur. Wouldn't you know it. A hurricane (perhaps one of the biggest ever) is about to hit the eastern shore. Millions will be affected but a third of the money FEMA is going to need has been taken. This forces Frank to decide if he will sign a bill to return money to FEMA and, hence, destroy his jobs bill. Frank is spending a great deal of time with a writer who is doing a book about him. He had hoped at first it would be propaganda about the jobs bill, but the writer, being a real literary figure has instead written amazing prose that focuses on the man, not the program. The beauty of this episode is that we see that despite his nihilistic being, Frank is the eternal optimist. He doesn't make lemons out of lemonade; he creates a lemonade factory. We're rolling along toward another amazing set of events.
3 Reviews
"It's good to have dreams, just so long as they're not fantasies"
TheLittleSongbird1 August 2019
With "Chapter 34" Season 3 of 'House of Cards' is just a little over its halfway point, and the season up to this point was a more than solid one with this and all the previous episodes being between good and excellent. Although "Chapter 29" and "Chapter 32" were divisive, to me while with their (fairly big) issues and lesser episodes of the season they were well done and had a lot of recommendable things about them.
Along with "Chapter 28" and "Chapter 33", "Chapter 34" is one of the best episodes up to this point of the season and as far as Season 3 goes it is in the better end. It doesn't quite achieve the same level of brilliance seen in the best of Seasons 1 and 2, and the third season generally wasn't quite as strong as them. That is not knocking it though because the quality is still high and 'House of Cards' is still at the stage where it was one of my favourite and most addictive shows.
Nothing inherently wrong here in "Chapter 34" really, though as said the extra something that the best episodes of the previous two seasons is not quite here. Other episodes had more emotional impact, but that is not that major a criticism and is just a personal nit-pick.
The storytelling is always absorbing, and with a lot going on without crowding the episode too much. It didn't feel like filler and like things were moving forward, more so than the previous episode. The character writing also seems to progress and become more interesting, particularly Kate and Freddy. Thomas also plays an intriguing role. The script hasn't lost its sharp bite or edge, while doing a lot with the episode's making the impossible possible (or separating the two) theme, which a great job is done with.
It's Freddy's line mentioned above that sums up the episode's theme well, while Kate's hurricane article one is a great way of summing up Frank and the goings on. Also memorable is Thomas' analogy, which is surprisingly frank in a quite strong way. Frank's ruthlessness has not been lost while not being over the top, though his more optimistic side is interesting to see. Kevin Spacey is without issue as Frank and Reg E. Cathey and Kim Dickens are on his level. The production values are still stylish, have always loved how 'House of Cards' was shot. The direction is taut but has breathing space, balancing both well.
On the whole, great and a step in the right direction. 9/10
Along with "Chapter 28" and "Chapter 33", "Chapter 34" is one of the best episodes up to this point of the season and as far as Season 3 goes it is in the better end. It doesn't quite achieve the same level of brilliance seen in the best of Seasons 1 and 2, and the third season generally wasn't quite as strong as them. That is not knocking it though because the quality is still high and 'House of Cards' is still at the stage where it was one of my favourite and most addictive shows.
Nothing inherently wrong here in "Chapter 34" really, though as said the extra something that the best episodes of the previous two seasons is not quite here. Other episodes had more emotional impact, but that is not that major a criticism and is just a personal nit-pick.
The storytelling is always absorbing, and with a lot going on without crowding the episode too much. It didn't feel like filler and like things were moving forward, more so than the previous episode. The character writing also seems to progress and become more interesting, particularly Kate and Freddy. Thomas also plays an intriguing role. The script hasn't lost its sharp bite or edge, while doing a lot with the episode's making the impossible possible (or separating the two) theme, which a great job is done with.
It's Freddy's line mentioned above that sums up the episode's theme well, while Kate's hurricane article one is a great way of summing up Frank and the goings on. Also memorable is Thomas' analogy, which is surprisingly frank in a quite strong way. Frank's ruthlessness has not been lost while not being over the top, though his more optimistic side is interesting to see. Kevin Spacey is without issue as Frank and Reg E. Cathey and Kim Dickens are on his level. The production values are still stylish, have always loved how 'House of Cards' was shot. The direction is taut but has breathing space, balancing both well.
On the whole, great and a step in the right direction. 9/10
Hurricane Frank
snoozejonc14 September 2020
Frank has to make a choice between creating jobs or protecting the country against impending natural disaster.
This episode examines Frank from two perspectives. One as an almost heroic man who can make the impossible possible as Thomas Yates describes in his book's preface and the other as described by Kate Baldwin as a self-serving tyrant.
When we find out the truth behind a story used in Yates' preface and we hear Freddy Hayes' damning retort to Frank's suggestion that his grandson could one day become president it's easy to see which perspective is the most widely held.
What drives the plot is the problem at hand: A massive hurricane on its way to the east coast of America while Frank wants to spend the Federal Emergency Management Agency budget on his coveted America Works program. The same hurricane is also the metaphorical device being used in Baldwin's article.
We find out things seem to be going well in the Middle East while becoming exceedingly complicated domestically. Not that they were not that way before. Issues seem to resolve themselves as always for Frank as fate (or luck) sort of goes his way this time. It's about time something really went wrong for him; Something that for once can't be fixed.
Again there is a clear implication of an attraction between Frank and Yates. This episode goes further than others have so far by bringing Meechum's emotions to the service as he observes the proceedings.
As always it is beautifully filmed and edited and the performances of all actors are all solid.
This episode examines Frank from two perspectives. One as an almost heroic man who can make the impossible possible as Thomas Yates describes in his book's preface and the other as described by Kate Baldwin as a self-serving tyrant.
When we find out the truth behind a story used in Yates' preface and we hear Freddy Hayes' damning retort to Frank's suggestion that his grandson could one day become president it's easy to see which perspective is the most widely held.
What drives the plot is the problem at hand: A massive hurricane on its way to the east coast of America while Frank wants to spend the Federal Emergency Management Agency budget on his coveted America Works program. The same hurricane is also the metaphorical device being used in Baldwin's article.
We find out things seem to be going well in the Middle East while becoming exceedingly complicated domestically. Not that they were not that way before. Issues seem to resolve themselves as always for Frank as fate (or luck) sort of goes his way this time. It's about time something really went wrong for him; Something that for once can't be fixed.
Again there is a clear implication of an attraction between Frank and Yates. This episode goes further than others have so far by bringing Meechum's emotions to the service as he observes the proceedings.
As always it is beautifully filmed and edited and the performances of all actors are all solid.
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