“House of Cards” finally returned with new episodes on Friday and there was only a tiny bit of disappointment, particularly with the first episode.
If they had not thrown in a few “omg” moments, like Frank urinating on his father’s grave, viewers would have almost nothing to talk about.
About half of the episode focuses on Doug Stamper, Underwood’s chief of staff, who is recovering injuries from Season 2. He is desperate to get back to the White House and, so much so that, when he falls and breaks his arm before a meeting with Underwood, he uses a wooden spoon and duct tape as a cast.
However, when Frank tells him he is not ready to come back to work, Stamper goes to the hospital and is provided with painkillers. Stamper then goes out and buys a bottle, filling a syringe with bourbon and having a prostitute pour it in his mouth. For a man who has been sober for 14 years, this is a dangerous slope.
On the other end of things, Underwood is having issues as president. Unemployment is up, public approval ratings are down and Congress and he are not seeing eye-to-eye. He is confident he can pull himself out of the hole, but everyone else is not so sure.
Clare and Frank are having their own issues. He stalls her ambassador nomination announcement and she is being realistic in saying Frank may not win the 2016 election, which he takes as Clare doubting him.
The premiere has a different feel than the previous two seasons. While the premiere is usually about the main character, Frank Underwood, trying to step up the political ladder with a new plan, Season 3 starts with Frank on top.
It was a pretty boring episode: however, it is setting up bigger and more dramatic things for the rest of the season.
This could be the beginning of the end for Frank.
Season 3 of “House of Cards” is now available on Netflix.
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