By Chris Shea, staff writer
Let me be clear, you are entitled to nothing. Nothing except being allowed the enjoyment of the third season of Netflix’s popular political thriller House of Cards.
Set six months after the end of the second season, Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) has powered his way to the highest office in the land, president of the United States. He and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) have put their plans of maintaining the office in jeopardy, possibly leaving their empire in ruins.
Now that he is president, the Democrats don’t want him to be re-elected and have Congress fully against his jobs plan known as “America Works,” which will reduce many entitlements such as Social Security in order to grant 10 million Americans guaranteed jobs. Not only is he faced with that, but also the Russians and trying to keep peace in the Middle East.
Thanks to fantastic writing, heavy- handed symbolism, and the usual back- stabbing that is politics, House of Cards has shown that streaming services like Netflix can produce as great a show that would be on network/cable television.
Spacey’s acting is nothing short of brilliant this season. He brings this fictional political theater into our homes (or devices) in such a way that can teach you as much as a traditional government class.
That’s right, you can learn how a bill truly becomes law, and how it’s wrong to continually overstep Congress to get what you want done. Your party won’t like that.
Though not a true Greek tragedy, House of Cards does tend to follow a similar path, just not with a similar ending. There is no karma-like retribution, but it’s nice that there’s a government that’s actually accomplishing things while there’s nothing but gridlock in the real world. So let’s just call this an “American tragedy.”
Like previous seasons, every episode ends in a way that keeps you addicted, making it so you have to watch the next episode. With the announcement of the show’s renewal of season four confirmed to be released next year, 2016 cannot come quickly enough.
All in all, it’s extremely satisfying seeing President Underwood making power moves in his slightly evil ways, but that’s why we love an anti-hero. He may face his downfall eventually, but it’s still Washington, if it does come, he’ll just have to wait four years to rise again. Underwood 2016. 4.5/5 stars