House of Cards Season 2 (2014)

If Season 1 was an introduction to Frank Underwood, Season 2 is the season in which he deploys every tool he has acquired to maximum effect. Betrayal, blackmail, and information manipulation all happen faster and more boldly. The pace is quicker than Season 1 and the convergence toward the finale is more clearly defined — which makes it worth considering one of the high-water marks of the entire series.

What it’s about — From Vice President to President

Following his conspiratorial rise to the Vice Presidency, Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) now sets his sights on the Presidency. This Netflix original was released as all thirteen episodes simultaneously in February 2014. Based on the British BBC drama adapted by Beau Willimon. The device of Frank turning to the camera to deliver asides directly to the viewer remains the series’ most distinctive feature, drawing the audience in as co-conspirators.

Direction — A Frame That Applies Pressure Through Silence

Within the first few minutes of the Season 2 premiere, a shocking event sets the cold atmosphere for the entire season. The direction throughout is dark and controlled, maintaining the visual language that contrasts Washington’s surface glamour with its shadowy underside. Dialogue scenes in which characters observe each other and apply pressure through silence are impressive. Scenes where nothing more than a long pause or an exchanged glance conveys the power dynamic are far from rare.

Performance & characters — A Newly Active Claire

Kevin Spacey has fully inhabited Frank Underwood. The transition between the charming public politician and the ruthless private strategist is seamless. Robin Wright’s Claire Underwood takes on a far more active role than in Season 1: a character who chooses sacrifice without hesitation in pursuit of her own goals, rendered by Wright with a cold and controlled performance. The complexity of two principals who are true partners in one sense while simultaneously using each other becomes clearer in Season 2, and that relationship’s complexity is the drama’s core tension.

What the work says — Cynicism About the Nature of Power

What House of Cards Season 2 offers is cynicism about the nature of power. The procedures of democracy become weapons in the hands of those who wield them most skillfully. Elections, Congress, and the press are all targets for manipulation, and morality is only deployed tactically. That worldview may seem excessively cynical to some viewers, but the thrill of the political drama comes precisely from that cynicism. That viewers find themselves anticipating Frank’s next move even when he does appalling things is this show’s distinctive achievement.

Ratings & reception

IMDb series score is 8.6. TMDB is 8.0. Season 2 ranks alongside Season 1 as the most highly regarded in the series. Kevin Spacey won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, and Robin Wright received the Golden Globe for Best Actress. The series is credited as the first Netflix original to establish the platform’s prestige in the drama space.

What doesn’t work

As the seasons accumulate, the continuing structure in which Frank wins in every situation weakens the tension — Season 2 hasn’t fully reached that limit, but the sense that outcomes are drifting toward predictability is already present. Also, given the structure of a negative protagonist as lead, there is a shortage of characters the audience can genuinely empathise with, which depending on the viewer can impede immersion.

Verdict

My rating is ★4.0. Following Season 1, Season 2 also delivers a polished conclusion as political thriller. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright’s performances are sufficient justification on their own. The craft with which it turns the ugliness of power into entertainment is exceptional. It is the natural continuation of Season 1, and there is real pull in watching Frank and Claire’s journey toward the absolute summit of power all the way through. As a work that raised the standard of political drama, it remains as relevant as ever.

Recommended for

• Viewers interested in the hidden machinery behind political power
• Those who don’t need their protagonist to be virtuous
• Fans wanting to see Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright together